Anonymous wrote:Both the 2012 SYC and Bethesda top teams played 7v7 as U8s. Most clubs in VA have their kids playing 4v4 still and in an academy program. Playing 7v7 at U8 seems to be more common with MD teams.

Honestly, who cares? Development is a marathon, not a sprint.

Would you rather have the best kid at age 8 or age 18??? So much changes year by year but you only appreciate it as your kid ages.

Honestly, who cares? The OP cares. STFU if you don't want to be helpful. Don't tell people what they should care about. D-bag!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both the 2012 SYC and Bethesda top teams played 7v7 as U8s. Most clubs in VA have their kids playing 4v4 still and in an academy program. Playing 7v7 at U8 seems to be more common with MD teams.

Honestly, who cares? Development is a marathon, not a sprint.

Would you rather have the best kid at age 8 or age 18??? So much changes year by year but you only appreciate it as your kid ages.

2012 is u9 and 7 v. 7. Unless you are saying they also played 7 v. 7 last year, this is off by a year. Yes, this year BSC and SYC 2012s are in CCL, or what's left of it ... especially on the girls side, nearly half the clubs are out or not fielding u9 girls teams.

Ok nevermind. I see this got clarified that it was about last year.

About half of the tournaments run by Elite Tournaments have a U8 7v7 bracket. Looking at their website, the following tournaments are some examples: OBGC Capital Cup, Mason Dixon Cup, Columbia Invt Memorial Day, SAC Columbus Day.

Anonymous wrote:Both the 2012 SYC and Bethesda top teams played 7v7 as U8s. Most clubs in VA have their kids playing 4v4 still and in an academy program. Playing 7v7 at U8 seems to be more common with MD teams.

Honestly, who cares? Development is a marathon, not a sprint.

Would you rather have the best kid at age 8 or age 18??? So much changes year by year but you only appreciate it as your kid ages.

2012 is u9 and 7 v. 7. Unless you are saying they also played 7 v. 7 last year, this is off by a year. Yes, this year BSC and SYC 2012s are in CCL, or what's left of it ... especially on the girls side, nearly half the clubs are out or not fielding u9 girls teams.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am the OP. Maryland has 2013 travel teams. I didn't realize DC and VA still do 4v4 at this age. To be honest, 4v4 at this age is probably a good idea - more touches.

a 2013 would be a u8 what travel league has U8?

Yes SYC & Bethesda played U9 while they were U8s. I believe SYC was mostly tournaments. Many 2013s already play up at U9. Bethesda is known for having entire teams play up a year when getting started.

Anonymous wrote:Both the 2012 SYC and Bethesda top teams played 7v7 as U8s. Most clubs in VA have their kids playing 4v4 still and in an academy program. Playing 7v7 at U8 seems to be more common with MD teams.

Honestly, who cares? Development is a marathon, not a sprint.

Would you rather have the best kid at age 8 or age 18??? So much changes year by year but you only appreciate it as your kid ages.

To clarify, pp means the boys played up a year- playing with u9s.

Bsc were not playing 7v7 with a u8 team.

Anonymous wrote:I am the OP. Maryland has 2013 travel teams. I didn't realize DC and VA still do 4v4 at this age. To be honest, 4v4 at this age is probably a good idea - more touches.

Not entirely true. As far as I know, MYSYA doesn't even card until u9, which is 2012 this year. 2013s can be carded on a u9 team. BSC, Potomac and others have a u8 program that will play EDP Futures or SAM but I don't think it's technically a travel team (though the kids/parents may not know the difference). And I have never seen u8 in a tournament or real league. NCSL, CCL, etc. start u9. And EDP Futures at u8 is usually 5 v. 5.

Anonymous wrote:I am the OP. Maryland has 2013 travel teams. I didn't realize DC and VA still do 4v4 at this age. To be honest, 4v4 at this age is probably a good idea - more touches.

bsc does 5v5 for u8.

Anonymous wrote:I am the OP. Maryland has 2013 travel teams. I didn't realize DC and VA still do 4v4 at this age. To be honest, 4v4 at this age is probably a good idea - more touches.

a 2013 would be a u8 what travel league has U8?

I am the OP. Maryland has 2013 travel teams. I didn't realize DC and VA still do 4v4 at this age. To be honest, 4v4 at this age is probably a good idea - more touches.

Just for clarity arent 2013 teams pre-travel? Those players would be U9 this fall. Unless you are talking about 2013 players playing up an entire team-up.

Both the 2012 SYC and Bethesda top teams played 7v7 as U8s. Most clubs in VA have their kids playing 4v4 still and in an academy program. Playing 7v7 at U8 seems to be more common with MD teams.

Honestly, who cares? Development is a marathon, not a sprint.

Would you rather have the best kid at age 8 or age 18??? So much changes year by year but you only appreciate it as your kid ages.

A few topics ago we talked about the 2012 Samba Boyz. It seems the consensus is that they are a very strong team for their age group, but people questioned their rough play and their tactics going forward. People also mentioned that Bethesda also has a strong 2012 boys team.

I am curious about the even younger cohort: 2013. Many of these teams formed last year, during Covid, so it might be an unusual cohort. Have you watched any 2013 boys teams? Have any teams stood out? If your child plays for a 2013 team, how is it going in this unusual year? Is there a 2013 Samba-Boyz?