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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Does anyone have experience with travel hockey 10u in Northern VA. I am curious as to the competition to make Caps Academy, ST. James, or the other teams in the area. How many kids are trying out for the organizations teams at each age groups. Huge difference from house league? What have been overall experience with the organizations?

Of course trying out would be the best way to determine my son is at the level. But wouldn’t mind having some understanding before getting into this. Not aiming for the Little Caps. But moving up from House. [/quote]

OP, how many kids are trying out and how hard it is to make a travel team really varies across birth years and programs. For example, the current 10U majors, the 2014 birth year, is a relatively small cohort (thanks Covid!) As a result, making one of the lower travel teams (B or Lower A) is pretty achievable for a decent House player who can skate competently; particularly at STJ, Caps Academy, Reston, Potomac. Not to mention that Ice Dogs will probably restart  and look to rebuild in the next year or so, so there will be opportunities to tryout there. That said, the 2014s will be 12Us this Spring and then the landscape changes again with AAA hockey coming into play. The 2015 birthyear (10U minor) seems to be larger and have pretty good talent; might be harder to make even a lower travel team because there are more kids. I can't speak for the upcoming 10Us next season (2016s) but I assume they will have volumes that are similar to or better than the 2015s. Making a top team (AA) from House at 10U is much more challenging. Even making an Upper A team at a club like Ashburn or Loudoun would be very challenging.  It's not unheard of but your kid will have to quite athletic,  be a very good and fast skater and have very good stick skills. Many House teams also have select programs and there are also "travel light programs (at MYHA at least, but that's not Northern VA) which could be a good fit for your kid if they aren't quite ready for full travel. That said, hockey is for everyone and there is a level of play that is developmentally appropriate and fun for all. I wouldn't push your kid to go for travel unless the level of play is no longer fun and developmentally a good fit. The travel can be very extensive and the commitment makes it very difficult to play any other sports in the Fall and Winter. Tryouts will be held in the Spring for Fall 2025; many of the tryouts for all the area clubs do overlap so you will have to be a little intentional about which club tryout you will prioritize. Tryouts at travel are usually 2 days minimum but can be 3 or even 4 days if your player is on the bubble and rosters are still being worked out.

There has been a lot of commentary already on specific clubs in this forum - I'll only add that each club has positives and negatives. Your experience will vary depending on the team and mix of other families and kids you all end up with. I have heard great things and bad things from individuals at every club. There is no one club in the area that is the hands down best experience. 
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