There are a few people on this board who have crediable information but are choosing to slow leak the information by issuing a series of soft warnings.

Just say what you know via your conversations with others that you believe to have crediable information. It will make it a lot easier and we can all stop reading between the lines.

I personally speculated early on that Larry Best would attempt to bring BRYC under the Spirit umbrella because of their geographical location and because of his attempt to do so two years ago. This would instantly boost Spirit - VA's profile and deal a sever blow to ECNLs strength in Northern Virginia while at the same time strentghing DAs profile in Northern Virginia (Larry's loyalty SHOULD be with US Soccer supporting DA).

BUT

A SPIRIT- BRYC partnership would mean the end of the BRYC ECNL program. It will also deal a huge blow to McLeans ECNL program by having such a strong DA program next door. This could spell disaster for ECNL in Northern Virginia. Larry may not being willing to do that because of his loyalties to his former club, associates at Mclean and ECNL HQ.

Which is why the following rumor makes sense....A Spirit - FCV partnership.

When Larry pulled out of the Spirit-Bryc partnership 2 years ago, FCV jumped in to form the partnership. However, it fell through in the 11th hour after an agreement could not be reached. FCV went on the partner with Loudoun. That lasted a year.

Now that Larry Best (BRYC) and Riche Burke (FCV) have been hired by Spirit, information is being leaked by those camps. It is being rumored that a deal is being worked on or is done between that would merge Spirit DA with FCV DA. This move actually helps BRYC and Mclean by disolving a DA program that was situated between them.

I dont know if any of this is true. Take from it what you will. However, I do know that certain soccer parents usually get it right. It just takes a few months for the clubs to confirm it.

Anonymous wrote:I emailed Larry this afternoon about the future of Spirit VA. No response yet but I’m sure he’s busy settling into a new job. I’ll post on here any response I get but do think that it would be got if other Spirit VA parents also emailed him

Any response you get would be greatly appreciated-thank you!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What would be the point of dissolving Spirit VA DA? Maryland is still in place, the coaching staff is already set, parents have paid, so what would be the reason?

Field space may be the reason...

Field space has not been an issue at any time this season save for the first two weeks back in August, for a 45 minute window. The partnership with Great Falls seems to be working great. The only reason this is coming up at all is the new partial owner, Larry’s hiring, and someone spewing FUD.

Rumors are saying otherwise about the GF partnership-it may be going South, and if so, would be a problem Spirit VA cannot overcome without a new partnership in the works.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What would be the point of dissolving Spirit VA DA? Maryland is still in place, the coaching staff is already set, parents have paid, so what would be the reason?

Field space may be the reason...

Field space has not been an issue at any time this season save for the first two weeks back in August, for a 45 minute window. The partnership with Great Falls seems to be working great. The only reason this is coming up at all is the new partial owner, Larry’s hiring, and someone spewing FUD.

Anonymous wrote:What would be the point of dissolving Spirit VA DA? Maryland is still in place, the coaching staff is already set, parents have paid, so what would be the reason?

Field space may be the reason...

BRYC usually host ECNL ID sessions starting in late February

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes. Even assuming that this will happen (unlikely) and that US Soccer will allow this kind of $hit show to happen en masse (more unlikely). Local ECNL rosters being woefully stacked (BRYC has 30+ players). Good luck with all that "guest playing." Star players will be able to start/play the full 90 for their current WS team AND have their pick of another club next season even if the unlikely event one does happen. I'd rather have my kid start and play the full 90 for my current team/coach where I'm comfortable and can showcase my talent than to try to do it on a crowded roster somewhere else. The other clubs know these players anyway....it's not a cattle call situation at this level.

The Spirit hater's story has no meat. Like I said, won't be a happier day than the day Spirit announces ID sessions for VA and MD and this slug sinks back into her hole.

When do the DA and ECNL teams in the area generally announce ID sessions in the spring?

They can run anytime between January and late March/early April. I’d expect Spirit to have announced something by early February, so about a month from now, either way.

Also, FCV plans to have their first later this month.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes. Even assuming that this will happen (unlikely) and that US Soccer will allow this kind of $hit show to happen en masse (more unlikely). Local ECNL rosters being woefully stacked (BRYC has 30+ players). Good luck with all that "guest playing." Star players will be able to start/play the full 90 for their current WS team AND have their pick of another club next season even if the unlikely event one does happen. I'd rather have my kid start and play the full 90 for my current team/coach where I'm comfortable and can showcase my talent than to try to do it on a crowded roster somewhere else. The other clubs know these players anyway....it's not a cattle call situation at this level.

The Spirit hater's story has no meat. Like I said, won't be a happier day than the day Spirit announces ID sessions for VA and MD and this slug sinks back into her hole.

When do the DA and ECNL teams in the area generally announce ID sessions in the spring?

They can run anytime between January and late March/early April. I’d expect Spirit to have announced something by early February, so about a month from now, either way.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes. Even assuming that this will happen (unlikely) and that US Soccer will allow this kind of $hit show to happen en masse (more unlikely). Local ECNL rosters being woefully stacked (BRYC has 30+ players). Good luck with all that "guest playing." Star players will be able to start/play the full 90 for their current WS team AND have their pick of another club next season even if the unlikely event one does happen. I'd rather have my kid start and play the full 90 for my current team/coach where I'm comfortable and can showcase my talent than to try to do it on a crowded roster somewhere else. The other clubs know these players anyway....it's not a cattle call situation at this level.

The Spirit hater's story has no meat. Like I said, won't be a happier day than the day Spirit announces ID sessions for VA and MD and this slug sinks back into her hole.

When do the DA and ECNL teams in the area generally announce ID sessions in the spring?

I haven't kept track of the ECNL clubs. Arlington has already had some. I'm told FCV doesn't recruit based off of ID sessions. If they want you, then you know. If you are a player who is stronger than what they have otherwise, they find a way to let you know. If you reach out to FCV and they remember your DD from a game or two, they will be courteous and invite you to training and let you know how your DD would fit in or not. If your kid is not on their radar and you reach out to them then you will hear crickets.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s a difference between attending ID sessions and abandoning ship, as some were suggesting. I’d guess that ID session attendance would be allowed. Player release is a different story. And I don’t think that’s a problem at all. It’s a rational, adult way to handle it.

I don't disagree conceptually. It is rational, and what adults should do. Ask around though; there are clubs - or at least one club I know of - whose players don't feel free to attend ID sessions because they are afraid of telling the club.

So, since clubs can't be trusted to be rational - and because players can be afraid to check out other clubs - I object to the rule.

I’m saying that I think Spirit would permit players to attend ID sessions if they were going to fold, which I feel is very unlikely based on my discussions with relevant parties. VDA is not an apples for apples case because they retained teams, albeit in ECNL instead of DA. They had an interest in not losing the players the following season. That wouldn’t be true of Spirit.

Sure, I really did try to be clear I wasn't suggesting Spirit.

Anonymous wrote:

Yes. Even assuming that this will happen (unlikely) and that US Soccer will allow this kind of $hit show to happen en masse (more unlikely). Local ECNL rosters being woefully stacked (BRYC has 30+ players). Good luck with all that "guest playing." Star players will be able to start/play the full 90 for their current WS team AND have their pick of another club next season even if the unlikely event one does happen. I'd rather have my kid start and play the full 90 for my current team/coach where I'm comfortable and can showcase my talent than to try to do it on a crowded roster somewhere else. The other clubs know these players anyway....it's not a cattle call situation at this level.

The Spirit hater's story has no meat. Like I said, won't be a happier day than the day Spirit announces ID sessions for VA and MD and this slug sinks back into her hole.

When do the DA and ECNL teams in the area generally announce ID sessions in the spring?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s a difference between attending ID sessions and abandoning ship, as some were suggesting. I’d guess that ID session attendance would be allowed. Player release is a different story. And I don’t think that’s a problem at all. It’s a rational, adult way to handle it.

I don't disagree conceptually. It is rational, and what adults should do. Ask around though; there are clubs - or at least one club I know of - whose players don't feel free to attend ID sessions because they are afraid of telling the club.

So, since clubs can't be trusted to be rational - and because players can be afraid to check out other clubs - I object to the rule.

I’m saying that I think Spirit would permit players to attend ID sessions if they were going to fold, which I feel is very unlikely based on my discussions with relevant parties. VDA is not an apples for apples case because they retained teams, albeit in ECNL instead of DA. They had an interest in not losing the players the following season. That wouldn’t be true of Spirit.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Different poster. Back to VDA: they sure did. They knew they were going ECNL and still held that player out. I don't understand why and find that gross. Quite frankly, I object to the policy. No other league has such rules just to attend an ID session. I think any player should have the right to check out any ID session they want. With a rule like that though, players can't. They risk punitive action from the current club. It's ridiculous.

Not true. If you are on an ECNL team, you cannot attend the tryouts of another ECNL team until after a specified dat (May 1?)

If so, then I disagree there too. As I said, I think any player should be able to unfettered try out wherever they want.

Anonymous wrote:There’s a difference between attending ID sessions and abandoning ship, as some were suggesting. I’d guess that ID session attendance would be allowed. Player release is a different story. And I don’t think that’s a problem at all. It’s a rational, adult way to handle it.

I don't disagree conceptually. It is rational, and what adults should do. Ask around though; there are clubs - or at least one club I know of - whose players don't feel free to attend ID sessions because they are afraid of telling the club.

So, since clubs can't be trusted to be rational - and because players can be afraid to check out other clubs - I object to the rule.

Anonymous wrote:

Different poster. Back to VDA: they sure did. They knew they were going ECNL and still held that player out. I don't understand why and find that gross. Quite frankly, I object to the policy. No other league has such rules just to attend an ID session. I think any player should have the right to check out any ID session they want. With a rule like that though, players can't. They risk punitive action from the current club. It's ridiculous.

Not true. If you are on an ECNL team, you cannot attend the tryouts of another ECNL team until after a specified dat (May 1?)