soccer_dc wrote:FWIW Arlington Red is the better team in terms of winning, and probably as a result, they play in some better tournaments (Jeff Cup, Loudoun Premier vs Battlefield) which may be of interest if your son is eventually interested in college soccer. You can see a direct comparison here https://youthsoccergames.com/compare/2009-boys/300078005/300088501

But I wouldn't suggest choosing a team based on their records or worrying about college at this point. As has been said you should try to attend practices with each and determine fit with coaches and cliques. Both clubs are well established and solid, and fit will be way more important than winning games.

Arlington 2009 Boys is an interesting group. It has a lot of talent, even down to its 5th Team. Many of the really good kids are small and quick, but their Red team is very big and athletic. On any given day, a lower team can beat the team above it, or at least be very competitive.

Yes, the total amount of teams in Arlington and the limited space/fields impact all levels of soccer in Arlington.

As a long-time parent of Travel Soccer in Arlington, it is frustrating. Whereas Fairfax may have 10 different travel programs - pulling from ~1.1 million people. Arlington has 1 travel program, pulling from ~250K people. And due to traffic patterns, it is much easier for Fairfax people to drive into Arlington, than it is for Arlington to drive out to other Fairfax clubs.

So Arlington's top travel teams can be more selective, and they generally turn out to be pretty decent. This brings in top talent from outside Arlington year after year. MY DC is on a team that is in Division 1 NCSL, and about 1/3 of the team is from outside Arlington, and one or two new outside players are brought in every year.

We would try out elsewhere since our DC could make a top team elsewhere, but my spouse and I are both working professionals, and don't have time for far-away practices. And let's face it, my DC is not getting a college scholarship for soccer and will not make a career out of soccer. I might have reconsidered staying, but when ASA pulled out of CCL, the competition got much better and their games are fun to watch again.

Anyone get an offer for an older age group? Trying to figure out if it was a mistake.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

NoVaRTP wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

NoVaRTP wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take your player to a local soccer field when he doesn't have practice and let him play pickup with the Hispanic kids that can't afford a team but feel their soccer and are crazy about it. Your player will improve by leaps and bounds on a technical level, might learn some tricks and footwork that he would never learn from a coach, and he will make some soccer friends that are for life. You won't regret it and your player will have a blast getting an occasional reprieve from the shackles of organized soccer.

Anyone care to PM me about where and when some of those pick-up games are played in Northern VA or DC ? I won't repost. I've asked this question several times, and answer still remains elusive since nobody wants to ruin a good thing. I'd like to get my elementary aged travel boys roughed up playing in some pick up games.

Arlington just listed its drop in soccer schedule for the upcoming weeks: http://www.arlingtonsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/DropInFall17edit.pdf

I just checked out the flyer, and I can't help but laugh. First of all, who gets up early in the morning and is ready for pick-up anything. And having the ASA staff choose teams is the worst you can do, wear shin guards??, please don't come on this forum and say the kids didn't enjoy the spontaneously-scheduled organized-fun they were supposed to be having.

It's a good program, no others in the area like it, so no reason to knock it.

Actually ASA summer program is run a whole lot better, this program seems to want manufacture fun. As for other clubs, I know NVSC has a 'street soccer' program but sometimes the coaches try to get too involved it feels like another practice session. FPYC has a similar program, though not sure if it's still going. This program sounds to me like a fun activity for the adults as they get together on days they're off and have the kids play something while the parents catch-up. The informal soccer that was being talked about earlier was for players to actually play soccer and pick-up a few things they wouldn't otherwise see at their practices. It depends on what you're rating the program on to say it's "a good program, no others in the area like it".

Was he saying that because it's open to non-ASA members? Vienna has restarted its Friday night free play, but it's only for players already registered in House or travel.

I think it is exactly like the summer program. The coaches set up small sided fields, pass out pinnies, and break up the major disputes between kids - but otherwise the coaches just watch and will chase the balls when they get kicked out. It is nothing like a practice, and this is where kids make the rules about having goalies, what the penalties are, etc.. Kids will practice what they've learned, and get challenged by much better players, depending on what field you end up on. Half the parents are out doing their own exercise, and maybe a handful know each other -but isn't all that social for the parents.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

NoVaRTP wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take your player to a local soccer field when he doesn't have practice and let him play pickup with the Hispanic kids that can't afford a team but feel their soccer and are crazy about it. Your player will improve by leaps and bounds on a technical level, might learn some tricks and footwork that he would never learn from a coach, and he will make some soccer friends that are for life. You won't regret it and your player will have a blast getting an occasional reprieve from the shackles of organized soccer.

Anyone care to PM me about where and when some of those pick-up games are played in Northern VA or DC ? I won't repost. I've asked this question several times, and answer still remains elusive since nobody wants to ruin a good thing. I'd like to get my elementary aged travel boys roughed up playing in some pick up games.

Arlington just listed its drop in soccer schedule for the upcoming weeks: http://www.arlingtonsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/DropInFall17edit.pdf

I just checked out the flyer, and I can't help but laugh. First of all, who gets up early in the morning and is ready for pick-up anything. And having the ASA staff choose teams is the worst you can do, wear shin guards??, please don't come on this forum and say the kids didn't enjoy the spontaneously-scheduled organized-fun they were supposed to be having.

It's a good program, no others in the area like it, so no reason to knock it.

Anonymous wrote:Take your player to a local soccer field when he doesn't have practice and let him play pickup with the Hispanic kids that can't afford a team but feel their soccer and are crazy about it. Your player will improve by leaps and bounds on a technical level, might learn some tricks and footwork that he would never learn from a coach, and he will make some soccer friends that are for life. You won't regret it and your player will have a blast getting an occasional reprieve from the shackles of organized soccer.

Anyone care to PM me about where and when some of those pick-up games are played in Northern VA or DC ? I won't repost. I've asked this question several times, and answer still remains elusive since nobody wants to ruin a good thing. I'd like to get my elementary aged travel boys roughed up playing in some pick up games.