Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thats the problem right there. We have created too many money driven opportunities where average and below kids can pay to play and are made to feel like they are special or talented because they are on an elite team or club. With the number of clubs out there the real talent pool is spread way to thin. If we had only 4 clubs in the entire DMV that were elite travel we could have the talented players all there training together getting better and we would actually see some talent emerge. Instead we have 50 clubs that take anyone willing to pay to play and we stay mediocre overall.

That was the roll of the DA and that is exactly what we had, DC United, Bethesda, Arlington and VDA were attracting the top talent in the area. DC United, Bethesda and Arlington on the boys side are still the top destination clubs.

Hmm I don't think Arlington is there yet. If you look at their roster, no one is really driving all that far to get there. I think most people are choosing to stay with Alexandria, Springfield, VDA, Loudoun, and even McLean in some age groups if closer.

Hmm, Arlington is way better than Alexandria and Springfield. They may be on part with VDA, Loudoun and McLean is some age groups, but Springfield and Alexandria's top teams are on par with Arlington's B teams and in some age groups are worse than Arlington's B teams.

My DS played Alexandria travel soccer from U9 through high school graduation. The kids who wanted either college or pro all moved over to Arlington or a DA (when that existed) team by U15.
Alexandria and SYC are on par with Arlington's top teams at younger ages on the boys side. In some years, their top teams are better, and in others, they are weaker. The talent pool at Arlington is deeper, but they have not done much with it. Hence top Arlington teams at oldeer ages draw from a wider pool and obviously benefit. If Arlington stays in ECNL, I suspect you will see more parity in older age groups.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thats the problem right there. We have created too many money driven opportunities where average and below kids can pay to play and are made to feel like they are special or talented because they are on an elite team or club. With the number of clubs out there the real talent pool is spread way to thin. If we had only 4 clubs in the entire DMV that were elite travel we could have the talented players all there training together getting better and we would actually see some talent emerge. Instead we have 50 clubs that take anyone willing to pay to play and we stay mediocre overall.

That was the roll of the DA and that is exactly what we had, DC United, Bethesda, Arlington and VDA were attracting the top talent in the area. DC United, Bethesda and Arlington on the boys side are still the top destination clubs.

Hmm I don't think Arlington is there yet. If you look at their roster, no one is really driving all that far to get there. I think most people are choosing to stay with Alexandria, Springfield, VDA, Loudoun, and even McLean in some age groups if closer.

I won't say anything about how good Arlington's teams are or are not - people can figure that out for themselves or they don't care - and it's not something which can be proved on a message board in any case.

But when you suggest that no-one is driving all that far to get there, you're just making a false statement - either a deliberately false statement, or you just like to make stuff up for the hell of it. Kids are driving from Maryland, DC and at least five counties in VA (that I know of - it may well be more as I am not familiar with the rosters in every age group). I'm not going to go anywhere with this information, or try and claim it proves anything other than that you're just talking out your youknowwhat.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thats the problem right there. We have created too many money driven opportunities where average and below kids can pay to play and are made to feel like they are special or talented because they are on an elite team or club. With the number of clubs out there the real talent pool is spread way to thin. If we had only 4 clubs in the entire DMV that were elite travel we could have the talented players all there training together getting better and we would actually see some talent emerge. Instead we have 50 clubs that take anyone willing to pay to play and we stay mediocre overall.

That was the roll of the DA and that is exactly what we had, DC United, Bethesda, Arlington and VDA were attracting the top talent in the area. DC United, Bethesda and Arlington on the boys side are still the top destination clubs.

Hmm I don't think Arlington is there yet. If you look at their roster, no one is really driving all that far to get there. I think most people are choosing to stay with Alexandria, Springfield, VDA, Loudoun, and even McLean in some age groups if closer.

Hmm, Arlington is way better than Alexandria and Springfield. They may be on part with VDA, Loudoun and McLean is some age groups, but Springfield and Alexandria's top teams are on par with Arlington's B teams and in some age groups are worse than Arlington's B teams.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thats the problem right there. We have created too many money driven opportunities where average and below kids can pay to play and are made to feel like they are special or talented because they are on an elite team or club. With the number of clubs out there the real talent pool is spread way to thin. If we had only 4 clubs in the entire DMV that were elite travel we could have the talented players all there training together getting better and we would actually see some talent emerge. Instead we have 50 clubs that take anyone willing to pay to play and we stay mediocre overall.

That was the roll of the DA and that is exactly what we had, DC United, Bethesda, Arlington and VDA were attracting the top talent in the area. DC United, Bethesda and Arlington on the boys side are still the top destination clubs.

Hmm I don't think Arlington is there yet. If you look at their roster, no one is really driving all that far to get there. I think most people are choosing to stay with Alexandria, Springfield, VDA, Loudoun, and even McLean in some age groups if closer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:and elite player would be the top 3-4 players on the best teams in the area

Best teams in the area is subject to opinion. Since there are many leagues most good teams dont ever play each other.

But would Elite teams be the Top 5 or Top 10 teams per YouthSoccer or GotSoccer rankings in MD or VA?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:and elite player would be the top 3-4 players on the best teams in the area

Best teams in the area is subject to opinion. Since there are many leagues most good teams dont ever play each other.

Anonymous wrote:and elite player would be the top 3-4 players on the best teams in the area

Anonymous wrote:Here’s a rookie question for everyone:

To be consider an elite team in VA or MD, what Youth Soccer Ranking should a team be in a state? Top 5, Top 10 in a State?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s a rookie question for everyone:

To be consider an elite team in VA or MD, what Youth Soccer Ranking should a team be in a state? Top 5, Top 10 in a State?

Elite is a term even club likes to say they are. Elite is the new participation trophy.

Anonymous wrote:Here’s a rookie question for everyone:

To be consider an elite team in VA or MD, what Youth Soccer Ranking should a team be in a state? Top 5, Top 10 in a State?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thats the problem right there. We have created too many money driven opportunities where average and below kids can pay to play and are made to feel like they are special or talented because they are on an elite team or club. With the number of clubs out there the real talent pool is spread way to thin. If we had only 4 clubs in the entire DMV that were elite travel we could have the talented players all there training together getting better and we would actually see some talent emerge. Instead we have 50 clubs that take anyone willing to pay to play and we stay mediocre overall.

That was the roll of the DA and that is exactly what we had, DC United, Bethesda, Arlington and VDA were attracting the top talent in the area. DC United, Bethesda and Arlington on the boys side are still the top destination clubs.

Hmm I don't think Arlington is there yet. If you look at their roster, no one is really driving all that far to get there. I think most people are choosing to stay with Alexandria, Springfield, VDA, Loudoun, and even McLean in some age groups if closer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thats the problem right there. We have created too many money driven opportunities where average and below kids can pay to play and are made to feel like they are special or talented because they are on an elite team or club. With the number of clubs out there the real talent pool is spread way to thin. If we had only 4 clubs in the entire DMV that were elite travel we could have the talented players all there training together getting better and we would actually see some talent emerge. Instead we have 50 clubs that take anyone willing to pay to play and we stay mediocre overall.

That was the roll of the DA and that is exactly what we had, DC United, Bethesda, Arlington and VDA were attracting the top talent in the area. DC United, Bethesda and Arlington on the boys side are still the top destination clubs.

Anonymous wrote:Thats the problem right there. We have created too many money driven opportunities where average and below kids can pay to play and are made to feel like they are special or talented because they are on an elite team or club. With the number of clubs out there the real talent pool is spread way to thin. If we had only 4 clubs in the entire DMV that were elite travel we could have the talented players all there training together getting better and we would actually see some talent emerge. Instead we have 50 clubs that take anyone willing to pay to play and we stay mediocre overall.