Message
Who else is hosting one?
FPYC is great fun for the kids (though tbh, the dad coaches probably enjoy it at least as much).
FPYC is great fun for the kids (though tbh, the dad coaches probably enjoy it at least as much).
OP, I’m not familiar with those clubs, so can’t help with your original question. But just so you know what you’re getting into with the whole ECNL thing (because I did not), my 2011 tried out this year and there were apparently 120 girls there. For a single team.
It’s nuts.
It’s nuts.
TedLasso wrote:ECNL-RL has been a little all over the place especially around NoVa. Last year for 21-22 the league only had 8 teams and they didn’t experiment with having the U12’s play 11v11 in the spring season. This year the area expanded to 12 teams and split them into 2 red and blue divisions and with crossover we at least had 8 fall games. The spring was light due to some teams not fielding teams for 11v11. Looking to next year there will be one less team for boys/girls because of the Villareal/BRYC alliance so that will be interesting to see how they setup but it probably won’t be much different. They will likely just add another crossover game between the divisions.
ECNL-RL is such a mixed bag once U13 comes. Teams and kids disband because most of these clubs have some sort of alliance that tries to funnel kids into ECNL.
And the VPSL site is and always has been terrible. Scoring is hardly ever updated on time. Not much different than even the actual ECNL site sometimes when trying to find ECNL scores.
Yes, credit where credit is due, I liked that they had the girls play 11v11 this spring. It was a good experience.
BunchlineDC wrote:CampChairCoffee wrote:BunchlineDC wrote:CampChairCoffee wrote:I dunno, but my kid was pretty bummed when they realized how many more games their NCSL sibling got to play.
Even if it’s to accommodate HS, not sure why that should limit the younger ages. For the money you spend, it would be nice for the kids to… play games.
@campchaircoffee - What age group is your kid in? If u14 and lower, this shouldn't be the case. I can certainly understand being frustrated in that scenario. Have you reached out to the club?
2011, and they only had 6 games this spring, plus state cup. The club set up a couple scrimmages, which is okay, but we do this because my kid loves to play. A lot. So fewer games was disappointing.
To be clear, have not seen anything scheduled beyond this month. But the league also hasn’t posted any results for spring, which seems lame (and which NCSL has also managed to do). Would be helpful to see when kids are considering moves….
ECNL doesn't start until U13 (2010 this year). Are you sure they are in ECNL-R? Or are they playing up this year?
Yes, talking about pre-ECNL. Have been a bit underwhelmed.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Total newcomer here - what does it mean when the coach invites you to come practice with the team for a “closer look”? This happened to my son last night after his second try out. Son reports that they chose about 10 out of 50 or so kids to do this.
They weeded him out and now will compare against current team members and the other 9. They are using it to see where to place. Maybe 1-2 out of the 9 will go to the top team. Others may be slotted to lower teams.
Should we assume he will likely have a spot on some team with this club? He tried out to play/practice closer to home. We 100% do not care which team he makes - he loves playing and loves travel and we have the cash to foot the bill so we don’t care about competitiveness. We’re just sick of driving 40 minutes to practice.
How many teams do they have for his age?
Three
He will definitely make 1 of the 3 teams.
Thank you! You guys are so helpful. Not having to drive 40 minutes to practice will be life changing! Just trying to not get ahead of myself.
Congrats! Life will be much better (the only way our family makes it work is by staying close to home).
BunchlineDC wrote:CampChairCoffee wrote:I dunno, but my kid was pretty bummed when they realized how many more games their NCSL sibling got to play.
Even if it’s to accommodate HS, not sure why that should limit the younger ages. For the money you spend, it would be nice for the kids to… play games.
@campchaircoffee - What age group is your kid in? If u14 and lower, this shouldn't be the case. I can certainly understand being frustrated in that scenario. Have you reached out to the club?
2011, and they only had 6 games this spring, plus state cup. The club set up a couple scrimmages, which is okay, but we do this because my kid loves to play. A lot. So fewer games was disappointing.
To be clear, have not seen anything scheduled beyond this month. But the league also hasn’t posted any results for spring, which seems lame (and which NCSL has also managed to do). Would be helpful to see when kids are considering moves….
Just checked and I’m not familiar with those coaches, sorry.
I will say that one of my son’s friends moved up a level between fall and spring, so there does seem to be movement between teams at SYC, if that’s helpful.
I will say that one of my son’s friends moved up a level between fall and spring, so there does seem to be movement between teams at SYC, if that’s helpful.
What color is the SYC team?
Less familiar with Gunston, but I have a son who has played against a bunch of SYC teams (with friends on some of the top ones), and they’re generally very skilled.
Agree that it’s ideal to learn more about the coaches if you can.
Less familiar with Gunston, but I have a son who has played against a bunch of SYC teams (with friends on some of the top ones), and they’re generally very skilled.
Agree that it’s ideal to learn more about the coaches if you can.
I dunno, but my kid was pretty bummed when they realized how many more games their NCSL sibling got to play.
Even if it’s to accommodate HS, not sure why that should limit the younger ages. For the money you spend, it would be nice for the kids to… play games.
Even if it’s to accommodate HS, not sure why that should limit the younger ages. For the money you spend, it would be nice for the kids to… play games.
Let the coach know you’re waiting to hear from other teams. If they really want your player, they will give you more time.
dcu13 wrote:CampChairCoffee wrote:Thanks, all. Not remotely fluent in soccer (what’s P.R.O.?) but trying to help my kid navigate the process, and it’s touchy IRL with teammates moving up and down and around.
It's totally confusing and by the time I get it all figured out my kids will be done with soccer.
PRO as it has existed for the last 10(?) years is a more selective version of National League. Basically each regional conference has 10-12 teams that compete for a league title each season. The top 2-3 teams from each conference qualify for the following season's PRO. PRO is a national league of 30-40 teams divided into a few different groups. All the teams will get together at a couple of different events and play some games. The top teams then qualify for the national championship. These events are (I assume) attended by plenty of college scouts.
You nailed it.CampChairCoffee wrote:So it sounds like national league would rank below ECNL/MLS Next in competitiveness, but above EDP and NCSL? And that’s partly based on the ability to advance in national competition, and partly because recruitment is strongest at the highest level?
Thanks, that’s really helpful. So basically it’s all fairly diluted because there’s so much money to be made in the youth industrial soccer complex….
BunchlineDC wrote:In simpler terms, yes, they are separate things and the National League is more competitive/higher ranking than the EDP league. But EDP runs both.
It's not confusing....
Thanks, all. Not remotely fluent in soccer (what’s P.R.O.?) but trying to help my kid navigate the process, and it’s touchy IRL with teammates moving up and down and around.
So it sounds like national league would rank below ECNL/MLS Next in competitiveness, but above EDP and NCSL? And that’s partly based on the ability to advance in national competition, and partly because recruitment is strongest at the highest level?
Is there any difference between these leagues, or are they essentially the same thing?
Golden Boot runs good camps, with some in McLean that might be convenient for you.
It feels a bit like a soccer factory to me, since they seem to create as many teams as they have kids trying out.
That said, I know multiple 2011 kids (both boys and girls, some of whom are skilled players) who haven’t heard anything back yet.
That said, I know multiple 2011 kids (both boys and girls, some of whom are skilled players) who haven’t heard anything back yet.