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runrmom wrote:Ok, this is all quite general but the question was actually really specific. Is anyone able to name any clubs that are open to tryouts? Clubs that are done as far as I know: Bethesda. Potomac. PPA.
Am I missing any top clubs or top teams on large club that are still open in the MontCo area?
You're not being clear...what does "open to tryouts" mean to you?
All official tryouts are done at this point. Any tryout you do will be on an individual basis with a coach/program that you arrange yourself.
PPAParent wrote:Looks like the PPA offers are coming out today, at least for the older boys...is everyone happy with their placements?
I think the big news coming out of it is the boy's 2009 Green team, which was once one of the best teams in the country, now has been almost completely dismantled...losing a few to DC United last year, and now losing most of their remaining players to Potomac's new ECNL team.
PPA really needs to make some changes long term if they want to be one of the top programs in the area.
Any update on this? Has PPA addressed it to parents at all?
The 2009 Green team just won their third State Cup in a row, and now the entire team is leaving...that's gotta be pretty embarrassing for the club.
The simple answer... yes, this is the norm, especially in the bigger clubs.
Lasso911 wrote:thanks for all the info, I live in falls church area so we are accesible in between Mclean Arlington and Springfield. Not sure how to compare it or how it compares with us soccer but he had been playing with MK dons youth academy (They are EFL league one) and he had a great experience. Work obligations relocated me here with the possibility to go back after a year but we will see how we accomodate.
my son doesnt mind the social aspect, he will get along with anyone, he just wants to focus on playing because of the level he was at back home.
While you won't find any professional academy programs around here for your age group (DC United's academy starts at U13), both Arlington and Springfield are really good clubs, and you should be happy at either.
PPA is a great program, but go with a closer team.
At the Yellow level of PPA, you're basically playing at a rec level, and that's really not worth a long commute for.
At the Yellow level of PPA, you're basically playing at a rec level, and that's really not worth a long commute for.
Transplant_1 wrote:Can't say how Achilles first team is vs. Bethesda's first team.
Not even close at most age groups. Bethesda's MLS Next teams are way better than Achilles, and Bethesda has WAY more depth...their second teams are far better than Achilles 2nd Teams, etc.
PPA doesn't have MLS Next, but they also have more depth than Achilles. As one of the PP said, don't bother with Achilles unless you're on the top team.
Achilles also recruits heavily outside the program at higher ages...so don't assume if you're on the second team, that you'll have a chance to move to the first.
Is it worth it from a training perspective for a 7 year old? Of course not.
If your kid will have fun running around in a DC United shirt? Then sure.
If your kid will have fun running around in a DC United shirt? Then sure.
Transplant_1 wrote:Thank. But they are all closed systems, are they not? MLS Next plays other MLS Next. EDP plays other EDP (within same "level".) ECNL plays other ECNL. ECNL Regional plays others within their own regional group only.
Do you mean, that it's a larger geographic area, for the same number of teams that you play against, so will have to travel further? That, yes, am sure we have all sorely experienced and understand.
Correct. If you're in EDP 1, the teams are probably pretty compact, geographically. Now if your team moves to the National Academy League, you'll likely have to travel more to play teams that may not be as good as the teams in your EDP division.
Transplant_1 wrote:realdmv wrote:TedLasso wrote:MLS Next isn't going to be replaced. This 'new' league has already been somewhat in practice already with a lot of NE boys teams. Essentially this league will house 2nd teams for clubs that exist in MLS Next.
It's ECRL for MLS next. Closed system that won't help anyone and is just a money maker. In case you're not aware, they tried this in EDP with club v club and it failed.
What does the above quoted post mean, particularly about it being a closed system, as tried in EDP? And in what ways does it result in being a money maker, at detriment to kids and parents (pocketbooks?)
Much more travel/time/effort for the same level of play they have now.
Leave. Immediately.
Get away from the club entirely, as you don't want to be in a position where he should be on the top team, but doesn't want to be there.
We were in the same position...was miserable on the top team of a major club, left to another "lesser club" and then thrived, and eventually returned to the original team for MLS Next.
Get away from the club entirely, as you don't want to be in a position where he should be on the top team, but doesn't want to be there.
We were in the same position...was miserable on the top team of a major club, left to another "lesser club" and then thrived, and eventually returned to the original team for MLS Next.
westsidesoccer wrote:akindc wrote:You posted the same exact thing last year.
High school coaches are allowing it becasue they want the best teams possible, and there's no rule, from the high school side, against it.
If an MLS Next program is letting their kids play at public high schools, that's somethng to bring up with the program.
And as for why, clearly kids want to both play on the highest level club team they can, and play high school as well.
The problem is that other people may have chosen ECNL precisely so they could play high school soccer, and may have made a sacrifice that others have not made simply because the latter decide to flout rules. I don't care either way, but the argument is logical, as is the desire to play wherever one wants whenever one wants.
Yes, I think we all agree that MLS Next players shouldn't be playing soccer for public high schools under the curent rules.
It's fine if the OP wants to vent about it, but this has been discussed ad nauseum, and they've been advised to contact both the MLS Next program, and the league itself.
If the OP has done that, I hope they share the communications, or lack thereof.
You posted the same exact thing last year, which you clrealy know becasue of your subject line.
High school coaches are allowing it becasue they want the best teams possible, and there's no rule, from the high school side, against it.
If an MLS Next program is letting their kids play at public high schools, that's somethng to bring up with the program.
And as for why, clearly kids want to both play on the highest level club team they can, and play high school as well.
High school coaches are allowing it becasue they want the best teams possible, and there's no rule, from the high school side, against it.
If an MLS Next program is letting their kids play at public high schools, that's somethng to bring up with the program.
And as for why, clearly kids want to both play on the highest level club team they can, and play high school as well.
100% yes.
Might sound a little harsh, but open tryouts are a terrible way to go.
If you’re interested in a team/program, email them and say so, and they’ll have you at some practices to gauge your skill level. It’s win/win…they get a more accurate representation of your kid than they would get at an open tryout, and you know that your kid is really getting seen.
Might sound a little harsh, but open tryouts are a terrible way to go.
If you’re interested in a team/program, email them and say so, and they’ll have you at some practices to gauge your skill level. It’s win/win…they get a more accurate representation of your kid than they would get at an open tryout, and you know that your kid is really getting seen.
DMVParent wrote:Cruzado wrote:Interesting to read that Wayne Rooney is still involved with DC United and now part of their DCU Youth program. Hopefully that's a sign of better things to come---DCU's youth involvement has been underwhelming thus far.
DC United's U16 won the MLS Next Cup this year!
Is that now their U17 team? Interesting handful of games between DC and Bethesda this past weekend:
⚫ U17s DC 1, BSC 3
🔴 U15s DC 9, BSC 0
⚫ U14s DC 4, BSC 1
DCUdad wrote:akindc wrote:Has he convinced the owners to put more money/resources into the academy system, which has been gutted over the past few years? That I don't know.
This is an outdated impression. They have been un-gutting the academy over the last two 18 months, even prior to Rooney. My son has been with the DCU academy for three years, and it is so much better than it was in 2019. More and better coaches, better recruitment, better facilities, fully-funded, better travel accommodations, etc. Is it at the level of Union or RSL yet? No, it is not. But it is miles ahead of where it was and generally trending in the right direction.
I do agree that Rooney is more interested in bringing up the young, homegrown players than previous coaches -- either for a look with Loudoun or the first team, or actually signing them to homegrown contracts. But despite the issues with the academy, DCU was already signing more homegrown players through the years than most MLS clubs.
Good to know, thanks for the update.
By "fully funded", do you mean that kids/parents pay nothing to be on the Academy team?