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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]At what age would you move your child out of the DC soccer travel teams to more competitive teams in either VA or MD? It seems like DC clubs lose talented kids as they get older - why aren't DC teams as good?[/quote]

"It seems like DC clubs lose talented kids as they get older"
All clubs loose kids who are very good and want to play in higher leagues.  If a players has been playing in DC Soccer and doing the extra skills clinics since age 5 and they are athletically gifted in some sense, they will probably want to leave by U13 to play in MLS Next, ECNL or GA.   All clubs hate losing players who 'chase leagues.'  Talk with anyone on the girls side of ASA and they have the same problem, as do many clubs.

"At what age would you move your child out of the DC soccer travel teams to more competitive teams in either VA or MD?"
Now, if you know you want to get on a top team, there are two decent paths I have seen work out.  Path #1) Your kid looks like they could be on the US Olympic 100m dash team and is crazy fast.  You could move over at any time. I have seen abnormally fast kids who look like sprinters, just show up and are offered spots almost immediately. (No coach can resist the idea of having physically more dominant players).   Path #2) Your kid is average size and very technical. Move them over early to start getting on a team by U11.  The teams are full of very technical players, who are average size.  It will be otherwise hard for them to standout, with so many other talented kids at tryouts.

"- why aren't DC teams as good?"
Not just DC Teams, but other areas as well. I have noticed more pockets of concentrated soccer options offered in some others and none in others.  Look at the McLean-Annandale to Springfield area and you will find a ton of extra soccer skills training and soccer fitness training being offered.  It  is easy for teammates in those areas to have team training and also go and do technical skills or fitness training that is close by.  I have to drive at least 40 minutes in traffic to participate in such training.  I would assume, that in DC you have a similar challenge... not enough, top notch skills clinics and fitness training.

Lastly, good club leadership will attract and retain quality coaching staff.  My old club had a lot of turnover. Every coach, I thought was good, left the club after 1 year.  Then I attended a coaching clinic run by my old club... it was only helpful for the grassroots coaches.  It wasn't a very good clinic for the travel coaches. It was very basic.  Then, I saw how a few bigger clubs run their coaching clinics... and let's say, some clubs 1000% do a much better job of directing and leading their coaches.  Those coaches get more out of the system and stick around, which makes the club better.   If you see a lot of turnover in your club, it will be hard for the club to build a quality program that is as competitive.

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