Anonymous
Post 07/16/2025 17:19     Subject: Arlington boys
The Arlington U14 team is strong, but like any competitive team, player turnover is inevitable. They’re set to lose five players this coming season, so a rebuilding phase will be necessary.

This is similar to what happened with the Alexandria U14 team. They had a strong run, winning most of their games, but lost several of their top players. Last season ended up being a rebuilding year for them.
Anonymous
Post 07/16/2025 13:39     Subject: Arlington boys
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:How good is this team on average? I’m just reading this forum and see different and possibly conflicting information: 1) MLSN is the best league and Arlington is not in it, 2) DCU is the best MLSN team around, 3) Arlington U18 just beat Arlington.

What gives? I am actually trying to figure this out. How would, say U14s or U15s stack up against SYC, ASA or Bethesda?


We are with BSC. Arlington is one of the only 2-3 other clubs we would consider but until they switch from ECNL, we won’t. It has nothing to do with the letters and everything to do with travel. I just think there is enough talent around the beltway to play here (with a few 2-3 hour trips to FC Delco, Sporting, etc.) than driving to NC every other week.

Highly recommend their program and trust the coaches we are familiar with.

DCU “should” have the best MLS Next teams in this area but you can call them the best at your own peril. I would put them just slightly ahead of SYC in my hierarchy of clubs in the area. I trust BSC, Achilles, Arlington, Armour and VDA before DCU and aim for another academy like many of the kids are doing now. Much easier to hold out from DCU if you have $10k to spend on club fees, travel and supplemental training.


Depending on the age, mls next travel further when you go to New Jersey and New York.
Anonymous
Post 07/16/2025 13:23     Subject: Arlington boys
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP here, I meant to say “3) just beat DCU” in the original question. Sorry for the confusion.

Part of the reason they are moving to MLSNext after this upcoming season.


How?
Anonymous
Post 07/16/2025 12:11     Subject: Arlington boys
Generally great program but it's all hard to predict individually. So much depends on the particular age group. If your kid is 2015, doesn't matter so much how the 2009 are doing. Kids and coaches often change clubs.

Try to research the age group. How will your kid fit in. Friends. Close proximity?

Good luck.
Anonymous
Post 07/16/2025 11:41     Subject: Arlington boys
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

We are with BSC. Arlington is one of the only 2-3 other clubs we would consider but until they switch from ECNL, we won’t. It has nothing to do with the letters and everything to do with travel. I just think there is enough talent around the beltway to play here (with a few 2-3 hour trips to FC Delco, Sporting, etc.) than driving to NC every other week.


Are you saying they travel a lot more than MLSN teams in the area?


You realize everybody skipped this question, right? Whatever you were thinking it is incorrect...lol
Anonymous
Post 07/16/2025 11:29     Subject: Arlington boys
OP was asking about u14 and u15 teams. Arlington 2011 boys went to playoffs the #1 ranked team in Virginia. They won and tied twice at national playoffs. Poor showing for a team that had such a strong season.

As for the 2010 boys . . . They would probably lose to the 2011’s.
Anonymous
Post 07/16/2025 10:33     Subject: Arlington boys
Arlington is a solid club with strong teams at many ages. The U-14 group is very strong on the boys side. Not sure about the U-15.
Anonymous
Post 07/16/2025 09:45     Subject: Re:Arlington boys
Anonymous wrote:If you care about winning and have a big kid, you should go to SYC but be prepared to wake up at U17 with your kid no longer so big or winning. Bethesda has good results but its largely because they have a monopoly on an area that is divided up five times as much on the other side of the river. There is no secret sauce at Bethesda except for one U10ish coach who insists on fundamentals, which has tremendously helped their success. Alexandria is a s&% show full of amateur coaches and terrible personalities.

Arlington is a great environment and solid group of coaches and players. Playing in ECNL might squash the dreams that your kid won't be "seen" as much as MLSN, but there's no difference between Arlington and an MLS Next club. In fact, their 2007s thumped DCU in January. They routinely send kids to MLS academies, D1, D3, etc. If I was looking to produce a well-balanced kid not beating the 1 in 50 million odds of being a high paying pro, I'd go Arlington.

This is accurate…for 07s and not much else.
Anonymous
Post 07/16/2025 08:50     Subject: Arlington boys
Anonymous wrote:OP here, I meant to say “3) just beat DCU” in the original question. Sorry for the confusion.

Part of the reason they are moving to MLSNext after this upcoming season.
Anonymous
Post 07/16/2025 08:49     Subject: Re:Arlington boys
If you care about winning and have a big kid, you should go to SYC but be prepared to wake up at U17 with your kid no longer so big or winning. Bethesda has good results but its largely because they have a monopoly on an area that is divided up five times as much on the other side of the river. There is no secret sauce at Bethesda except for one U10ish coach who insists on fundamentals, which has tremendously helped their success. Alexandria is a s&% show full of amateur coaches and terrible personalities.

Arlington is a great environment and solid group of coaches and players. Playing in ECNL might squash the dreams that your kid won't be "seen" as much as MLSN, but there's no difference between Arlington and an MLS Next club. In fact, their 2007s thumped DCU in January. They routinely send kids to MLS academies, D1, D3, etc. If I was looking to produce a well-balanced kid not beating the 1 in 50 million odds of being a high paying pro, I'd go Arlington.
Anonymous
Post 07/16/2025 08:37     Subject: Arlington boys
OP here, I meant to say “3) just beat DCU” in the original question. Sorry for the confusion.
Anonymous
Post 07/16/2025 08:08     Subject: Arlington boys
Anonymous wrote:

We are with BSC. Arlington is one of the only 2-3 other clubs we would consider but until they switch from ECNL, we won’t. It has nothing to do with the letters and everything to do with travel. I just think there is enough talent around the beltway to play here (with a few 2-3 hour trips to FC Delco, Sporting, etc.) than driving to NC every other week.


Are you saying they travel a lot more than MLSN teams in the area?
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 23:41     Subject: Arlington boys
Anonymous wrote:How good is this team on average? I’m just reading this forum and see different and possibly conflicting information: 1) MLSN is the best league and Arlington is not in it, 2) DCU is the best MLSN team around, 3) Arlington U18 just beat Arlington.

What gives? I am actually trying to figure this out. How would, say U14s or U15s stack up against SYC, ASA or Bethesda?


We are with BSC. Arlington is one of the only 2-3 other clubs we would consider but until they switch from ECNL, we won’t. It has nothing to do with the letters and everything to do with travel. I just think there is enough talent around the beltway to play here (with a few 2-3 hour trips to FC Delco, Sporting, etc.) than driving to NC every other week.

Highly recommend their program and trust the coaches we are familiar with.

DCU “should” have the best MLS Next teams in this area but you can call them the best at your own peril. I would put them just slightly ahead of SYC in my hierarchy of clubs in the area. I trust BSC, Achilles, Arlington, Armour and VDA before DCU and aim for another academy like many of the kids are doing now. Much easier to hold out from DCU if you have $10k to spend on club fees, travel and supplemental training.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 23:02     Subject: Arlington boys
Anonymous wrote:How good is this team on average? I’m just reading this forum and see different and possibly conflicting information: 1) MLSN is the best league and Arlington is not in it, 2) DCU is the best MLSN team around, 3) Arlington U18 just beat Arlington.

What gives? I am actually trying to figure this out. How would, say U14s or U15s stack up against SYC, ASA or Bethesda?


Arlington is a solid well resourced club with very good (better) track record than several local MLS Next in terms of college placement and MLS Academy signings. Their boys TD is strong, involved and trusted. I would pick Arlington over SYC unless your kid wants pro/ national team
and also over ASA which doesn’t have the same track record. Bethesda however has very good college placement and is a top club so you would be smart to look there. Seems to have a love hate relationship with DCU whereas Arlington has a strong one. Not sure why that is. Pick the team and coach that suits your player best based on their aspirations.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 21:52     Subject: Arlington boys
How good is this team on average? I’m just reading this forum and see different and possibly conflicting information: 1) MLSN is the best league and Arlington is not in it, 2) DCU is the best MLSN team around, 3) Arlington U18 just beat Arlington.

What gives? I am actually trying to figure this out. How would, say U14s or U15s stack up against SYC, ASA or Bethesda?