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SDSoccerDad wrote:Visited DC area with my DD during her spring break to check out 6 different area clubs. She's a high level player and got ECNL/GA team offers/interest from all 6, but the 3 I'd to hear more perspectives about are Arlington, VA Union, and Bethesda. Here is my take, what am I missing?
Arlington - Trained with 2010 age group which was the weakest of the three but the club was far and way the most communicative which matters to me since I don't live here yet. Its closest to our would be home in DC, the new Director from Ukrainian Nationals seems legit, and the opportunity to play up with 2009's is on the table as well.
VA Union - Trained with 2009's and some 2008's from ECNL player pool, felt like a factory, pretty impersonal but those girls could definitely play, I guess the player pathway track record speaks for itself. I've heard 2010's ECNL squad will be all SYC players except for 3 from McLean, and continued to be coached by EM from SYC. Is this a good thing, continuity and all; or will it be hard for outside players to break in? They will roster 20+ players which I'm not in favor of but if your DD is good enough than it may be worth the risk? To me it seems like too much for 12 year old girls but I guess its the price of competition.
Bethesda - The coach DG is intense but my DD played her best futbol over two trainings with his 2009 ECNL and the 2010 Pre-ECNL squads. MD clubs seem to be on a completely different schedule form the VA clubs, which is confusing. Don't believe they have a had tryouts so their roster seems to be in flux and they definitely need some more players as the squad is small. The only club where there was no offer from but Trained multiple times and my DD was invited to play in a Memorial Day tournament. This was the most united squad of the three and the girls welcomed my DD, knew her name from the get go, complimented her play and as a result this is where she wants to play. I have my reservations, but would like to hear more perspectives, what am I missing?
Last option, would be playing EDP with 2010 Boys with her first coach, someone's perspective I trust above all, and he believes if my DD is good enough the ECNL clubs will still be an option 2-3 years from now when it really matters what club you are at from a college id/recruiting stand point. At this age, working on technique daily and challenging yourself with the increased speed and physicality of the boys game will be more impactful for my DD. I really don't know...?
So what is the 2010 Girls soccer landscape shaking out like as the u-12 year is wrapping up?
The negatives of the clubs:
Arlington = kickball. They have success early on but tend to fade when kids get older and other teams learn to match the physical style.
Bethesda coach is a horrible screamer. He has some success but he can really only coach one type of player. If your kid can't handle his yelling you'll be looking elsewhere with a ruined kid.
McLean, large rosters due to location which draws form MD and VA which accommodates both HS seasons. The only people who should worry about large rosters are kids who are not starters.
Both Bethesda and McLean offer the most long term proven track record of college placement over the years and are generally both well respected clubs. Arlington is a bit new to "elite" soccer and hasn't built up their reputation with colleges yet but they are a large and generally good club beyond their kickball style.
Cruzado wrote:whothey wrote:Cruzado wrote:whothey wrote:Cruzado wrote:AnonymousNOT wrote:So I have attended a few High School games already and have noticed some MSL Next players from SYC playing High School soccer at various schools.
According to MLS Next rules and regulations, players are NOT allowed to play High School soccer.
If Alexandria can do the right thing and follow MLS Next rules why can't SYC do the same?
Give SYC the benefit of the doubt -- maybe they don't know that one of their players is also playing for his HS team in violation of the rules.
I'd report it to SYC. I'd also report it to MLS Next. It's unfair and poor sportsmanship to flout the rules of the league.
Who is it unfair to?
For one, it's unfair to all of the other MLS Next players who also might want to play for their high schools, but who aren't doing so because they agreed to abide by the rules of MLS Next.
That isn’t unfair, that is simply a choice. But my guess is, you believe it is unfair because you feel that MLSNext players playing on your opponents teams giving them an advantage OR MLSNext kids are playing on your school team which makes your kid a bench player.
Life isn’t fair. You can turn them in to SYC if you want but they didn’t break any HS rule by participating. And if the kids are Seniors or commuted Juniors, you’re out of luck.
What you wrote makes no sense. "That isn't unfair, that is simply a choice." What does that even mean? MLS Next players agreed to abide by the rules of the league when they signed up to play MLS Next. I'm sure many of them would also like to play for their high schools, but because it's against the rules they are doing the right thing and abiding by their contract. If one MLS Next player decides that the rules don't apply to him and breaks the rules to play for his high school, that's patently unfair. Whether it's a "choice" or not is beside the point -- it's unfair.
By analogy, if MLS Next players agreed to pay $500 to participate in the league, but one player decides that the rules don't apply to him and he doesn't have to pay, but expects that he can still participate, that's also unfair. (Yes, it's also a "choice" and it's unfair.)
It's not complicated.
And for the record, I don't have a dog in this fight. But if SYC is informed of this violation and doesn't do anything to correct it, well, it's just another black mark on SYC.
Perhaps kids are seniors and CHOSE to play HS regardless of their MLSNext status. Perhaps kids are committed Juniors and also did not care if they were not allowed to play in MLSNext games or attend club practices while they remained on the HS team. It was their choice to weigh the consequences. This is not a moral or ethics based rule. It is a rule carried over from DA as a way of determining both commitment as well as primarily to keep players healthy and managing their workload. The function of the rule is to not have the players overworked because the MLS season matches on and does not pause for HS.
SYC is well within their rights to enforce the rule but that will not guarantee the players will stop playing for their HS team. Perhaps a kid wasn’t getting enough minutes on the MLS roster but gets to play more for his HS, how is SYC suspending him from games he barely plays in a real punishment? Every player made a decision based on their situation and your crying to SYC about it is not going to affect your HS roster.
Parents always complained about this with DA mostly because their kid got bumped out of a starting spot or perhaps off the team because a DA player decided they wanted to play HS. It isn’t against the HS rule so just mind your own business.
If a parent on a competing MLSNext team knows this is happening then they would rightfully report it to the league and not even bother with the club to ensure the player was suspended because it can affect them. But HS parents year after year with their sour grapes over this never stops being funny.
Cruzado wrote:whothey wrote:Cruzado wrote:AnonymousNOT wrote:So I have attended a few High School games already and have noticed some MSL Next players from SYC playing High School soccer at various schools.
According to MLS Next rules and regulations, players are NOT allowed to play High School soccer.
If Alexandria can do the right thing and follow MLS Next rules why can't SYC do the same?
Give SYC the benefit of the doubt -- maybe they don't know that one of their players is also playing for his HS team in violation of the rules.
I'd report it to SYC. I'd also report it to MLS Next. It's unfair and poor sportsmanship to flout the rules of the league.
Who is it unfair to?
For one, it's unfair to all of the other MLS Next players who also might want to play for their high schools, but who aren't doing so because they agreed to abide by the rules of MLS Next.
That isn’t unfair, that is simply a choice. But my guess is, you believe it is unfair because you feel that MLSNext players playing on your opponents teams giving them an advantage OR MLSNext kids are playing on your school team which makes your kid a bench player.
Life isn’t fair. You can turn them in to SYC if you want but they didn’t break any HS rule by participating. And if the kids are Seniors or commuted Juniors, you’re out of luck.
SoccerSkeptic wrote:whothey wrote:SoccerSkeptic wrote:whothey wrote:AnonymousNOT wrote:Cruzado wrote:AnonymousNOT wrote:So I have attended a few High School games already and have noticed some MSL Next players from SYC playing High School soccer at various schools.
According to MLS Next rules and regulations, players are NOT allowed to play High School soccer.
If Alexandria can do the right thing and follow MLS Next rules why can't SYC do the same?
Give SYC the benefit of the doubt -- maybe they don't know that one of their players is also playing for his HS team in violation of the rules.
I'd report it to SYC. I'd also report it to MLS Next. It's unfair and poor sportsmanship to flout the rules of the league.
This is not one or two MLS Next players in HS teams. The kids know them and talk about it. This is not a HS problem but, once again, SYC breaking the rules.
What rule is SYC breaking?
Did you not read any of the posts in this thread? MLSNext players aren't allowed to play high school soccer.
That would be players breaking the rules, not the club.
But, even if they are playing, why do you care?
That's like saying Russia isn't responsible for it's doping athletes. Clubs have the responsibility of enforcing this rule. If they turn a blind eye, they can get in trouble with the league.
Bad analogy. Doping is against Olympic and lost competitive rules.
MLSNext players playing HS soccer is not a violation of HS soccer rules.
SoccerSkeptic wrote:whothey wrote:AnonymousNOT wrote:Cruzado wrote:AnonymousNOT wrote:So I have attended a few High School games already and have noticed some MSL Next players from SYC playing High School soccer at various schools.
According to MLS Next rules and regulations, players are NOT allowed to play High School soccer.
If Alexandria can do the right thing and follow MLS Next rules why can't SYC do the same?
Give SYC the benefit of the doubt -- maybe they don't know that one of their players is also playing for his HS team in violation of the rules.
I'd report it to SYC. I'd also report it to MLS Next. It's unfair and poor sportsmanship to flout the rules of the league.
This is not one or two MLS Next players in HS teams. The kids know them and talk about it. This is not a HS problem but, once again, SYC breaking the rules.
What rule is SYC breaking?
Did you not read any of the posts in this thread? MLSNext players aren't allowed to play high school soccer.
That would be players breaking the rules, not the club.
But, even if they are playing, why do you care?
AnonymousNOT wrote:Cruzado wrote:AnonymousNOT wrote:So I have attended a few High School games already and have noticed some MSL Next players from SYC playing High School soccer at various schools.
According to MLS Next rules and regulations, players are NOT allowed to play High School soccer.
If Alexandria can do the right thing and follow MLS Next rules why can't SYC do the same?
Give SYC the benefit of the doubt -- maybe they don't know that one of their players is also playing for his HS team in violation of the rules.
I'd report it to SYC. I'd also report it to MLS Next. It's unfair and poor sportsmanship to flout the rules of the league.
This is not one or two MLS Next players in HS teams. The kids know them and talk about it. This is not a HS problem but, once again, SYC breaking the rules.
What rule is SYC breaking?
Cruzado wrote:AnonymousNOT wrote:So I have attended a few High School games already and have noticed some MSL Next players from SYC playing High School soccer at various schools.
According to MLS Next rules and regulations, players are NOT allowed to play High School soccer.
If Alexandria can do the right thing and follow MLS Next rules why can't SYC do the same?
Give SYC the benefit of the doubt -- maybe they don't know that one of their players is also playing for his HS team in violation of the rules.
I'd report it to SYC. I'd also report it to MLS Next. It's unfair and poor sportsmanship to flout the rules of the league.
Who is it unfair to?
It is a MLS rule not a HS rule. If there are any SYC MLS players on HS rosters they are not breaking any HS Sport association rule. It is not up to one organization to enforce another organization's rules.
Anonymous wrote:Trump tried to botch the Afghanistan withdrawal. He was stopped by generals. During his post-election meltdown, he issued an order to get all US forces out by 1/15/21. He didn’t go through the proper channels, so it was stopped. Pulling them out in a matter of weeks would have been a disaster.
We have no reason to go into Ukraine. We do have troops in neighboring NATO nations. I honestly hope Putin doesn’t try to attack any NATO nations. A world war would ensue, and the human toll would be devastating. That’s not even considering the potential devastation of war between the counties with the largest nuclear arsenals.
If we do get into war with Russia, I would consider moving myself and my family to an island in the Caribbean. I’m not sitting around the DC area, waiting to see if they’re going to nuke us.
How stupid are you?
Anonymous wrote:Wow, look at that......Macron going around Europe meeting with Germany and Poland to seek a diplomatic path with Russia. Macron has now positioned himself as the most important person in the western world dealing with Russia. It just goes to show how the world doesn't take Biden seriously. His administration is huffing and puffing every single day pumping mass hysteria, meanwhile Macron behaves like a true world leader and is basically saying let's at least give peace a chance. At least we have a leader somewhere with a cool head. Biden is appearing more and more feckless by the day while US influence and hegemony wanes at a precipitous rate.
SoccerQs wrote:Should I not stop greatness by preventing a career ending overuse injury, or by allowing him to practice a ton and thus get great?
What career ending overuse injury do you expect a keeper to suffer?
FCV-Dad wrote:SoccerD wrote:Swaggalicious wrote:SoccerD wrote:Swaggalicious wrote:SoccerD wrote:Swaggalicious wrote:I don’t understand that issue here. To me it looks like the Union partnership or merger. Bringing together player pools to make both the girls and boys sides more competitive. Did these clubs get buy-in before creating Union? No. Isn’t everyone always posting about dilution? Doesn’t this help?
I don’t see treachery here or understand why bryc’s board and how they interface with the board is an issue. The board can always vote no, if a vote is even needed. More like a club struggling and making moves to improve the root issue.
After a closer read, I think SoccerD has some axe to grind with the bryc TD. Treachery, board is illegitimate, people are PM him about this, emasculated, hate backroom deals and failure to follow process/protocol/by-laws. These words and pov doesn’t come from an outside observer. If you’re upset, why don’t you just talk to Dolansky vs. posting here?
No axe to grind with the TD. I don't know Dolansky and it's not my role, obviously, to talk to him. The PMs I got were following my post. Folks should talk openly, IMO, if they have something to share. Obviously, people can disagree with my take and what I've been told. And they have. It's been an interesting dialogue from my perspective.
I appreciate the dialogue. I’m interested but not directly impacted. I just found it hard to believe that someone outside of bryc and doesn’t know the TD has such strong opinions of this person and how he’s communicating with his board. Just pointing out my point of view.
Got it. I believe the TD is Brian Welsh.
Mark Dolansky is the Travel Soccer Sports Commissioner acc. to the website. And I truly don't know him beyond the facts relayed, which are troubling to a lot of folks. I'm now hearing there is a petition in protest. What a mess.
You’re right. Dolansky is the Commish.
But I can’t resist taking one last bite of this apple. What facts are you referring to? My read of his email is basically there is no merger and very little info beyond that. Why would any parent protest this? What could be their concern beyond more competition for starting positions. How do you know about how Dolansky is communicating with the board?
I think if you were a bit more transparent, it would help all of us understand the reasoning behind your pov.
The facts reported to me from emails and communications seen (and now a petition). I can't be much more transparent on a message board than I've been, unless you want me to out the BRYC sources/friends, which I can't do. I read Dolansky's communication and it touched a nerve because it was not remotely transparent (ha!). Why protest? No buy-in from the membership, which as one pointed out about McLean/SYC, perhaps isn't the norm. No buy-in from the TD/DOC (as I've been reliably informed). The players may (speculation) revolt. The coaching staff is disenfranchised after being ignored and backdoored. The route was ECNL girls ... for the BRYC ECNL boys. it's being dictated. And VYS boys is weaker than the alternatives. You are reaching for low hanging fruit. If I were trying to grow the boys for any club, BRYC included, I would pick the best partner or not partner. Perhaps affiliate (not sure what is entailed there). I wouldn't ignore my DOC and ECNL Director's preference (again, facts reported to me), cater first/only to the girls, and upset my membership base, and then dictate a result that wasn't asked for or socialized. And I certainly wouldn't do it with a Board that reportedly is illegitimate (expired terms; not full; and ultimately not in the know). Those are the facts.
If the ends always justify the means, I guess folks won't care. That seems to be the sentiment from a bunch here. Except the ends aren't that great given the lack of strength of the VYS boy side. Seems like desperation to save the girls struck and VYS horse traded. "Give us your boys too or no deal."
If this were my 4th grader's club, I would wonder about the choices made, I would wonder who would coach if they made ECNL, etc. I might just be naive. This is how it's done? Lots are up in arms about it.
Thanks for the questions.
P.S. Great handle.
You’re absolutely right. No parent in their right mind would ever consider bryc. A bunch of crooks. I have also received over 100 pms from concerned parents. They are asking why they were not consulted on this partnership. Why Dolansky is punishing the boys program to save the girls program. Why not just persue affiliate programs with local clubs. The illegitimate board. And most importantly why the FCV partnership was not mentioned. No one with any ambition for their DC would accept this. If 100% of the parents don’t agree then Dolansky should be removed. How else can someone properly govern a club.
Why would concerned parents reach out to a parent who is not affiliated with either club? Why would parents ever be consulted on the workings of club merger talks? I have never been at a club where they asked parents what they think. Did FCV parents poll parents when DA folded about whether the club would join GA or ECNL? Did FCV talk to parents when they sold to TSJ? Did FCV talk to parents when they left ECNL for DA? Did FCV ask parents what they thought about merging with Loudoun?
But back to why these parents are so concerned and sending you 100' of pms. Why would parents be at all concerned? If you are on a ECNL team you should grow to expect that outside competition will always be factor every year. If you are a VYS parent you don't have to do anything you don't want to do. Your kid is free to tryout for the ECNL team, tryout at another ECNL club or stay ECNL-R if that is what you want to do.
People forget that their kids are all on year to year contracts. Clubs merge, change leagues, change coaches etc all the time. You sign up for one year and as long as they are being transparent with expectations for the coming year before you sign on again there is nothing to be concerned about.