Transplant_1 wrote:Would quality of Arlington be impacted by recent departure of high level staff? I guess it would depend on who they find as replacements?

No that will not impact anything. Arlington is a very big club, has a very large pool of players and is in a good location to drawing players from other clubs. So in the DMV area quality(wins) will remain the same no matter who is there. Now when you play similar size or bigger clubs with similar/better athleticism the coaches, development and style of play makes a difference.

Arlington should be able to attract some quality staff because it’s a big club backed by the county. I think they offer a 401k and health benefits many clubs do not offer. Though this is travel soccer and there are a lot of retreads. So do not under estimate the ability of a club to pick the wrong person. Remember most of the direct level people are leaving there current situation for a reason.

dad20007 wrote:Are there rec leagues for 16 year old girls? A friend asked, her daughter has played semi-competitive soccer but wants something that meets twice a week rather than more intense travel/club.

NW DC preferred...

Thanks

Try https://www.dcyouthfutbolclub.org/our-teams.html

Practice in NW.

Midfield wins.

The main problem is the people coaching are a product of the system. They made it through the abusive system and became a coach. I see abusive women and men coaches coaching little kids. I have spent time in Europe and their coaches over all are much more professional, with higher standards.

So below u12/13 the emphasis is on developing the minimum skills needed to play soccer. U9 the kids are grouped in to teams roughly base on aggressive then speed and size not soccer skill. Very few U9s have the spatial awareness and vision to see the field. Specially when they have to look down to dribble, pass or receive. Spatial awareness and vision develop later after you have developed ball skills.

When the kids get older (u14 plus) skill under pressure, ball skills and speed of play(one or two touch play, receiving and passing under a second) and control in tight spaces sets players apart. This is what the coaches are trying to develop.

Most u9s are kicking the ball by a player and chasing the ball. This is all about aggression and how fast you run. Playing this way releases control of the ball and turning possession in to a 50/50 ball. The fastest most aggressive player will win the ball and maybe score. It works at u9 but will works less and less each year. You really do not need to practice this. A good soccer player is one who can go by a defender with the ball at their feet and still look to pass, change pace, move to open space because they control the ball. This needs to be developed and practiced.

Winning at u9 does not mater.

I have never considered resigning at any time. I still have the energy to create a new team. I don’t think stepping away is the right thing to do.”

Those were the words of Jorge Vilda, manager of the Spain women’s national team, after announcing his last squad, which is missing 17 of the best footballers in the country.
Spanish women’s football imploded last week. Fifteen internationals sent a private email to the country’s football association announcing they wanted to stop being called up until there were massive changes in the coaching structure of the team.

The 15 footballers who signed the email include some of the world’s best players…

… In the eye of the storm is one man: Vilda. The national manager is not supported by the internationals, who had enough after the European Championship last summer, according to sources close to the players who wish to remain anonymous to retain their jobs.

The footballers have made their concerns very clear and have been asking internally, for several weeks, for changes within the coaching staff.

Vilda’s answer was ruthless. He does not plan to step down and is ready to leave out the main core of the best generation Spanish women’s football has ever seen; a group of players tipped to be candidates for every major honour over the coming years.

https://theathletic.com/3645282/2022/10/05/spanish-women-football-implosion-vilda/

Thought people would get a kick out of this… As Charlie Sheen would say…winning!

Even with the drama they were fun to watch in the Euros.

But the report makes clear that the problems weren't just about three men. "Our investigation has revealed a league in which abuse and misconduct—verbal and emotional abuse and sexual misconduct—had become systemic, spanning multiple teams, coaches, and victims," it says. "Abuse in the NWSL is rooted in a deeper culture in women's soccer, beginning in youth leagues, that normalizes verbally abusive coaching and blurs boundaries between coaches and players."

https://www.npr.org/2022/10/04/1126730508/national-womens-soccer-league-abuse-report

I know most posters here are really only follow their kids team and maybe their club. This report sheds light on the abuse that was allowed to happen after being discovered and brought to the attention of club and league.

One of the findings was the abuse is normalizes in the youth system(and most likely continues in the college ranks). So the abuse found in the pro league is just a reflection of the system. The girls know no other environment ans it’s hard to come forward even as a women. Most know what happens if you cross a coach. My kid has had good and bad male and female coaches. The worst coach my kid had was at u10 verbally and emotionally abusive and a woman. I think the system. Let’s face for most parents a good coach is the one who picks your kid.

The verbal and emotional abuse players describe in the NWSL is not merely 'tough' coaching. And the players affected are not shrinking violets. They are among the best athletes in the world," Yates wrote.
More than 200 people were interviewed by investigators. Some two dozen entities and individuals provided documents. U.S. Soccer also provided documents and the firm reviewed 89,000 deemed likely to be relevant…

… It recounts an April 2021 encounter between Holly and a player, Erin Simon, who now plays in Europe. Holly invited her to watch game film with him and allegedly told her that for every pass she messed up, he was going to touch her. Simon told investigators Holly "pushed his hands down her pants and up her shirt."

Coaches fired for cause and hired by other teams, etc, etc.

The top teams have been very entertaining- creative play, different styles of play and high skill & IQ soccer for u20. Disappointing tournament for the US. They seemed more athletic vs most of the teams but got crushed. Some of that can be put on the coaching. If you tie a team 2-2 and 40 days later lose to them 3-0 you got out coached. US had no answers when they were forced into tight spaces. Maybe the selection process, weak qualifying competition and college players vs professionals? The Netherlands midfield and forwards broke a lot of US defenders ankles.

Spain vs Japan. Should be a fun game to watch.

So really entertaining soccer- high skill, fast speed of play, coaches earning their pay and informed analysis. Think Spain really missed Alexia. Spain just could not finish and Alexia would have provided that. England made the adjustments in the second 1/2 -formations and subbed in younger players.

The game(free on BBC) got 10 million viewers in the UK. Big EPL games get 2-3 million but you have to pay. Think Germany will win this but the Netherlands are a team to watch. The younger talent is something to watch. Coaches are always hesitant to play young players in a big tournament but England and the Netherlands had their hand forced.