retiredref wrote:Lasso_FC_Girls wrote:I'll chime in...
Maryland side is currently hurting. Bethesda and MDU seem to keep trading players. Both have polarizing coaching and parents as well as high player turnover. I would probably put both Pipeline and Baltimore Armour above them since they are a little more grounded. Doesn't really matter for a true DMV layer as those clubs are further away.
Virginia's current leader is probably a toss up between VDA and FCV. The director at FCV is more like a dictator. Christian is very good. Tom Torres has the Spirit accusations but is still regarded as a very good coach. VDA's staff is excellent for the most part but I have heard complaints about the new 2008 coaches.
100% agree about what previous poster said about Mclean/Union. Clyde is/was best coach but on the way out. Some players are given favoritism due to who they might train with outside the club. Large rosters. Experienced college recruitment program.
Arlington is seeing success at younger ages. Good coaches but hear a lack of leadership and organization. Needs to work on building relationships with College coaches. Are they just another Loudoun? Time will only tell.
BRYC/Brave - Seem to have improved some for merger with VYS but not enough to put them in the top half of any ECNL tables. I don't know if they will ever get the college looks they once did.
Loudoun - Young teams always seem to do well due to the size of the club but by HS ages they aren't able to compete. This leads to a lack of interests at the next level. Coaches yell a lot but not an abusive manner. Still trying to figure out why the teams always start doing poorly at high school age.
Metro ASA - This club actually has my favorite set of coaches but they just can't bring in any talent teamwide. It's kind of a shame. As bad as some of the teams are, they still somehow manage to get kids to the next level. I bet if Loudoun had this coaching staff from an early age, they would see a lot more success.
Always go for ECNL unless you can get into a top GA club like FCV. I honestly wonder how long FCV can hold it together for. ECNL is hands down better competition, GA is a distant 2nd. The only thing that holds the GA together is it's Champions League Events and National Finals. Outside of the GA teams that make those, I don't see a big difference between GA, ECNLRL, or EDP.
2 cents deposited.
I've watched both Christian and Tom coach multiple times and I would not want my daughter anywhere near either.
retiredref wrote:Lasso_FC_Girls wrote:I'll chime in...
Maryland side is currently hurting. Bethesda and MDU seem to keep trading players. Both have polarizing coaching and parents as well as high player turnover. I would probably put both Pipeline and Baltimore Armour above them since they are a little more grounded. Doesn't really matter for a true DMV layer as those clubs are further away.
Virginia's current leader is probably a toss up between VDA and FCV. The director at FCV is more like a dictator. Christian is very good. Tom Torres has the Spirit accusations but is still regarded as a very good coach. VDA's staff is excellent for the most part but I have heard complaints about the new 2008 coaches.
100% agree about what previous poster said about Mclean/Union. Clyde is/was best coach but on the way out. Some players are given favoritism due to who they might train with outside the club. Large rosters. Experienced college recruitment program.
Arlington is seeing success at younger ages. Good coaches but hear a lack of leadership and organization. Needs to work on building relationships with College coaches. Are they just another Loudoun? Time will only tell.
BRYC/Brave - Seem to have improved some for merger with VYS but not enough to put them in the top half of any ECNL tables. I don't know if they will ever get the college looks they once did.
Loudoun - Young teams always seem to do well due to the size of the club but by HS ages they aren't able to compete. This leads to a lack of interests at the next level. Coaches yell a lot but not an abusive manner. Still trying to figure out why the teams always start doing poorly at high school age.
Metro ASA - This club actually has my favorite set of coaches but they just can't bring in any talent teamwide. It's kind of a shame. As bad as some of the teams are, they still somehow manage to get kids to the next level. I bet if Loudoun had this coaching staff from an early age, they would see a lot more success.
Always go for ECNL unless you can get into a top GA club like FCV. I honestly wonder how long FCV can hold it together for. ECNL is hands down better competition, GA is a distant 2nd. The only thing that holds the GA together is it's Champions League Events and National Finals. Outside of the GA teams that make those, I don't see a big difference between GA, ECNLRL, or EDP.
2 cents deposited.
I've watched both Christian and Tom coach multiple times and I would not want my daughter anywhere near either.
Lasso_FC_Girls wrote:I'll chime in...
Maryland side is currently hurting. Bethesda and MDU seem to keep trading players. Both have polarizing coaching and parents as well as high player turnover. I would probably put both Pipeline and Baltimore Armour above them since they are a little more grounded. Doesn't really matter for a true DMV layer as those clubs are further away.
Virginia's current leader is probably a toss up between VDA and FCV. The director at FCV is more like a dictator. Christian is very good. Tom Torres has the Spirit accusations but is still regarded as a very good coach. VDA's staff is excellent for the most part but I have heard complaints about the new 2008 coaches.
100% agree about what previous poster said about Mclean/Union. Clyde is/was best coach but on the way out. Some players are given favoritism due to who they might train with outside the club. Large rosters. Experienced college recruitment program.
Arlington is seeing success at younger ages. Good coaches but hear a lack of leadership and organization. Needs to work on building relationships with College coaches. Are they just another Loudoun? Time will only tell.
BRYC/Brave - Seem to have improved some for merger with VYS but not enough to put them in the top half of any ECNL tables. I don't know if they will ever get the college looks they once did.
Loudoun - Young teams always seem to do well due to the size of the club but by HS ages they aren't able to compete. This leads to a lack of interests at the next level. Coaches yell a lot but not an abusive manner. Still trying to figure out why the teams always start doing poorly at high school age.
Metro ASA - This club actually has my favorite set of coaches but they just can't bring in any talent teamwide. It's kind of a shame. As bad as some of the teams are, they still somehow manage to get kids to the next level. I bet if Loudoun had this coaching staff from an early age, they would see a lot more success.
Always go for ECNL unless you can get into a top GA club like FCV. I honestly wonder how long FCV can hold it together for. ECNL is hands down better competition, GA is a distant 2nd. The only thing that holds the GA together is it's Champions League Events and National Finals. Outside of the GA teams that make those, I don't see a big difference between GA, ECNLRL, or EDP.
2 cents deposited.
Pepe wrote:VDA has great cast and since the last few years turnover, every girls age group is top 3 in their MA league. If you can make the drive west of the DMV, then I'd look there.
soccerx3kidsss wrote:soccer_dc wrote:Sorry to answer your question with questions but so many variables go into "best" coach. Knowing the ages of your kids would help certainly. But also what are you looking for in best? Best college exposure and connections? Best at motivating kids? Best fun team atmosphere? Best private lessons? What kind of track record - winning tournaments, placing players in D1 colleges, professional players? Keep in mind at most clubs you won't have the same coach for more than a couple of years so it might be a better question to ask about clubs instead of coaches. Even still, everyone's experience with a coach and club is different so it's really an individual decision based on your own kid.
I'm just curious about who has a solid reputation in the area. Seems like good coaches are hard to find and change very often. I have 3 kids 8, 11, 16. Like give me some recommendations of who you would have your kid play for. Competitive travel soccer.
soccer_dc wrote:Sorry to answer your question with questions but so many variables go into "best" coach. Knowing the ages of your kids would help certainly. But also what are you looking for in best? Best college exposure and connections? Best at motivating kids? Best fun team atmosphere? Best private lessons? What kind of track record - winning tournaments, placing players in D1 colleges, professional players? Keep in mind at most clubs you won't have the same coach for more than a couple of years so it might be a better question to ask about clubs instead of coaches. Even still, everyone's experience with a coach and club is different so it's really an individual decision based on your own kid.
soccerx3kidsss wrote:Opinions on best coaches for my kids to play for? Who has the best reputation and track record in the area? Please provide Name, Club and Pros and Cons Thanks!