So you are make your HS choice based on sport?

Anonymous wrote:I believe, but am not positive, that Vin Caccavale works with the St. John's JV squad. He's an excellent coach and in charge of the younger boys at Achilles. Hundreds of smart parents and kids have made the choice to play for Sal and Vin at Achilles and St. John's. STJ Varsity is 9-1. The JV is 6-1. Achilles 07s, 09s, 10s, and 11s are all among the top teams in the area. Check out a practice or a game and talk to the coaches and parents. I hope your son finds a great fit.

OP here -- thanks very much! Yes, I plan to meet the coaches later this month. My son is tough, and I think he could put up with just about anybody, but I won't be comfortable if the coach is a jerk. And we don't plan to join Achilles, so if that is needed to get playing time at SJC, then we will pass. We really like SJC as a school, so just need to figure out the soccer piece. I am hoping all of the concerns about the coaching staff is overblown.

Anonymous wrote:I believe, but am not positive, that Vin Caccavale works with the St. John's JV squad. He's an excellent coach and in charge of the younger boys at Achilles. Hundreds of smart parents and kids have made the choice to play for Sal and Vin at Achilles and St. John's. STJ Varsity is 9-1. The JV is 6-1. Achilles 07s, 09s, 10s, and 11s are all among the top teams in the area. Check out a practice or a game and talk to the coaches and parents. I hope your son finds a great fit.

Yes and many have left their teams too.

I believe, but am not positive, that Vin Caccavale works with the St. John's JV squad. He's an excellent coach and in charge of the younger boys at Achilles. Hundreds of smart parents and kids have made the choice to play for Sal and Vin at Achilles and St. John's. STJ Varsity is 9-1. The JV is 6-1. Achilles 07s, 09s, 10s, and 11s are all among the top teams in the area. Check out a practice or a game and talk to the coaches and parents. I hope your son finds a great fit.

Anonymous wrote:OP here -- thanks very much for your thoughts. What I don't understand is why doesn't SJC get a new head coach? Maybe that is the plan since SJC hired a new Director of Athletics last year? Seems like kids and parents at SJC are unhappy and a new approach would be best. It's not like the Varsity team is a powerhouse. I don't think soccer is a first priority at SJC, but if it is that toxic, you would think a change would be made. We may pursue Gonzaga or Good Counsel instead because I know their coaches are fine.

Define toxic. I know parents who complain about favoritism and playing time at one of the 2 schools you mentioned, so the grass may not be greener. Lots of parents like Sal just fine. The soccer rosters are large so lots of boys get to at least participate on the team. There are almost no “boy” sports at SJC that aren’t competitive for playing time. If you have a kid whose goal is being an impact player in high school consider their skill level carefully before applying.

I think the SJC team is extremely strong, actually, and I believe that is mostly due to Achilles players. So replacing Sal may not be the plan.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know that Sal coaches the SJC varsity boys soccer team, but who coaches the JV and Freshman teams? Any happy SJC soccer parents out there? I know all about Achilles FC. Just trying to get some feedback on the SJC Boys Soccer program. Thank you.

Is that the Samba Boyz?

No. SJC = St John’s College High School in DC

(Not SYC in Springfield, VA)

PO very well knows this is not SYC. They just ask this question on every other thread to keep their name out here.

No one cares pp.

OP here -- thanks very much for your thoughts. What I don't understand is why doesn't SJC get a new head coach? Maybe that is the plan since SJC hired a new Director of Athletics last year? Seems like kids and parents at SJC are unhappy and a new approach would be best. It's not like the Varsity team is a powerhouse. I don't think soccer is a first priority at SJC, but if it is that toxic, you would think a change would be made. We may pursue Gonzaga or Good Counsel instead because I know their coaches are fine.

I don’t know who the Freshman and JV coaches are, but I know families whose sons enjoyed their JV soccer experiences. Rosters are large, so I imagine there are kids who don’t get playing time.

There have been a lot of threads about Sal. If your kid’s main goal is to play HS soccer I would move them to Achilles if SJC is there too choice. I know families at other WCAC schools and they also complain about coaches’ club kids getting more playing time. I would go watch games so you are realistic about your kid’s abilities.

My advice would be to steer clear of SJC because of Sal. He ignores most of the boys on the team other than his chosen few, and there is pressure to play at Achilles. He is rude, disorganized, and a bad communicator. Go there at your peril. There are much more pleasant school soccer environments imho

Just google Achilles and see the positives and negatives about Sal. My advice would be if you want to play for SJC, you really need to ask do you want to play for Sal and his personality and style of coaching.

For us, it was a hard no. Your mileage may vary.

Bump

Any experience with the St. John's College High School soccer team/program? My DS really wants to play for them. He is very good and I think he will make the team, but just wondering about the coaches ...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know that Sal coaches the SJC varsity boys soccer team, but who coaches the JV and Freshman teams? Any happy SJC soccer parents out there? I know all about Achilles FC. Just trying to get some feedback on the SJC Boys Soccer program. Thank you.

Is that the Samba Boyz?

No. SJC = St John’s College High School in DC

(Not SYC in Springfield, VA)

Anonymous wrote:I know that Sal coaches the SJC varsity boys soccer team, but who coaches the JV and Freshman teams? Any happy SJC soccer parents out there? I know all about Achilles FC. Just trying to get some feedback on the SJC Boys Soccer program. Thank you.

Is that the Samba Boyz?

I know that Sal coaches the SJC varsity boys soccer team, but who coaches the JV and Freshman teams? Any happy SJC soccer parents out there? I know all about Achilles FC. Just trying to get some feedback on the SJC Boys Soccer program. Thank you.