Many have shared a feeling that the better rec teams would easily beat the lower travel teams.

Honest question - why don't the kids on those rec teams switch to travel?

Per the NCSL board meeting notes from March:

"The league is still in talks with the Suburban Friendship League. Former executive director Ryan Rich had met with all clubs that are in SFL to talk about what they like, don’t like, suggestions for improvements, etc. He took notes and has shared them with Richard. NCSL is ready for the transition; we are waiting for SFL to confirm the timing. SFL will be a rec league; no travel players will play in SFL and no rec players will play on NCSL league teams. Registration and scheduling for SFL will be done electronically (it was previously done by hand).

There was a question about SFL fees and how field loading will be handled. Richard said that SFL had fees that supported the league but then reduced the fees as they were preparing to transition out of managing the league. NCSL will look at the costs of managing the games and price the team registration accordingly. Richard said we will work with the clubs once field permits are loaded, e.g., prioritizing rec games on Saturdays, He expects field use to be more efficient with access to more permits. Referee coverage may be boosted as well.

In response to a question, Richard said that SFL will be a Virginia rec league only."

NCSL U14

2 practices a week
Mid-August to early June
9-10 games fall, 9-10 games spring
2 tournaments
futsal optional winter

Also practices with neighborhood rec team (friends)
Also plays rec basketball in winter
Also does swim team in summer

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. I thought Ryan Rich was the new technical director at Alexandria. Is he doing both Alexandria and NCSL?

Sounds like it. Maybe he'll phase out with NCSL now that they've got someone else.

http://www.ncsl-soccer.com/ncsl-selects-new-executive-director

Not sure what, if any, changes this will mean for the league but thought I would share.

KevintheBrownOne wrote:Hi. WCU might be a good option but, at least for the last three years, they haven't had a 2010 boys squad. A couple of the coaches left WCU to eventually form City Sporting Club based in NE DC. From my experience, they're good coaches and have a tight knit group of kids. They've grown enough to have two teams at the 2010 age group. You might want to give them a call. I think they may be pretty close to you. I know at least some of their practices are at the Edgewood Rec Center by Catholic University.

Thanks!

I contacted them and we've got a tryout next week.


Thanks to everyone who has shared feedback on this question. You've been super helpful.

Thanks!

Hopefully I'll hear back.

WCUparent wrote:We live on Capitol Hill and my daughter has been playing with WCU (Washington Capitol United) for several years. It is a great little club - the director is top notch. There are many families that live in Maryland that play with the club - I think it is a fairly drive in from close in Maryland to RFK (where most practices are held). I recommend you take a closer look!

Thank you.

I'm definitely interested in WCU. A neighbor's daughter played with him and was pretty happy and yes it's pretty close.

Unfortunately I've emailed them twice but haven't received a response. If you've got any contacts there please let me know.

Thanks.

workingmomma wrote:I'm with MD United and it's a great club. Considering how far passed tryouts it is, your DS likely wouldn't get placed on a top team, but I'd encourage you yo keep it on your radar for the longer term. The coaches are always open to having players join trainings, so maybe reach out and try to hop in a summer session? We never really stop practicing.

Depending on where in College Park you live, MD United practices wouldn't necessarily be 50 minutes away. Maybe 35. Indian Creek School is not far from exit 16 on rt 50 and there are practices also held at Liberty Sports Park not too far from exits 11 and 13 off 50.

Potomac and Bethesda, while great clubs, actually seem further away given traffic in the area.

Thanks! We will keep it on the radar.

realdmv wrote:Why would you go all the way to MD United? Achilles, Bethesda, Potomac and DC Soccer are all closer and you can probably find something better than driving 50 minutes one way for practice.

A couple other kids in our neighborhood are joining MD United so we would at least be able to carpool sometimes to practice. But you're right, those others are closer.

Mdmom22 wrote:I forgot to add Liverpool FC.

So clubs like Takoma Park Friends or Takoma Park Grasp are not actually connected, and barely connected to Takoma Park Soccer Club. Friends and Grasp are organizations that are team based and don't have enough resources/interest/etc. to field teams at all age groups. In fact, almost all have very little online presence and tend to be word of mouth. In order to register their teams in EDP, they have to be housed by a soccer club like Takoma Park SC. There are others as well, just look at EDP and NCSL and see all the teams that start with Takoma Park (e.g., http://www.ncsl-soccer.com/_element_display/#%2F80738%2Fteams%2Fclub%2F15599475.html%3Frnd%3D1687974702999). You have to reach out to the contact for the specific team and not to Takoma Park in general.

That said, Takoma Park Friends 2010 definitely had a team in the spring as our club played them in EDP. Maybe try to find their contact on the NCSL or EDP website?

That is very helpful. That club (and its team names) has always been a mystery to me. It makes more sense now!

They told me that the Friends 2010 team is actually composed of 2011 kids who were all playing up. I guess they want to keep that way.

I've never understood why the "nuclear free zone" hasn't built out an actual travel club. I know they have a pretty large rec operation.

NosyParker wrote:For 2010 age group, Laurel soccer club just won MD State Cup.

I looked into Laurel Lions and as far as a I can tell, despite their name, they are based in Potomac - https://www.thelionssoccer.com/.

NosyParker wrote:If you are not looking for division 1 teams and looking for a team where you son gets a lot of playing time, you should check our Coach Sona Walla's Takoma Park GraspYouth 2010 team. They practice in MD/DC border around 16th street area, might be a 15-20 minutes drive from College Park, MD.

Thanks. I actually contacted Takoma Park Friends United and they said they don't have a 2010 team. Is Takoma Park Grasp a different club than Takoma Park Friends United?

Mdmom22 wrote:Here are more clubs...

Thanks for much for compiling this list. Really helpful. I knew of some of these clubs but not all.

I'm actually fine with a larger club, there just aren't any immediately near us. I think a larger club would offer more stability. If just a few coaches leave a smaller club it has a major (potentially fatal) impact.

We may take a look at MD United for 2024-25 if my son continues to show interest/dedication. It's a big commitment and he has a little sister who has decided she wants to get into horseback riding ($$$$$).

Anyway, thanks again!

Wish I could help.

When checking out some club websites I found that a few offer weekly pickup games during the summer. Maybe you could contact a few near you and see if they have anything.

My son's club is scaling back due to an unexpected loss of coaches and lower than expected interest from parents/players. The 2010s and 2011s were dropped (at least for the fall). Not great timing when finding another club considering that tryout season is long over.

My son is a 2010 and was told he has a spot on the 2009s but realistically I don't think he will get much playing time. He's never going to go pro. I would rather he had a good chance at playing time even on a lesser team vs. riding the pine and possibly quitting the sport.

We live near the University of Maryland.

I've looked at

- DeMatha
- Takoma Park Friends United
- Brookland FC (aka DCSC-Brookland)
- Washington Capital United

Other clubs I've seen in PG County or NE DC all seem very small.

I'd rather not commit to driving to MoCo, Howard, AA or NoVa a few times a week if there are other options.


Any suggestions?