In my experience, ASA travel in general isn't very good at developing players. For some reason, even at the very young age groups where standings are not tracked (at least in CCL), they are focused on winning games instead of player development. That said, you might get a coach that is the exception. I don't hear many good things about McLean either. I have heard PAC does a good job with developing players at the early ages.

As someone above stated, ASA will take a good player at any age group at pretty much any time and add him to an existing roster. Not really sure how it comes to fruition, but it's happened every year for the last 5-6 years my kid has been in the program. They come to a few tryouts to see how/on what team they'd fit. Attending ASA travel tryouts is not the way to get into the club's travel program if you don't get in at U9. They are terribly run and the coaches who are supposed to be evaluating the players are barely paying attention - often not even looking at the field they are supposed to be observing. Your kid has to be lucky two ways-he has to get an opportunity to do something well, which is rare during short sided games at young age groups, he has to pull something eye catching off, and he has to be lucky enough that the coach was paying attention at the time.

We've stayed with the club because he started at U9 and has a lot of friends in the program.

ADP is a good balance between rec and travel at the early ages. A few kids in my son's age group have come out of ADP. I assume their professional coach put in a good word.

This is OP. So many helpful responses. I really appreciate it - thank you!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about ADP? They have spring tryouts but only have spots if kids from fall drop out.
Is he doing winter indoor soccer?

Thank you. Do you mean ADP within Arlington soccer?

It seems that they will have a tryout n March before the beginning of Spring: "ADP selected players to participate in both the Fall and Spring Seasons. Prior to the Spring season, a tryout will occur in March for any openings in ADP due to players not returning. Only players not currently in ADP need to tryout."

So, ADP teaches skills at above rec level but will less time/money commitment than travel soccer? Is that accurate? If they meet at least 2-3 times a week, that may be great for us.

What would be the reason to go to travel vs. ADP at this age (8) / later age?[i]

Thank you so much!

ADP is a great program in between Rec and Travel. ADP practice 2 times a week (1 with professional coach and 1 with parents volunteer). It can be a hit or miss depend on the coaches you get. Some pp love it and some don't. It's a step up from Rec and more challenging but not as intense as Travel. Travel practices 3 times a week with professional coaches, unless you make the top 2 teams (or at least mid-tier) it probably not worth the time & money UNLESS your kid ABSOLUTELY LOVE SOCCER and willing to go to all the practices and games.

ADP is a good compromise between the 2 worlds. My daughter (9) is in travel that did ADP (played up a year). She loves travel and happy to go to every single practices/games. Personally, 9 is too young for any travel sport, it's too intense in my opinion but my daughter wouldn't rather be anywhere else beside on the soccer field.

There are always spots if your kid is good. and/or plays a position where the team is weak.

My kid switched to Arlington from a different travel club at U14. Started on a low-level team but moved up.

Another nearby club (depending on what part of Arlington you're in) that hasn't been mentioned is Washington Capital Futbol Club. Small club, but there are a number of Arlington families that play there.

Anonymous wrote:Boy, DOB Oct 2011, recently moved to Arlington 22207 (missed May 2019 tryouts), LOVES soccer (played/plays rec, camps, St. James's classes) is full of energy and wants to play soccer all the time.

We figured we should commit to travel soccer for him for one year (2020-21) since it seems that rec soccer only meets once a week. Travel would have him playing soccer with similarly skilled boys a few times a week, which is the short-term goal. Please correct if wrong thinking.

There is Arlington soccer. Is there any other club we should consider within reasonable distance of 22207?

What are some good non-travel options for Spring 2020 (it seems there is Arlington Soccer, Arlington Rec Soccer, Love the Ball, St. James (too far)). Anything else that we should consider?

Thank you!

- New-ish to soccer and to Arlington

Travel teams will add players at any point in the season. Usually every team has room to add a player mid season.

Just because you weren't there for tryouts in the spring doesn't mean there can't be opportunities to join teams midyear or midseason. Look up manager and coaches online and reach out to see if they have room for more players and set up a practice to visit. Many of those travel teams will be playing futsal or indoor over the winter and there's often room to guest with those teams for those. Guesting with the team over the winter would be a great opportunity to see if it's a good match for your son.

The clubs which immediately border Arlington and also have travel soccer are McLean, PAC, TAFC, VIVA, Doradus, Alexandria, Stoddert, and WC United. I probably missed one or more, clubs around here can come and go and change names somewhat frequently.

Closest clubs to you in order more or less are Arlington, McLean, PAC, Villareal, Alexandria, Bethesda, GFR. Arlington can be pretty tough to break into at U10 and U11, they only take a handful of people. Arlington tryouts tend to be earlier, so can go for the other clubs if he doesn't make it.

ADP is a good program, worth it to try out for the spring season, though not a lot of spots.

Anonymous wrote:U9?? Good grief get over yourself!

Right. The stakes are so much more important at U14 in US soccer. Grow up yourself and go back to your mediocre job and life.

U9?? Good grief get over yourself!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Premier AC, small club in Falls Church. Lots of kids from Arlington.

Thank you.

They develop players very well and have nice families and kids. Bill Hamid’s father started the club and actually coaches some of the younger teams. They are a solid alternative to McLean and Arlington for people living in those areas and some age groups have proven extremely competitive.

Anonymous wrote:Premier AC, small club in Falls Church. Lots of kids from Arlington.

Thank you.

Premier AC, small club in Falls Church. Lots of kids from Arlington.

Anonymous wrote:What about ADP? They have spring tryouts but only have spots if kids from fall drop out.
Is he doing winter indoor soccer?

Thank you. Do you mean ADP within Arlington soccer?

It seems that they will have a tryout n March before the beginning of Spring: "ADP selected players to participate in both the Fall and Spring Seasons. Prior to the Spring season, a tryout will occur in March for any openings in ADP due to players not returning. Only players not currently in ADP need to tryout."

So, ADP teaches skills at above rec level but will less time/money commitment than travel soccer? Is that accurate? If they meet at least 2-3 times a week, that may be great for us.

What would be the reason to go to travel vs. ADP at this age (8) / later age?

Thank you so much!

What about ADP? They have spring tryouts but only have spots if kids from fall drop out.
Is he doing winter indoor soccer?

Boy, DOB Oct 2011, recently moved to Arlington 22207 (missed May 2019 tryouts), LOVES soccer (played/plays rec, camps, St. James's classes) is full of energy and wants to play soccer all the time.

We figured we should commit to travel soccer for him for one year (2020-21) since it seems that rec soccer only meets once a week. Travel would have him playing soccer with similarly skilled boys a few times a week, which is the short-term goal. Please correct if wrong thinking.

There is Arlington soccer. Is there any other club we should consider within reasonable distance of 22207?

What are some good non-travel options for Spring 2020 (it seems there is Arlington Soccer, Arlington Rec Soccer, Love the Ball, St. James (too far)). Anything else that we should consider?

Thank you!

- New-ish to soccer and to Arlington