Reply to Why travel sports when there are tons of competitors in the immediate area?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Agree it's dumb and this is one of many reasons we will never do travel sports. It's a scam. If you child is very talented and hard working, they can get scouted without doing travel sports, and if they are not, they can get all the benefit necessary out of local leagues. There is no compelling reason for travel sports in a place like the DMV.[/quote]

For soccer, if your child is very talented and hard working, they can get onto a MLSNext/ECNL team from small local clubs (e.g., those that rarely travel to go to tournaments but play locally in EDP, even NCSL).  In other words, you do not have to join any of the big clubs (e.g., those that have MLSNext, ECNL or whatever major affiliation) to develop a kid in soccer.  For pre-MLSNext/ECNL ages, stay at a club that is most convenient to you and where your kid plays on a team that is at a competitive level where they are getting challenged.  In other words, focus on individual development (i.e., technical skills along with game experience to develop soccer IQ, competitiveness, etc.) and not big club name/assurance or winning.  Your kid may not be scouted proactively but their talent will be "seen" or stand out at tryouts/tournaments/etc.

Obviously, if commute time to practices, travel, and the expense of big clubs is not an issue for your family, then by all means, joining a big club is a great way to ensure your kids get developed well.  The kid still has to have the talent and self-motivation but it's a safe way especially if you're not familiar with soccer development yourself.  I'm sure it's been said and heard a lot but coaches of top teams always have their eyes open for new players with potential.  I know, that's not reassuring for parents with kids on the cusp of the A/B teams but it's reality.  And for parents with those talented players, don't rely on the clubs assurance of developing your player. Chances are, most clubs want your kid so it's always good to keep good relationships with all major clubs.  
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EDP for DD's team is usually at least an hour drive and often two. I would not call that local [/quote]

I hear ya.  For us, it's usually a 30-45 min ride but we've had friends in other divisions where the locations were really far. Often times when they played a team from Delaware or near those borders.  If EDP and NCSL is considered a lot of travel then I would disagree with the OP that for a regular middle class, upper middle class (mostly white) family in the DC area, the local soccer competition is not enough.  The soccer clubs in DC borders are mostly not competitive (rec level), most of the competitive clubs play in the suburbs, hence EDP and NCSL will still require some travel in the DC area and its suburbs.

If you want high level or comparable level of competition that is truly local, you can see if your daughter's team can join a Latino league.  Mostly organized by word of mouth but the clubs that play in those leagues are small latino or African clubs and all games are hosted by the organizing club at one or just a few locations.  The reality is that those lamenting why there is a need for travel soccer in an urban area are not comfortable joining more local leagues or environments. And frankly, a lot of those clubs and leagues are not welcoming to outsiders (unless your kid is good).  [/quote]

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