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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Good lord.  We're with Arlington and we love it - I haven't seen anything like what's being discussed here.  The parents on our team and the parents that I meet at pooled practices and tournaments have been great, and I feel like the coaches, at least at our level, are more low-key than many we've played against.  They seem to teach the younger kids the fundamentals without focusing on scoring.  (which resulted in us getting absolutely crushed during our first 4 games our first season, but we're doing better now.)

I did find it kind of interesting that they started this Academy thing this year, identifying rec kids who played winter soccer for travel potential.  The two Academy kids from our rec team are 2 of our best and the only ones trying out for travel this year, so the selection methodology seems appropriate.

I think the only downside is that they field so many teams at the lower level, that if you're on one of the 5th or 6th lowest teams, you are coming up against teams from BRYC and VYSA and VSA etc. who are probably just better teams.  You can start to feel like cannon fodder.  Plus you're seen as feeder material for the upper teams when they lose girls or need subs, so you end up playing tournaments and games with less than a full roster.  It's hard to play for an hour with only 2 subs.[/quote]

Just to clarify, Academy has been around for years in Arlington - the Advanced Academy concept is new.  I believe the Arlington coaches from the normal Academy identified some kids to be invited to the Advanced Academy (no tryouts, but the coaches worked with the kids through Pre-Academy and Academy so could easily identify some talent without a tryout).  The Advanced Academy then practiced over the Winter and this Spring (Winter soccer is through Arlington County, not ASA, and no ASA coaches attended the Arlington County Winter Games).  Arlington Advanced Academy is definitely not as advanced as U8 Academy programs in McLean and Alexandria since it is only 1 practice a week with no games - so whatever insults you throw at Arlington parents, you can also apply to Alexandria and McLean parents about trying to advance their U8s.

There is a little craziness around the U9 tryouts everywhere since it is new to most of the kids and parents, and since half of their U9 boys in Arlington will get cut (unlike other programs that don't have the same numbers and 4/5ths will make the team) - and it was worse before the age change.  But after U9 tryout,  in the following years, much less stress and craziness.  The parents I've met through ASA Travel have been great - not at all acting like this anonymous board reflects.

And yes, some of the lower teams for Arlington are cannon-fodder for other local leagues, but that is also true for others in the CCL league.  Whereas Arlington's Elite players (Red and White) play in the CCL and CCLII leagues, their 2nd tier & 3rd tier teams (Blue/ Black and Gold/Silver) play in NCSL and ODSL.  Many of the region's clubs who are not in CCL or CCLII play their top players in NCSL, whereas Arlington plays NCSL with its 22nd+ best players, so it is much tougher for Arlington, McLean, BRYC,  LMVSC, etc.. to be competitive in those leagues.  Yes, they divide NCSL and ODSL into different divisions - but it is hard for Arlington teams (and other CCL teams)  to consistently be in the top NCSL / ODSL divisions.  So if you are an Arlington Blue team in NCSL, you are playing against some of the best players in the area (just not the CCL leagues best players which are a small percent of the local leagues).[/quote]

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