My child is on a lower level McLean team and has a great coach (although I know the coach referred to above and I do NOT understand how he is still employed with McLean). Our coach is tough but fair and has really brought the team along this year.

Can you say who the coach is? Has the club done anything to address the issues?

Anonymous wrote:Our experience this year on the lower level McLean team has been pretty awful. Almost zero player development, coach only cares about winning and only plays the tallest girls. Coach comes to practice reeking of weed and cigarettes. We are not returning.

Our experience this year on the lower level McLean team has been pretty awful. Almost zero player development, coach only cares about winning and only plays the tallest girls. Coach comes to practice reeking of weed and cigarettes. We are not returning.

Anonymous wrote:This is helpful feedback thus far—thank you!
Does anyone have feedback/experiences that they are willing to share on coaches of these lower level teams?

What age/gender?

This is helpful feedback thus far—thank you!
Does anyone have feedback/experiences that they are willing to share on coaches of these lower level teams?

Anonymous wrote:The bottom team at McLean always gets the most mediocre coaches, worst practice times and go to fewer tournaments, even though you’re paying the same as the RL teams.
This may sound like sour grapes, but it’s just been our experience.

It's true that the RL teams at McLean get the better coaches, but to be fair, they also do pay more. For all 13+ teams this year the registration fee was $600 more per player than the lower level teams. In our experience, which tournaments a team attends is decided by the coaching staff, and they are 100% paid for by the "team dues" that we pay to the team treasurer in fall and spring. So, more tournaments = additional team fees charged to each player.

My daughter has been in Arlington’s one of lower level teams for the last couple years and we’ve been happy with the experience and coaches so far. She has routinely gotten constructive feedback which has improved her development. Most of the teams in the same birth year train at the same time and occasionally scrimmage with each other or the adjacent birth year’s teams (except for the pre-ECNL and ECNL kids who seem to be doing their own practices elsewhere).
Highly recommend prioritizing proximity to practice locations if both parents work outside the home; it is a blessing to have a <20 min commute to almost every practice and home game. Makes carpooling easier too.

Is this on the girls side or boys? How are the coaches?

Anonymous wrote:The bottom team at McLean always gets the most mediocre coaches, worst practice times and go to fewer tournaments, even though you’re paying the same as the RL teams.
This may sound like sour grapes, but it’s just been our experience.

If making the high school team is her goal, tryout at all 3 and choose the place where she feels the most comfortable. Even if it's the lower team, she should be getting better development than most programs.

The bottom team at McLean always gets the most mediocre coaches, worst practice times and go to fewer tournaments, even though you’re paying the same as the RL teams.
This may sound like sour grapes, but it’s just been our experience.

Having had players that have played with all three leagues at lower levels, I would say it really depends on the coach and which NCSL division. Doesn't hurt to try out at all and see which one works best. Also, a red flag is if a team doesn't have enough players and they are actively recruiting from rec program to fill slots. Have had both positive and negative experiences with all. The one differentiator has been where the coach has been really engaged with the team.

How old? We have been happy with the girls’ side of Vienna.

If the plan is to focus on player growth or developement I would honestly say none of the above

How old? Are we talking RL or lower? It’s gonna depend on the coach assigned to the team. Some are better than others in the clubs you mentioned. I would say go with the one closer to you

My DD is not a star player, nevertheless is very talented and loves the sport. Her goal is not to play in college, yet hopes to be able to play at a higher level in high school. Would love for her to make a team where the focus in on player growth and development. She plans to try out for these clubs in the spring, but wondered what experiences others have had on the lower level teams in these clubs. Would appreciate any feedback and experiences others are willing to share.