Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Va velocity joined mls next2

RU about to lose a ton of boys to Velocity

Yeah. I agree there. RU now isn't the only game in town on the boys side with Velocity joining MLS Next Home Grown. I would imagine they will work hard to build the program and gain MLS Next Academy Division status as quickly as possible. It was interesting when Velocity was formed by former RU folks and what impact it would have in the area. That is now coming to light.

Girls though, still RU and they draw from a pretty wide area.

At the younger ages, I think they are already pressing RU hard. One age group won a higher bracket at Jeff Cup this weekend.

velocity has good coaching and is a decent club for boys, kudos. Richmond area girls have really no option but to stay with their current club but when FC Richmond gets promoted to top GA then girls will leave in droves. no pathway to the top team, the side deals with some nl parents keeping mid-low players on those teams (standings show just 3 teams in the top 3), recruiting from other teams instead of their own rl players, no transparancy, no discussion of your player's pathway with leadership.we stay silent due to the threat of having our players black listed within the club.

blue teams were made to have better competition in RL which did not happen, most dominated their league, the orange/red teams did get better competition being in the RL. Blue teams were told that RU would apply for them to become NL, that did not happen, no transparancy, no discussion about it this year.

“Standings show just 3 teams in the top 3.”

This is very good. That’s 3 champions league qualifiers.

The concern is that if the RL teams don't have adequate competion and the players aren't "good enough" to make the ECNL team, the ECNL teams should be in the top 3 for all age groups.

If RU ever decides to put their best players on their NL teams like other clubs do, they would perform significantly better in the MA than they currently do. The MA is just bad enough to give RU the false impression that their rosters are ok. But go out of the region and the teams get squashed in the first round.

In the older age groups they've not made any meaningful changes to their NL teams, just BY shifts of worn out players from one team to another. Their more athletic blue teams are ripe for the pickings.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Va velocity joined mls next2

RU about to lose a ton of boys to Velocity

Yeah. I agree there. RU now isn't the only game in town on the boys side with Velocity joining MLS Next Home Grown. I would imagine they will work hard to build the program and gain MLS Next Academy Division status as quickly as possible. It was interesting when Velocity was formed by former RU folks and what impact it would have in the area. That is now coming to light.

Girls though, still RU and they draw from a pretty wide area.

At the younger ages, I think they are already pressing RU hard. One age group won a higher bracket at Jeff Cup this weekend.

velocity has good coaching and is a decent club for boys, kudos. Richmond area girls have really no option but to stay with their current club but when FC Richmond gets promoted to top GA then girls will leave in droves. no pathway to the top team, the side deals with some nl parents keeping mid-low players on those teams (standings show just 3 teams in the top 3), recruiting from other teams instead of their own rl players, no transparancy, no discussion of your player's pathway with leadership.we stay silent due to the threat of having our players black listed within the club.

blue teams were made to have better competition in RL which did not happen, most dominated their league, the orange/red teams did get better competition being in the RL. Blue teams were told that RU would apply for them to become NL, that did not happen, no transparancy, no discussion about it this year.

“Standings show just 3 teams in the top 3.”

This is very good. That’s 3 champions league qualifiers.

3 isn't good when last year ru had 7 teams in the champions league. the club ha been in decline for years, the roster changes are just BY shifts,the only decent team next year will be 2009G.

Ahhh...not sure where your info came from, but I think last year was similar to this year in terms of placing teams in the top Champion's league playoffs. The 2010 team has never gone and made strides this year, still fell short and qualified for the NA cup. Their 2011 team should still be solid as will their 2009, which has been really pretty good since they entered ECNL.

Not sure what the decline for years is about - there are always age groups that seem stronger than others just about every club unless you are getting into some of the Southern California or Dallas clubs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Va velocity joined mls next2

RU about to lose a ton of boys to Velocity

Yeah. I agree there. RU now isn't the only game in town on the boys side with Velocity joining MLS Next Home Grown. I would imagine they will work hard to build the program and gain MLS Next Academy Division status as quickly as possible. It was interesting when Velocity was formed by former RU folks and what impact it would have in the area. That is now coming to light.

Girls though, still RU and they draw from a pretty wide area.

At the younger ages, I think they are already pressing RU hard. One age group won a higher bracket at Jeff Cup this weekend.

velocity has good coaching and is a decent club for boys, kudos. Richmond area girls have really no option but to stay with their current club but when FC Richmond gets promoted to top GA then girls will leave in droves. no pathway to the top team, the side deals with some nl parents keeping mid-low players on those teams (standings show just 3 teams in the top 3), recruiting from other teams instead of their own rl players, no transparancy, no discussion of your player's pathway with leadership.we stay silent due to the threat of having our players black listed within the club.

blue teams were made to have better competition in RL which did not happen, most dominated their league, the orange/red teams did get better competition being in the RL. Blue teams were told that RU would apply for them to become NL, that did not happen, no transparancy, no discussion about it this year.

“Standings show just 3 teams in the top 3.”

This is very good. That’s 3 champions league qualifiers.

3 isn't good when last year ru had 7 teams in the champions league. the club ha been in decline for years, the roster changes are just BY shifts,the only decent team next year will be 2009G.

There are only 6 age groups. How could they have 7 teams in champions league?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Va velocity joined mls next2

RU about to lose a ton of boys to Velocity

Yeah. I agree there. RU now isn't the only game in town on the boys side with Velocity joining MLS Next Home Grown. I would imagine they will work hard to build the program and gain MLS Next Academy Division status as quickly as possible. It was interesting when Velocity was formed by former RU folks and what impact it would have in the area. That is now coming to light.

Girls though, still RU and they draw from a pretty wide area.

At the younger ages, I think they are already pressing RU hard. One age group won a higher bracket at Jeff Cup this weekend.

velocity has good coaching and is a decent club for boys, kudos. Richmond area girls have really no option but to stay with their current club but when FC Richmond gets promoted to top GA then girls will leave in droves. no pathway to the top team, the side deals with some nl parents keeping mid-low players on those teams (standings show just 3 teams in the top 3), recruiting from other teams instead of their own rl players, no transparancy, no discussion of your player's pathway with leadership.we stay silent due to the threat of having our players black listed within the club.

blue teams were made to have better competition in RL which did not happen, most dominated their league, the orange/red teams did get better competition being in the RL. Blue teams were told that RU would apply for them to become NL, that did not happen, no transparancy, no discussion about it this year.

“Standings show just 3 teams in the top 3.”

This is very good. That’s 3 champions league qualifiers.

3 isn't good when last year ru had 7 teams in the champions league. the club ha been in decline for years, the roster changes are just BY shifts,the only decent team next year will be 2009G.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Va velocity joined mls next2

RU about to lose a ton of boys to Velocity

Yeah. I agree there. RU now isn't the only game in town on the boys side with Velocity joining MLS Next Home Grown. I would imagine they will work hard to build the program and gain MLS Next Academy Division status as quickly as possible. It was interesting when Velocity was formed by former RU folks and what impact it would have in the area. That is now coming to light.

Girls though, still RU and they draw from a pretty wide area.

At the younger ages, I think they are already pressing RU hard. One age group won a higher bracket at Jeff Cup this weekend.

velocity has good coaching and is a decent club for boys, kudos. Richmond area girls have really no option but to stay with their current club but when FC Richmond gets promoted to top GA then girls will leave in droves. no pathway to the top team, the side deals with some nl parents keeping mid-low players on those teams (standings show just 3 teams in the top 3), recruiting from other teams instead of their own rl players, no transparancy, no discussion of your player's pathway with leadership.we stay silent due to the threat of having our players black listed within the club.

blue teams were made to have better competition in RL which did not happen, most dominated their league, the orange/red teams did get better competition being in the RL. Blue teams were told that RU would apply for them to become NL, that did not happen, no transparancy, no discussion about it this year.

When will FC Richmond get promoted from Aspire to Girls Academy? I thought they just joined Aspire when it was first formed and I don't think that they are at the top of the standings for many ages. Competition prevents stagnation, but the competition needs to perform in order to get the promotion. I don't see GA just adding a team for the sake of adding a team. Sorry to read that your RU experience has been a tough slog. I believe that there have been folks who left and went to Skyline, NVA or even Beach FC and VDA in ECNL for a perceived better experience. Good Luck!

GA has and continues to add any team that applies.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Va velocity joined mls next2

RU about to lose a ton of boys to Velocity

Yeah. I agree there. RU now isn't the only game in town on the boys side with Velocity joining MLS Next Home Grown. I would imagine they will work hard to build the program and gain MLS Next Academy Division status as quickly as possible. It was interesting when Velocity was formed by former RU folks and what impact it would have in the area. That is now coming to light.

Girls though, still RU and they draw from a pretty wide area.

At the younger ages, I think they are already pressing RU hard. One age group won a higher bracket at Jeff Cup this weekend.

velocity has good coaching and is a decent club for boys, kudos. Richmond area girls have really no option but to stay with their current club but when FC Richmond gets promoted to top GA then girls will leave in droves. no pathway to the top team, the side deals with some nl parents keeping mid-low players on those teams (standings show just 3 teams in the top 3), recruiting from other teams instead of their own rl players, no transparancy, no discussion of your player's pathway with leadership.we stay silent due to the threat of having our players black listed within the club.

blue teams were made to have better competition in RL which did not happen, most dominated their league, the orange/red teams did get better competition being in the RL. Blue teams were told that RU would apply for them to become NL, that did not happen, no transparancy, no discussion about it this year.

When will FC Richmond get promoted from Aspire to Girls Academy? I thought they just joined Aspire when it was first formed and I don't think that they are at the top of the standings for many ages. Competition prevents stagnation, but the competition needs to perform in order to get the promotion. I don't see GA just adding a team for the sake of adding a team. Sorry to read that your RU experience has been a tough slog. I believe that there have been folks who left and went to Skyline, NVA or even Beach FC and VDA in ECNL for a perceived better experience. Good Luck!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Va velocity joined mls next2

RU about to lose a ton of boys to Velocity

Yeah. I agree there. RU now isn't the only game in town on the boys side with Velocity joining MLS Next Home Grown. I would imagine they will work hard to build the program and gain MLS Next Academy Division status as quickly as possible. It was interesting when Velocity was formed by former RU folks and what impact it would have in the area. That is now coming to light.

Girls though, still RU and they draw from a pretty wide area.

At the younger ages, I think they are already pressing RU hard. One age group won a higher bracket at Jeff Cup this weekend.

velocity has good coaching and is a decent club for boys, kudos. Richmond area girls have really no option but to stay with their current club but when FC Richmond gets promoted to top GA then girls will leave in droves. no pathway to the top team, the side deals with some nl parents keeping mid-low players on those teams (standings show just 3 teams in the top 3), recruiting from other teams instead of their own rl players, no transparancy, no discussion of your player's pathway with leadership.we stay silent due to the threat of having our players black listed within the club.

blue teams were made to have better competition in RL which did not happen, most dominated their league, the orange/red teams did get better competition being in the RL. Blue teams were told that RU would apply for them to become NL, that did not happen, no transparancy, no discussion about it this year.

“Standings show just 3 teams in the top 3.”

This is very good. That’s 3 champions league qualifiers.

The concern is that if the RL teams don't have adequate competion and the players aren't "good enough" to make the ECNL team, the ECNL teams should be in the top 3 for all age groups.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Va velocity joined mls next2

RU about to lose a ton of boys to Velocity

Yeah. I agree there. RU now isn't the only game in town on the boys side with Velocity joining MLS Next Home Grown. I would imagine they will work hard to build the program and gain MLS Next Academy Division status as quickly as possible. It was interesting when Velocity was formed by former RU folks and what impact it would have in the area. That is now coming to light.

Girls though, still RU and they draw from a pretty wide area.

At the younger ages, I think they are already pressing RU hard. One age group won a higher bracket at Jeff Cup this weekend.

velocity has good coaching and is a decent club for boys, kudos. Richmond area girls have really no option but to stay with their current club but when FC Richmond gets promoted to top GA then girls will leave in droves. no pathway to the top team, the side deals with some nl parents keeping mid-low players on those teams (standings show just 3 teams in the top 3), recruiting from other teams instead of their own rl players, no transparancy, no discussion of your player's pathway with leadership.we stay silent due to the threat of having our players black listed within the club.

blue teams were made to have better competition in RL which did not happen, most dominated their league, the orange/red teams did get better competition being in the RL. Blue teams were told that RU would apply for them to become NL, that did not happen, no transparancy, no discussion about it this year.

“Standings show just 3 teams in the top 3.”

This is very good. That’s 3 champions league qualifiers.

Anonymous wrote:Richmond blue only had I think maybe 1 competitive game all season in our age group. They should be in ECNL. I don't understand why they aren't. ECNL is bleeding clubs over to MLS next, at least promote up the teams that aren't getting good competition.

Such a weird dynamic. The RU RL team's are super competitive but the ECNL teams not as much.

Richmond blue only had I think maybe 1 competitive game all season in our age group. They should be in ECNL. I don't understand why they aren't. ECNL is bleeding clubs over to MLS next, at least promote up the teams that aren't getting good competition.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Va velocity joined mls next2

RU about to lose a ton of boys to Velocity

Yeah. I agree there. RU now isn't the only game in town on the boys side with Velocity joining MLS Next Home Grown. I would imagine they will work hard to build the program and gain MLS Next Academy Division status as quickly as possible. It was interesting when Velocity was formed by former RU folks and what impact it would have in the area. That is now coming to light.

Girls though, still RU and they draw from a pretty wide area.

At the younger ages, I think they are already pressing RU hard. One age group won a higher bracket at Jeff Cup this weekend.

velocity has good coaching and is a decent club for boys, kudos. Richmond area girls have really no option but to stay with their current club but when FC Richmond gets promoted to top GA then girls will leave in droves. no pathway to the top team, the side deals with some nl parents keeping mid-low players on those teams (standings show just 3 teams in the top 3), recruiting from other teams instead of their own rl players, no transparancy, no discussion of your player's pathway with leadership.we stay silent due to the threat of having our players black listed within the club.

blue teams were made to have better competition in RL which did not happen, most dominated their league, the orange/red teams did get better competition being in the RL. Blue teams were told that RU would apply for them to become NL, that did not happen, no transparancy, no discussion about it this year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Va velocity joined mls next2

RU about to lose a ton of boys to Velocity

Why? So they can play FC Richmond, exciting!

So, not having a DS at this age level, but being around the area, I think it's some of the grass is greener. The key person at Velocity was involved with RU Boys at a high level for a long time and is respected in the local soccer community, IMO. Not sure what lead them to leaving RU, but they went and started Velocity. Also, while RU was around for some time, it was a pretty small community before the decision was made to combine Kickers and Strikers into Richmond United. Prior to that, RU was just the top tier teams at the ECNL level. So, there are some growing pains that were experienced that as well which leads to folks looking for better opportunities.

IDK, the RU ECNL still seems to be able to get players to where they need to be - whether it's college or sending kids to MLS Academies or signing them to USL contracts with the local Richmond Kickers, there's a pretty solid pipeline.

Time will tell to see where this goes overall, but having some competition in the local market isn't a bad thing. Keeps everyone honest.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Va velocity joined mls next2

RU about to lose a ton of boys to Velocity

Why? So they can play FC Richmond, exciting!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought they got MLS B division, not A division

If you are talking about Velocity, yeah. They are in B or Homegrown. Same as FC Richmond actually. I wouldn't be surprised if they start pulling kids from RU and are able to make headway pretty quickly in moving up to MLS Academy or A.

You’ve got the leagues flipped. Academy is the B team and Homegrown is the A team. Makes no sense but wanted to make sure folks were tracking.

Aghhh...you are right. Sorry. Confusing as hell. FC Richmond and now VA Velocity are in the 2nd league. The Academy division. Not Homegrown. Who was the marketing genius who came up with that? Anyway, my point, I think, still stands. They (Velocity) will work hard to pull players and get to MLS Homegrown, Tier 1, as soon as possible.

Sorry for the confusion.

Actually the Academy division is a good fit. It allows the kids to play high school when RU ECNL does not.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Va velocity joined mls next2

RU about to lose a ton of boys to Velocity

Yeah. I agree there. RU now isn't the only game in town on the boys side with Velocity joining MLS Next Home Grown. I would imagine they will work hard to build the program and gain MLS Next Academy Division status as quickly as possible. It was interesting when Velocity was formed by former RU folks and what impact it would have in the area. That is now coming to light.

Girls though, still RU and they draw from a pretty wide area.

At the younger ages, I think they are already pressing RU hard. One age group won a higher bracket at Jeff Cup this weekend.

It will be interesting to see how this moves forward, and agree that younger ages they have gained traction. They are also building their own training complex and field too.