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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Looking for any feedback on the FCBEscola in Leesburg.  Are they legit?  Your thoughts are much appreciated.  [/quote]

No personal experience yet - other than their camp last summer - but the reviews I've heard and seen from multiple parents have all been very positive so far.  The coaches are very good.  Unlike the plethora of local clubs that suddenly re-brand themselves by "partnering" with a well-known international club, I think the FCBEscola staff is mostly made up of Spanish coaches who have moved here for this job.  The training philosophy and curriculum is straight from FCBEscola in Barcelona.

Note that none of that is to be confused with FCB's youth academy - la Masia.  The Escola is exactly what the name implies - a soccer school.  It's purpose is not to develop future professionals.  It is to teach quality soccer along with good values.

The main drawbacks from what I've heard are - (1) the cost is on the high side.  I think it's around $2300 a year or thereabouts.  In my opinion that's a fair price for 3x week year-round training with a 100% professional staff, TD on site and actively involved at every session, etc..., but it's still a decent chunk of change.  This is clearly not being subsidized by the parent club (as it might be if they were actually hoping to use it as a scouting platform to find players).  (2)  No league play.  They still have games every Saturday, but they are mostly intra-club scrimmages, with a few friendlies vs local clubs thrown in, as well as several tournaments a year.  (3)  Talent pool.  Again I think this is only an issue if your expectations don't match what they are really trying to do.  At least for now, they are not intending to come in and establish themselves as an elite, ultra-competitive club in this area.  They are not going to be able to compete with the talent level that the DA/ECNL clubs draw.  That all could change if they applied for and were granted that status, but I don't think that's really what they are after.    All that being said, the players that I know who are currently there are all very good, technical (in some cases extremely technical), smart players.  Most of them are just a slight bit below the DA level, but I also know of at least a couple who voluntarily left DA clubs to pursue better training at the Escola.

HTH[/quote]

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