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This is pretty common at this age. Kids will sometimes say a teacher is "mean". When I ask questions about what the teacher does that is "mean", it's usually that the teacher doesn't let them get away with goofing around, expects them to pay attention, do assignments. In other words, what I would call a good teacher. The "fun" teachers who give them candy and play games and don't give homework are not "mean".
He'll eventually get through the phase. Help him understand that the coach is like a teacher giving him feedback and instructions to help make him a better player. The coach wants him to get better. It's also possible contact team sports aren't a good fit for your child. Maybe individual sports like swimming, track, golf where you are mostly competing against yourself and doing things on your own pace and style can come through.
He'll eventually get through the phase. Help him understand that the coach is like a teacher giving him feedback and instructions to help make him a better player. The coach wants him to get better. It's also possible contact team sports aren't a good fit for your child. Maybe individual sports like swimming, track, golf where you are mostly competing against yourself and doing things on your own pace and style can come through.
When is TSJ joining MLSNext?
At U10 I would go with the team where your son will enjoy practices and games the most. At that age it should be about fun.
In general the bigger club will be more consistent in that they will have enough players to field teams with similar skilled players. They will have the infrastructure to run the team. Small clubs and teams can be great, but they can also fall apart because not enough players one year, or be very dependent on a single coach who leaves and takes half the team with them. At bigger clubs, being there from young ages is an advantage for making teams later on. There will always be things you don't like about a coach's strategy or roster decisions or playing time or whatever. If you son is learning and having fun that's most of what matters.
In general the bigger club will be more consistent in that they will have enough players to field teams with similar skilled players. They will have the infrastructure to run the team. Small clubs and teams can be great, but they can also fall apart because not enough players one year, or be very dependent on a single coach who leaves and takes half the team with them. At bigger clubs, being there from young ages is an advantage for making teams later on. There will always be things you don't like about a coach's strategy or roster decisions or playing time or whatever. If you son is learning and having fun that's most of what matters.
For ECNL and GA, worth noting that there is significant travel. League games could be several hours drive. Some events include plane travel. Primary purpose of these leagues is college recruiting.
ECNL-R should probably be mentioned. Somewhat similar to EDP with regional games.
EDP is mischaracterized in that there are still college visibility but not through the league. EDP teams can play in showcase tournaments along with ECNL and GA teams where college recruiters will attend. Jefferson Cup, WAGS are are examples. This also applies to ECNL-R.
Also a lot depends on the club and team and coach, maybe even more than the league.
ECNL-R should probably be mentioned. Somewhat similar to EDP with regional games.
EDP is mischaracterized in that there are still college visibility but not through the league. EDP teams can play in showcase tournaments along with ECNL and GA teams where college recruiters will attend. Jefferson Cup, WAGS are are examples. This also applies to ECNL-R.
Also a lot depends on the club and team and coach, maybe even more than the league.
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.
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.
novasoccer15324 wrote:soccer_dc wrote:novasoccer15324 wrote:The higher the socio-economic demographic is, the worse the boys teams get and the better the girls teams get.
The lower the socio-economic demographic is, the better the boys teams get and the worse the girls teams get.
This is why the girls are doing OK and the boys aren't.
That's an interesting take and seems at first glance to have some merit. What would you speculate as possible reasons for this difference?
Boys in families and neighborhoods of mid- to lower socioeconomic standing tend to come from multi-ethnic / multicultural households where soccer is part of their culture and accepted as a lifestyle or a way to spend a lot of free time... built-in peer group to play with constantly, family members, friends, neighbors, and community members who encourage it, local men's league games at the park all the time... as an example, there may be a low income housing set-aside area right next to a turf field, which is constantly filled with teens/kids playing constantly with adults who also live in the community. Thomas Jefferson Middle School (TJMS) in Arlington is a perfect example of this. These kids generally know their options as they get older and graduate high school, the path and the options are fairly straightforward and not that complicated. These kids do not need to spend time with extra academics, tutoring, test prep, and extensive college visits. Many will graduate, maybe go to community college or vocational school, or just start working as teens and continue in the same careers and just keep playing soccer in adult leagues on the weekends and enjoy life working for a small business in the local community or a family business of someone they know.
Boys in families of higher-mid or high income areas are busy being multi-sport athletes to hang out with their friends, watching their favorite NCAA college basketball teams, NFL, NBA, playing different sports in different seasons, summer internships, taking a language class, meeting with guidance counselors, taking SAT prep classes, checking off boxes of extracurricular activities, and checking off all the boxes needed to apply to competitive colleges in VA, DC, or elsewhere. Spending all summer playing Futbol on a turf field somewhere in Arlington is not something that adds to your college application unfortunately. So, how did you enrich yourself this summer? Uhhh... I played soccer the whole summer with random people.... that's not gonna happen. Unless its the rare player whose obsessive parent signed them up for every single HP Elite clinic ever offered and has an individual trainer for their kid 2-3x a week. I'm sure there are a few kids like that in the area.
So which kid do you think is going to end up a better soccer player, hmmmm
But why the opposite situation for the girls teams? Wouldn't the same factors be in play?
elcsoccer wrote:We heard this was coming a few weeks ago but is now official:
Dear VIVA families,
Villarreal Virginia Academy and BRYC Elite Academy are excited to announce an Alliance to strengthen their program in the Virginia ECNL Regional League operated by VPSL.
"The Alliance will increase the competitiveness and development for both clubs' players and technical staff", stated Carlos Aranda Villarreal's Technical Director.
This Alliance will field ECNL teams in the U11-U19 age groups across both genders beginning in the 2023-2024 season. VIVA will serve as the foundation on the BOYS’ side, while BRYC will serve as the foundation on the GIRLS’ side. Both clubs will continue to field teams in all age groups in alternative leagues such as EDP, NCSL, as they collaborate on the ECNL- regional league pathway.
"This Alliance will support both clubs ability to continue its commitment to player development and to build sustainable player and competition pathways (i.e., ECNL via Fairfax BRAVE, ECNL RL, or non-regional leagues like NCSL)," stated Bo Amato, Villarreal's Executive Director.
Villarreal Virginia formed an alliance with FCV just two years ago. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-st-james-and-villarreal-virginia-academy-announce-player-development-partnership-301315851.html. It's an endless merry go round of dance partners.
novasoccer15324 wrote:The higher the socio-economic demographic is, the worse the boys teams get and the better the girls teams get.
The lower the socio-economic demographic is, the better the boys teams get and the worse the girls teams get.
This is why the girls are doing OK and the boys aren't.
That's an interesting take and seems at first glance to have some merit. What would you speculate as possible reasons for this difference?
MadridFan wrote:Arlington to MLS Next!
Is that the announcement or just speculation?
Lasso_FC_Girls wrote:TedLasso wrote:Blutarski wrote:TedLasso wrote:
Youth soccer would be so much better if there was pro/rel throughout but there's way too many different leagues/clubs currently to pull that off.
TedLasso, why would youth soccer be so much better with pro/rel ?
I definitely don't know or have all the answers, nor do I know what the silver bullet is. What I do know is that the current landscape is a huge and there are far too many clubs and leagues nationwide even for 'national' programs/leagues. A good article about this came out when the DA folded but still within there you can see why it would be difficult to solve this problem we have.
https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2020/4/16/21223638/us-soccer-development-academy-closed-coronavirus-mens-womens-national-teams
IMO, the ONLY way it could happen is if somehow all the leagues merged and manage it from there. ECNL, GA, and USYS for girls all together and MLS, ECNL, and USYS for boys. Unfortunetely this will never ever happen.
What can happen on the girls side though is GA folding and both ECNL and USYS split the teams involved. I don't consider ECNL and ECNL RL a pro system and USYS E64 vs. USYS P.RO. is confusing to me. I think if ECNL were to start a 3rd teir division, it could implement a relegation system. USYS could re-organize the system it has in place to a relegation system E64>P.R.O.>DPL/EDP. I think E64 is just Clubs chosen by USYS?
Boys is a little tougher because I don't see MLS Next or ECNL going anywhere and when you add in USYS, it gets very complicated.
The other huge hurdle is ideally you want to relegate by age group. Since the Elite leagues travel to other states and have long commutes, relegating an age group to play against an opponent that could be 300 miles away from another age group that could possibly share the same coach would make things impossible.
As for NVA Alliance, I don't see much of an impact. Smart parents are going to take their kids to the coach and system they feel is a better fit even if it means driving 45 minutes. Parents who are not concerned are going to go the most convenient. Everyone mentions VDA but forgets QP has a major recruiting oppurtunity in HP Elite training business which is a perfect example of some families willing to travel versus those who don't. NVA will certainly have larger pool to pull from and I think it will help the younger ages even more than it has already, but let's face it, a lot of players start leaving at or before U13 for reasons that I can only assume, and you know what happens when you assume.
The push for a single or fewer national leagues and relegation depends on what purpose and which problem you are trying to solve. If your goal is to find the strongest national youth players to field a national team and a pro league, then single league and pro/rel makes sense. But this is the goal for just a very small minority participating in the current youth system. More than that are those interested in college placement which drives demand for the competing national leagues. Even more than that are just looking for sports activities for their kids. Relegation only serves the very small minority doesn't help the others. The current system is a result of what we are asking for (by directing our dollars and participation), not what someone dreamed up as the perfect system. People want what they want and that will continue to drive the structure of youth soccer.
What does this mean for existing Loudoun ECNL players? will they need to try out to make this new team?
YuppersLocal wrote:Looks like Arlington is also looking for an ECNL Director on the girls side. Who left? https://ncaamarket.ncaa.org/jobs/18125726/girls-academy-ecnl-director-arlington-soccer-association-va
Isn't that the position of the guy that just left for Ukrainian Nationals?
Pepe wrote:If you don't wanna win or go to college, fine. But lots do. They are coaching kids and as long as they aren't derogatory, they are fine to yell all day. These are simple coaches who have bad days, good days, relationship troubles, and have favorites. You also don't know how your kid isn't listening or paying attention to drills... maybe they aren't all you think they are.
All the coaches do their best and while you want more, you have what you have. Don't like ECNL competitiveness? Go play rec.
You really want them to "care"? Care how? Stop watching movies and expecting some Coach Carter bs. Never seen such beta crybaby attitude. You clearly never played sports growing up.
That’s a pretty outdated attitude. Just because it’s always been that way doesn’t mean it’s right. We can do better for our kids. It is possible to be ultra competitive and demand excellence without crossing into verbal abuse. Plenty of examples of good coaches like this in sports.
It’s not easy to change attitudes but it does happen over time. It used to be acceptable for teachers to hit kids in schools. Most of society in this country decided they didn’t want that anymore. There will always be some who don’t like change, especially those who were at the top and feel threatened.
SDC wrote:soccer_dc wrote:SDC wrote:soccer_dc wrote:SDC wrote:NotMessi wrote:Did Rae Ann Taylor leave Loudoun? Don't see her on the website anymore.
She was fired.
What happened? Bad behavior? Going to another club and bringing players with her? Hard to imagine what else could be done to get fired mid season
Officially, it was "bad behavior". Unofficially, that meant whiny parents with kids on the bench who were unhappy.
She was fired because parents were whining about kids playing time? huh?
Unhappy parents caused this, yes.
How? Did the unhappy parents make up false accusations of the bad behavior or did it really occur?
SDC wrote:soccer_dc wrote:SDC wrote:NotMessi wrote:Did Rae Ann Taylor leave Loudoun? Don't see her on the website anymore.
She was fired.
What happened? Bad behavior? Going to another club and bringing players with her? Hard to imagine what else could be done to get fired mid season
Officially, it was "bad behavior". Unofficially, that meant whiny parents with kids on the bench who were unhappy.
She was fired because parents were whining about kids playing time? huh?