^^ such as? I think many families are having to travel great distances hence the multiple complaints.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Right. Because going to Virginia Beach for a non-competitive game is much better than going to the next county for a game that could go 3-2 either way.

And no kids ever tire of making endless weekend trips and ask to quit at age 14.

Exactly. One of my son's teammates quit last year for this very reason. Well, he didn't quit travel soccer, but moved to a different team. There are some kids who are good, but don't want to spend every waking moment playing soccer, or more importantly, driving 4 hours one way and 4 back to do it. They can't ever "hang out" with friends on a friday or saturday night because they have a game the next day that they may have to get up at 4am for because it's in Virginia Beach or somewhere else in the region. You don't have to drive 4 hours just b/c you are good at soccer. There is decent competition closer than that. It's definitely irritating to make that drive and then have a 6-0 win.

And there are lots of options for kids who do not wish to drive 4 hours. Seriously it doesn't have to affect you so stop bitching about it already.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Right. Because going to Virginia Beach for a non-competitive game is much better than going to the next county for a game that could go 3-2 either way.

And no kids ever tire of making endless weekend trips and ask to quit at age 14.

Exactly. One of my son's teammates quit last year for this very reason. Well, he didn't quit travel soccer, but moved to a different team. There are some kids who are good, but don't want to spend every waking moment playing soccer, or more importantly, driving 4 hours one way and 4 back to do it. They can't ever "hang out" with friends on a friday or saturday night because they have a game the next day that they may have to get up at 4am for because it's in Virginia Beach or somewhere else in the region. You don't have to drive 4 hours just b/c you are good at soccer. There is decent competition closer than that. It's definitely irritating to make that drive and then have a 6-0 win.

Even worse for a 6-0 loss

Anonymous wrote:

Right. Because going to Virginia Beach for a non-competitive game is much better than going to the next county for a game that could go 3-2 either way.

And no kids ever tire of making endless weekend trips and ask to quit at age 14.

Exactly. One of my son's teammates quit last year for this very reason. Well, he didn't quit travel soccer, but moved to a different team. There are some kids who are good, but don't want to spend every waking moment playing soccer, or more importantly, driving 4 hours one way and 4 back to do it. They can't ever "hang out" with friends on a friday or saturday night because they have a game the next day that they may have to get up at 4am for because it's in Virginia Beach or somewhere else in the region. You don't have to drive 4 hours just b/c you are good at soccer. There is decent competition closer than that. It's definitely irritating to make that drive and then have a 6-0 win.

It would be great to have it arranged more regionally. This Spring so far we have had to drive to Frederick, Columbia and Stafford. God forbid we should play a team in Arlington, Montgomery County, DC or even Loudoun or Prince William County. We sure haven't so far! We're on the C team so its kind of ridiculous.

Anonymous wrote:^But ODSL and ECNL/DA are totally different things.

I get that, but it seems that there are too many leagues vying to be the "elite" alternative to the kids that aren't on the DA-track. Is it EDP, ECNL, VLP, or CCL? The expansion (dilution) of the DA's locally further muddies the waters.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it makes sense logistically (scheduling, fields, refs, etc) so it's definitely a good move. I'm glad to see that NCSL is taking the lead because the WAGS leadership is severely lacking, and has been for years. I don't think it will attract any more top girls teams to WAGS, but at least the girls teams that do participate will have a better organization and structure.

Does anyone know what the part about "regionalized play" means? Is NCSL trying to expand outside of VA/MD/DC?

My guess would be that they'd have some leeway on divisions, not just cramming everyone into tiers by ability regardless of region. Fewer trips from Loudoun to St. Mary's, etc.

Which would be a nice selling point against leagues that require road trips to Virginia Beach or New Jersey.

Yes, probably a positive thing, although most of that already is coordinated via clubs who schedule the games.

Letter was kind of amusing - alluded to basically a long-running squabble between WAGS and NCSL that was put to rest via leadership changes. No good reason for them to be separate, at least at thsi stage of soccer in US.

Regionalized play isn't something that requires a merge, however. They really should make an effort to try to structure divisions with geography in mind. That said, it's tough when there are teams from Front Royal and Annapolis, plus everywhere in between. Face it - if you're from Front Royal you have to drive. But it's true that if you get down in divisions, say 3 and below, it could make sense to have a couple of D3s, one east, one west (or N/S) and so on down. D1 can be for all the top teams - let them drive further - but those needs are different.

^ This merger changed nothing about the leagues around here, except reducing them somewhat. But ODSL and ECNL/DA are totally different things.

Let's see if we have this straight. We are looking at no fewer than 7 distinct soccer leagues for NoVA:

CCL/CCL2
DA
ECNL for boys (apparently to be launched in fall 2017)
EDP (its not just a supplement anymore)
NCSL/WAGS
ODSL
VPL/NPL

This is nuts.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it makes sense logistically (scheduling, fields, refs, etc) so it's definitely a good move. I'm glad to see that NCSL is taking the lead because the WAGS leadership is severely lacking, and has been for years. I don't think it will attract any more top girls teams to WAGS, but at least the girls teams that do participate will have a better organization and structure.

Does anyone know what the part about "regionalized play" means? Is NCSL trying to expand outside of VA/MD/DC?

My guess would be that they'd have some leeway on divisions, not just cramming everyone into tiers by ability regardless of region. Fewer trips from Loudoun to St. Mary's, etc.

Which would be a nice selling point against leagues that require road trips to Virginia Beach or New Jersey.

Selling point for road trips to Virginia Beach or New Jersey: you love your DC and want him/her to be the best. DC will recognize your love for him over the potential AP with whom you'd be spending the free time gained from the more limited NCSL travel.

Just sayin'.

Right. Because going to Virginia Beach for a non-competitive game is much better than going to the next county for a game that could go 3-2 either way.

And no kids ever tire of making endless weekend trips and ask to quit at age 14.

That's my EXACT fear -- and the reason I will never push my DC into these leagues with practices far away and games far away -- all those parents/kids chasing some dream of being in the 1%.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it makes sense logistically (scheduling, fields, refs, etc) so it's definitely a good move. I'm glad to see that NCSL is taking the lead because the WAGS leadership is severely lacking, and has been for years. I don't think it will attract any more top girls teams to WAGS, but at least the girls teams that do participate will have a better organization and structure.

Does anyone know what the part about "regionalized play" means? Is NCSL trying to expand outside of VA/MD/DC?

My guess would be that they'd have some leeway on divisions, not just cramming everyone into tiers by ability regardless of region. Fewer trips from Loudoun to St. Mary's, etc.

Which would be a nice selling point against leagues that require road trips to Virginia Beach or New Jersey.

Selling point for road trips to Virginia Beach or New Jersey: you love your DC and want him/her to be the best. DC will recognize your love for him over the potential AP with whom you'd be spending the free time gained from the more limited NCSL travel.

Just sayin'.

Right. Because going to Virginia Beach for a non-competitive game is much better than going to the next county for a game that could go 3-2 either way.

And no kids ever tire of making endless weekend trips and ask to quit at age 14.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it makes sense logistically (scheduling, fields, refs, etc) so it's definitely a good move. I'm glad to see that NCSL is taking the lead because the WAGS leadership is severely lacking, and has been for years. I don't think it will attract any more top girls teams to WAGS, but at least the girls teams that do participate will have a better organization and structure.

Does anyone know what the part about "regionalized play" means? Is NCSL trying to expand outside of VA/MD/DC?

My guess would be that they'd have some leeway on divisions, not just cramming everyone into tiers by ability regardless of region. Fewer trips from Loudoun to St. Mary's, etc.

Which would be a nice selling point against leagues that require road trips to Virginia Beach or New Jersey.

Selling point for road trips to Virginia Beach or New Jersey: you love your DC and want him/her to be the best. DC will recognize your love for him over the potential AP with whom you'd be spending the free time gained from the more limited NCSL travel.

Just sayin'.

Anonymous wrote:I think it makes sense logistically (scheduling, fields, refs, etc) so it's definitely a good move. I'm glad to see that NCSL is taking the lead because the WAGS leadership is severely lacking, and has been for years. I don't think it will attract any more top girls teams to WAGS, but at least the girls teams that do participate will have a better organization and structure.

Does anyone know what the part about "regionalized play" means? Is NCSL trying to expand outside of VA/MD/DC?

My guess would be that they'd have some leeway on divisions, not just cramming everyone into tiers by ability regardless of region. Fewer trips from Loudoun to St. Mary's, etc.

Which would be a nice selling point against leagues that require road trips to Virginia Beach or New Jersey.

I think it makes sense logistically (scheduling, fields, refs, etc) so it's definitely a good move. I'm glad to see that NCSL is taking the lead because the WAGS leadership is severely lacking, and has been for years. I don't think it will attract any more top girls teams to WAGS, but at least the girls teams that do participate will have a better organization and structure.

Does anyone know what the part about "regionalized play" means? Is NCSL trying to expand outside of VA/MD/DC?

Soccer Wire calls this merger a "bombshell" but it sounds like this makes sense for both WAGS and NCSL.

http://www.soccerwire.com/news/clubs/youth-boys/wags-ncsl-to-join-forces-in-bombshell-youth-soccer-merger/