Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Is SFL the Suburban Friendship League? I just googled it. What are names of other in-between leagues?

Arlington has a developmental league between REc and Travel starting at u9. You do have to try out to make a team and try outs are next week.

Vienna has just started something similar. No tryouts, though -- it's just a sign-up.

SFL starts with U11s.

To the OP -- have you mentioned the problem to the club? If you've mentioned it and they haven't responded, then maybe it's time to move on to another club (or play the game others are playing and get your kid on one of the good teams). If you haven't mentioned it, they deserve a chance to address it.

OP's son's problem is he doesn't like to be on a losing team. doing travel or whatever is not a solution.

There are lots of levels of travel. He might be happy on a B or C team in a club with multiple levels. They often compete in ODSL or SFL anyway. Not all, or even many, travel coaches yell. My DC was on an A team in a competitive club and the coach was very calm and DC was not at all stressed about soccer. So he might also want to just try out for a travel team to get a feel for the coach and the other kids - my DS tried out for several teams over the years and there were a couple he really didn't like and a couple he felt very comfortable with.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Is SFL the Suburban Friendship League? I just googled it. What are names of other in-between leagues?

Yes.

OP here. Any others that are in between rec and travel? I'm in the Chantilly/Oakton/Reston/Herndon area. Arlington is too far for me, but thanks, PPs.

just request a different team next season - the winning teams this season most likely will continue to win.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Is SFL the Suburban Friendship League? I just googled it. What are names of other in-between leagues?

Arlington has a developmental league between REc and Travel starting at u9. You do have to try out to make a team and try outs are next week.

OP here. Is SFL the Suburban Friendship League? I just googled it. What are names of other in-between leagues?

I'd find a different league. I know some kids here in DC who have outgrown rec but dont want travel and they play in the SFL league. Perhaps you can look into that, or another in-between league. Besides that I'd look into a different rec league.

DS loves soccer. He truly enjoys it. He is on a rec league, he has been playing for years. The thing is, this season and the last two seasons he has been on teams that lose almost every single game (they keep lumping all of the beginners together on one or two teams). This has made DS not want to go to the games as much. But DS enjoys the practices, and he is always one of the best players on the team, and I think he feels good about that. DS doesn't want to do travel because the coaches "yell" and he likes it to be fun, not stressful. I figure he will grow out of this sensitivity eventually.

Do I insist he try a different sport in the fall? Or sign him up for rec soccer again (which she wants)? Or find a different rec association?