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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]NP.  I have a question.  My son is an 08 at Alexandria, and we are considering perhaps making a change for the following reason.  I feel like there is not enough focus on athleticism in terms of requiring that the kids take efforts to be in shape (this is not a crack on anyone's weight, I hate it when people on this site do that).  I mean, regardless of weight, I think kids should work on endurance and strength.  Is there any more focus on that at Arlington, or would we just be consideirng making a change for no real reason?[/quote]

That's interesting to me because I have seen the focus on the top 08 team in Alexandria recruiting size.  They used to be a small technical team, but it recent years they have brought in a few huge players and seem to be veering off course.  I think, perhaps, it was needed to stay competitive in the puberty years on the big field.  It seems to be the same for some of the older age groups.  Some of the style play is no longer the same.

In a perfect world, coaches would be noticing technicality and soccer IQ (movement off the ball, making runs and good decisions) and take into account that many kids are late growers.  So many Clubs miss out on these kids that leave because they have been marginalized and then you seem at age 17 and it's 'wow'.

I will say both Clubs have very talented players and good coaching and this issue is everywhere in the DMV.  I also get it. I honestly do.  We are at a different club and the recruitment of two big backs has been the major difference in our winning season.

Though I sometimes see these outmatched giants at tryouts in the DMV and the Clubs immediately gravitate to them.  I laugh with my spouse because it's like picking fish.  You have a kid that looks like he's 18 playing with kids that look like they are 10 at U13 a lot of the time...and with that difference in physicality those giants should really be performing even better than they are with that much difference in size.  (disclaimer-some of those kids are talented with the size--but many it's the size making the difference).

[/quote]

In EDP at the U13/14/15 years you could tell what Division was on the field by the size.  When our team was in first division our kids looked like Kindergarten in comparison.  I am really enjoying the U16/17 years with my oldest when this stuff no longer matters and there is equal match--because even the smaller kids now have muscle mass and the testosterone to power their play.

Those middle years are just a mess.[/quote]

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