Can't imagine they will get games in tomorrow either with snow on the ground and temps staying below or at freezing level until tomorrow afternoon.

SoccerWatcher wrote:I'm not sure why you think BRYC doesn't have a U12 team. I saw the boys get beat by the Richmond team last fall and their U12 girls are towards the top of the state rankings?

Did you see the BRYC bridge team (which is actually good but not part of BRYC ECNL system or eligible to play for them) or the EDP team that went winless got beaten by a cumulative of 70-5 in the fall. The differential would have been worse had they not forfeited a game. Also, multiple players from this team moved on. So, if that's your idea of a team, go for it! https://system.gotsport.com/org_event/events/4848/schedules?team=225546

SoccerWatcher wrote:VYS plans to keep all of their current teams. After BRAVE they will have the Phoenix/Eagles teams for girls and boys playing ECNL-R which is what they are currently doing and then Black, White etc playing in NCSL. For the U9 and U10 age groups they will still have red teams. My guess is only a few players will be moving onto the BRAVE teams and they are assuming that all of the players not making BRAVE will stay with VYS. I am sure there are some players who won't make BRAVE but will think they should have and will look around at other clubs. Not sure if players not making BRAVE are going to be getting onto other ECNL teams. I guess players may consider a lateral move to another non-ECNL team?

I think you might be making a broad, and perhaps, incorrect assumption in it being a "lateral" move for VYS kids (particularly rising U13) to go to another ECNL (or MLS Next Team). BRYC does not have a team to field at the current U12 level, so they will be dependent on VYS for building that age group. That was a large motivating factor behind this merger. Those VYS kids are actively looking elsewhere. Have seen them at tryouts. Considering you're taking half of less of an ECNL-R team, another club would not be a lateral move - it would be much more competitive and exposure to an established, successful system. Bottom line - buckle up for a rough initial season or two.

VDA is a great club for people who like to spend time in their car. Don't forget to factor in the extra $500 in gas to that annual fee. For those who live in PW County, it may make sense. But, for those in Fairfax, Loudoun, and other areas...better options exist.

Five years from now, this will not look like a merger but rather Vienna expanding its reach. The BRYC system is irreparably broken. The BRYC ECNL coaches are all a joke except for one, and he doesn't plan on staying long term. VYS will be filling those coaching slots. Call it BRAVE or whatever you want. This is a non-hostile takeover of a wretched program in BRYC.

dnl8675309 wrote:

Snazzy wrote:

Arch wrote:

realdmv wrote:

mazda1120 wrote:There are things brewing within the boy's side of BRYC that could shift things significantly.

I'm not sure how this will change the boys side. The BRYC boys teams are better than the VYS boys teams. This partnership was done for the bryc girls teams. Although unless more talent goes to this partnership, the ECNL teams will continue to struggle.

I believe mazda1120 is referring to the wrench NVUFC and co may throw into things since Welsh fam is double dipping.

If the boys coaches leave for NVUFC I don’t see them getting ECNL? What league would NVUFC play in and what’s in it for the boys? Sounds like a mess.

I'm confused, too. Why are the boys coaches leaving? And if they are, why would parents let their kids go to a club that plays below ECNL? Assuming NVUFC doesn't or won't play in ECNL/MLSNext? I mean, they can if they love their coach that much. I can't see a huge swath of BRYC boys taking over other ECNL or MLSNext clubs in town? Im really confused about why there is such an uproar? It is shortsighted. Isn't club ball about the kids and players growth not the coaches? And if they believe the boys are really good, all the BRYC kids will keep their spots and maybe gain more talent.I don't get why the boys coaches (and some parents) are fighting this. Someone explain it to us beside saying a board is the problem, which is total distraction.

No word has been made about whether or not new blood is being brought into the coaching ranks. If ECNL is a partnership with VYS, would assume VYS gets a voting say on whether these BW, DW, CJ, and AF are all retained. Or, they bring in some of their own to work with some less than affable personalities in CJ and BW, who presumably envisioned this coming and were smart enough to set a separate anchor down with NVUFC. New blood would be good for BRYC, as things are not headed in a healthy direction.

This is cosmetics and a show of a good faith effort on the part of BRYC to make a case for maintaining ECNL status. Vienna kids were free to go to BRYC ECNL all along. Most of the top kids chose to go elsewhere or stay at Vienna because their parents don't want to drive them to South Carolina for soccer - they just aren't that into it. Knowing both clubs well, I can tell you that very few will migrate from Vienna to BRAVE for ECNL if they do their research.

Our son has played for both clubs - one very recently after transferring from the other. We were with one club for 4 years and the other for less than half of a season. The bottom line is this...there are some great kids at BRYC who are having the system fail them. There are also many kids playing at ECNL level who could not make an ECNL roster elsewhere. As you get in the older age groups, BRYC becomes more competitive because the league has flushed out some who can't compete and drawn others who want a roster out of convenience or a myriad of other reasons. BRYC is the absolute worst at recruiting, and alot of that can be pinned on the lack of administration, structure, and personalities to make that happen. You kind of have to stumble into the club or know someone to be brought in. And that's not because it's elite - they literally have next to no outreach mechanism. There are several issues stopping both boys and girls from excelling. While talent level is one, another huge one is the lack of training field space. Teams are often on a space that's as small as 1/8th the size of a regulation pitch. Hard to practice through balls like that. A "partnership" with Vienna would presumably create additional field space. But, I think the adjoining issue is that the one field was being divided so that a scarce staff at BRYC could cram in their practices in one spot - Woodson HS. Another motivating factor for BRYC to do a partnership is there are a couple age groups (one in particular) that is completely barren. They don't have a competitive team to put on the field and got absolutely embarrassed in EDP this past fall. It drove the few talented kids away.

Vienna - some great coaches and kids and a no frills environment. Hate to stereotype any club or kid, but it is a very white collar area. So, while there are some very skilled players and they do a decent job of developing them at the U-littles, the kids often lack grit. There are many hungry-hustle kids, so don't get all bent out of shape. But they tend to lose close games because "some" of their kids lack an edge.Honestly, I don't know how much you can teach that once you get to ECNL level. There are a couple of age groups at Vienna that can compete with about any club in the area. Our kid was on a top team that won top flight of a tournament or two throughout the DC region. So, I wouldn't look down on Vienna because it's a small club. It only takes a handful of really skilled kids to put out a great product. And those kids are trickling away for bigger platforms of ECNL and MLS Next. Question is - does Vienna want to try to keep them and pump the resources that go with being an ECNL / MLS Next Club. Doubt it.

Bottom line - BRYC needs VYS more than VYS needs BRYC. Without a new talent pool, BRYC is on verge of collapsing at a couple of age groups. Vienna should probably keep the model they have unless they're aiming to become a Bethesda. And, I don't think they have the horses at the top or connections to make that happen for years to come.