Reply to Choosing between VDA ECNL and FCV GA

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]tons of variables including commute distance, but here are a few thoughts

Loudoun - huge club so very political, underperforms at ECNL level which would make me evaluate coaching carefully. It really comes down to the coach
FCV - good track record at producing competitive teams and college placement, questionable culture, questionable ability to draw elite talent in future with GA only, practice locations uncertain
McLean - good track record at college placement, declining ability to attract and develop talent due to dilution, moderately competitive on average. A lock to stay in ECNL
VDA - up and comers of the bunch, middling placement history. remote location, polarizing ECNL coaching
BRYC - hit hard by coaching defections (and players), least competitive ECNL program currently, faithful following. Significant potential for a merger in the future

for us, it would boil down to who would the coach be, because that will determine a players progress more than the club. There are coaches we would avoid like the plague but you should develop your own opinions. Highly recommend going to see how they operate at practice and at games.[/quote]

This is fantastic information! Thank you very much. This has piqued my interest (VDA - up-and-comers with a mediocre placement history). Please elaborate, [b]polarizing ECNL coaching.[/b][/quote]

VDA has only recently started placing players in D1 colleges in high numbers, depending on the age groups you could get a very good coach or a bad coach. [/quote]

What characterizes a lousy coach? What has changed in the program to make them the number one destination if they are now placing all of their players in D1 institutions and training is good?[/quote]

Go to training and watch. [/quote]

I feel I am capable of doing that; however, whose age groups should I target and where should I go for the schedule?[/quote]

Game schedules are online for the most part. I would try to see a cross section of ages if I could so that I could see more than one coach. Getting training times is harder, but if you're after the clandestine approach, you could just go to the field on a weds or thurs at 7 pm and almost be guaranteed there will be an ecnl team training. You may have to do some sleuthing to figure out which age group and coach you're watching.

Alternatively, you can contact the coaches directly and ask to come see a session. Now is a great time to do this, outside of the tryout period.  This may all sound like a PITA, but if you're serious about finding the best environment for your player, it will pay off.  It is best to avoid lost years if you can avoid it with a few hours of research.[/quote]

I'd like to observe the U8, U6, and U19 teams because I'm curious to see if the coaching staffs follow a curriculum and how they progress together.[/quote]

Sorry, but this is a bit absurd.

1. VDA starts at u13. Their feeder clubs are PWSI and VSA. They each have rec programs, which is what U8 and U6 essentially are.
2. FCV has a practically non-existent rec program. You should have gathered that when it was stated earlier that they have almost no youth player pool.
3. What is taught at U6 is not even close to U19 and to want to see both as a basis of curriculum follow through is borderline ridiculous.

Sorry for being harsh but this needs to be nipped in the bud.[/quote]

So you think it's absurd because you don't understand my methods? I'd like to know how old your child is. My child will soon be entering one of these programs, and we will choose a club based on the curriculum and recruiting commitments. I used to be a student athlete (in a different sport), but I know I won't waste my time looking for victories like many families do. That, once again, is not my ultimate goal. And what do you mean by "nip it in the bud"? Any parent who has a child who participates in sports must be concerned about all age groups and how the curriculum translates at each level. That is how you can determine whether a program is worthwhile.
[/quote]

Yes, it is absurd to believe that any sort of club rec curriculum at 5-7 years old is anything more than playing sharks and minnows mixed with some cone dribbling drills followed by a scrimmage and a hearty juice box.

You will find no program at this age that offers more than introductory fun.

You also fail to take into account the tremendous player turnover that occurs over the years. Half the kids playing at that age will not even bother to pursue travel soccer not to mention stick with the club through the entirety of their “curriculum” through U19.

The ECNL team at U13 will likely be turned over by 50% before U15.

But by all means worry about college commitments at a club, one of which is younger than your own DD, before you even know if she is even good at soccer.

Yeah, you’re a clown. Neither club is even 19 years old themselves and you want to know how they follow through on their curriculum. Lol. [/quote]

You are right, nothing looks the same from U13 to U19, next year a new big merger with great propaganda  will be drawing all your top players. It is what it is. Good Luck.[/quote]

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