But that's my point, isn't it? Why pay $3K+ for playing on a low level team when you can pay three times less and play in the same league?

$3K is for the training, coaches and club experience, not for the league. Do the other teams in ODSL that cost less provide the same quality of coaches, training, and development? I doubt it. Most of the kids in the Barca ODSL teams are not elite, never will be, their parents know that, the kids know that, the coaches know that, and they have no aspirations to play behind HS soccer. AND THATS OK. Just because they aren't elite doesn't mean they can't get high quality training, because they love to play, and let's face it $3k for a year long kids activity in this area is not a lot of money to many people (start another thread if you want to discuss how much is too much for parents to spend on their kids). Stop judging.

There are two tiers of Barca players, as I suspect there are in many other clubs. There are the highly talented and motivated ones who have college and professional aspirations, and for these players there is EDP and beyond. Then there are the less talented but motivated ones who enjoy the game and may play for their HS. If teams or players develop past ODSL then they will be moved up. If not who cares?

Oh yeah, there is one other type of player that is common in most clubs around here. Those whose parents want to be able to say their kid plays in a top league, even if they never get time in the field or the team loses every game 0-10, or the coaches and training are terrible.

My perspective on things. If Barca is a premier club, then they need to compete at that level. You aren't going to attract top talent when you have to advertise my top team is EDP and everyone else is ODSL, can you guarantee me that my kid is on the EDP roster?

It's not about shopping leagues, its about level of competition you will encounter. ODSL is a low league for 3rd level and below teams in large clubs and independents for everyone else. Shows me that Barca isn't recruiting top talent and ODSL isn't going to get them there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I am a Barca parent and I don't think that paying $3K+ to be on an ODSL team (at Barca or at any other club) is a wise investment.

Would you rather stay in EDP and lose every single game as many of the Barca teams did in the fall? Those teams clearly weren’t ready for that league. It doesn’t serve the player development well to have lopsided games in either direction. I am also a Barca parent. I don’t view my $3k as an investment in anything. It’s a fee and if the training, coaches, facilities, methods are good quality then I could care less which league the team plays in if the games are competitive. As players develop they will join the EDP teams, play with older age groups, face tougher teams in internal competitions and tournaments, so plenty of opportunities if ODSL isn’t enough of a challenge.

When you pay $3K for training, it is an investment in your kid's development. Paying $3K+ for ODSL is not money well spent. Good luck explaining it to parents, whose kids used to play in ODP, CCL, VPL and NCSL, that the club has good training facilities and, thus, they should be happy playing in ODSL.

The focus on leagues is incorrect for kids U9-U12. Leagues do not matter at those ages. I always sit back and wonder why people invest so much time in sorting out leagues and making tables for the younger kids.

Training sessions, Coach and how much the kid practices on his/her own are the only important things at those ages for development.

Playing in the super elite league before puberty, it just doesn't matter. Games are a very small part of the development at the younger ages.

Parents should be more worried about what the kids are doing the 3 days of week in training sessions, most have no idea because they have never watched.

The older kids are in more competitive leagues/tournaments, accordingly. And, the 2008s will be added to EDP in the Spring.

I agree that focusing on leagues for younger ages is not important for U9-U12 teams, but this is not what this discussion is about. Barca did not place any of their U9-U10 teams in ODSL. If they did, I doubt that many parents would have an issue with it. This discussion is primarily about older age groups. Barca ODSL teams play in the following age groups: U11,U12, U13, U14, U15 and U17. http://www.odsl.org/new-team-numbers-2 Let's say parents of U11 and U12 teams should not worry about the league placement, that everything goes according to the plan, and these teams eventually start playing at high level. You still have to consider if ODSL is a good league for U13, U14, U15 and U17 teams/players. U17 players, for example, should be doing college ID camps at this point. College scouts are not particularly concerned about a team's loss/win record (a good player could be on a bad team in a competitive league), but playing in a subpar league will raise some red flags.

Colleges scouts and ODSL, NCSL do not mix. If your team is ODSL that is what you are as a player, sorry but playing in college is not why you are playing soccer if you are in ODSL.

My kids are a few years away from college scouting and play on the EDP teams. College soccer is not on our radar. And, I think for a vast majority of players across the DMV it isn't what they think it is and the odds are not well understood. If my kids could only get into a good school through a sport I might feel differently. If they end up feeling strongly about playing in college when they are old enough to decide what they want to do, there is a path. My friend's kid plays soccer for Harvard and it wasn't from playing in an elite league/teams. The kid got into JHU and several other great universities through the soccer path that and that path did not include DA or ECNL. My kids aren't thinking of 'college soccer' now. At 11, 12, 13, I don't think I hear any kid talking about playing 'college' soccer. Frankly, every younger kid is thinking FIFA, its the misguided parents chasing college in the elementary/tween years. My kids go to training and play pick up every chance they get because they love the sport. Period. Many families love the convenience of having all kids at the same field the same nights of the week and to get top-notch training to boot.

Academics are always going to be more important, IMO. And, what THEY want to do, these aren't my dreams. Parents fighting over kids' sports on the sidelines and internet forums is just so out of the realm for me. We had our time, let the kids play.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I am a Barca parent and I don't think that paying $3K+ to be on an ODSL team (at Barca or at any other club) is a wise investment.

Would you rather stay in EDP and lose every single game as many of the Barca teams did in the fall? Those teams clearly weren’t ready for that league. It doesn’t serve the player development well to have lopsided games in either direction. I am also a Barca parent. I don’t view my $3k as an investment in anything. It’s a fee and if the training, coaches, facilities, methods are good quality then I could care less which league the team plays in if the games are competitive. As players develop they will join the EDP teams, play with older age groups, face tougher teams in internal competitions and tournaments, so plenty of opportunities if ODSL isn’t enough of a challenge.

When you pay $3K for training, it is an investment in your kid's development. Paying $3K+ for ODSL is not money well spent. Good luck explaining it to parents, whose kids used to play in ODP, CCL, VPL and NCSL, that the club has good training facilities and, thus, they should be happy playing in ODSL.

The focus on leagues is incorrect for kids U9-U12. Leagues do not matter at those ages. I always sit back and wonder why people invest so much time in sorting out leagues and making tables for the younger kids.

Training sessions, Coach and how much the kid practices on his/her own are the only important things at those ages for development.

Playing in the super elite league before puberty, it just doesn't matter. Games are a very small part of the development at the younger ages.

Parents should be more worried about what the kids are doing the 3 days of week in training sessions, most have no idea because they have never watched.

The older kids are in more competitive leagues/tournaments, accordingly. And, the 2008s will be added to EDP in the Spring.

I agree that focusing on leagues for younger ages is not important for U9-U12 teams, but this is not what this discussion is about. Barca did not place any of their U9-U10 teams in ODSL. If they did, I doubt that many parents would have an issue with it. This discussion is primarily about older age groups. Barca ODSL teams play in the following age groups: U11,U12, U13, U14, U15 and U17. http://www.odsl.org/new-team-numbers-2 Let's say parents of U11 and U12 teams should not worry about the league placement, that everything goes according to the plan, and these teams eventually start playing at high level. You still have to consider if ODSL is a good league for U13, U14, U15 and U17 teams/players. U17 players, for example, should be doing college ID camps at this point. College scouts are not particularly concerned about a team's loss/win record (a good player could be on a bad team in a competitive league), but playing in a subpar league will raise some red flags.

Colleges scouts and ODSL, NCSL do not mix. If your team is ODSL that is what you are as a player, sorry but playing in college is not why you are playing soccer if you are in ODSL.

But that's my point, isn't it? Why pay $3K+ for playing on a low level team when you can pay three times less and play in the same league?

Because to some people they still find value in the training environment and the overall culture of the club. Perhaps the same people feel that paying $1500 for a dad coach on a crap team with crap fields might also be a waste of money and more of a self fulfilling prophecy.

But regardless, value is subjective. There will be those who believe it is to expensive for 3k and who am I to say they are wrong? There are also those who find value in what their child gets for 3k and who am I to tell them they are wrong?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I am a Barca parent and I don't think that paying $3K+ to be on an ODSL team (at Barca or at any other club) is a wise investment.

Would you rather stay in EDP and lose every single game as many of the Barca teams did in the fall? Those teams clearly weren’t ready for that league. It doesn’t serve the player development well to have lopsided games in either direction. I am also a Barca parent. I don’t view my $3k as an investment in anything. It’s a fee and if the training, coaches, facilities, methods are good quality then I could care less which league the team plays in if the games are competitive. As players develop they will join the EDP teams, play with older age groups, face tougher teams in internal competitions and tournaments, so plenty of opportunities if ODSL isn’t enough of a challenge.

When you pay $3K for training, it is an investment in your kid's development. Paying $3K+ for ODSL is not money well spent. Good luck explaining it to parents, whose kids used to play in ODP, CCL, VPL and NCSL, that the club has good training facilities and, thus, they should be happy playing in ODSL.

The focus on leagues is incorrect for kids U9-U12. Leagues do not matter at those ages. I always sit back and wonder why people invest so much time in sorting out leagues and making tables for the younger kids.

Training sessions, Coach and how much the kid practices on his/her own are the only important things at those ages for development.

Playing in the super elite league before puberty, it just doesn't matter. Games are a very small part of the development at the younger ages.

Parents should be more worried about what the kids are doing the 3 days of week in training sessions, most have no idea because they have never watched.

The older kids are in more competitive leagues/tournaments, accordingly. And, the 2008s will be added to EDP in the Spring.

I agree that focusing on leagues for younger ages is not important for U9-U12 teams, but this is not what this discussion is about. Barca did not place any of their U9-U10 teams in ODSL. If they did, I doubt that many parents would have an issue with it. This discussion is primarily about older age groups. Barca ODSL teams play in the following age groups: U11,U12, U13, U14, U15 and U17. http://www.odsl.org/new-team-numbers-2 Let's say parents of U11 and U12 teams should not worry about the league placement, that everything goes according to the plan, and these teams eventually start playing at high level. You still have to consider if ODSL is a good league for U13, U14, U15 and U17 teams/players. U17 players, for example, should be doing college ID camps at this point. College scouts are not particularly concerned about a team's loss/win record (a good player could be on a bad team in a competitive league), but playing in a subpar league will raise some red flags.

Colleges scouts and ODSL, NCSL do not mix. If your team is ODSL that is what you are as a player, sorry but playing in college is not why you are playing soccer if you are in ODSL.

But that's my point, isn't it? Why pay $3K+ for playing on a low level team when you can pay three times less and play in the same league?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I am a Barca parent and I don't think that paying $3K+ to be on an ODSL team (at Barca or at any other club) is a wise investment.

Would you rather stay in EDP and lose every single game as many of the Barca teams did in the fall? Those teams clearly weren’t ready for that league. It doesn’t serve the player development well to have lopsided games in either direction. I am also a Barca parent. I don’t view my $3k as an investment in anything. It’s a fee and if the training, coaches, facilities, methods are good quality then I could care less which league the team plays in if the games are competitive. As players develop they will join the EDP teams, play with older age groups, face tougher teams in internal competitions and tournaments, so plenty of opportunities if ODSL isn’t enough of a challenge.

When you pay $3K for training, it is an investment in your kid's development. Paying $3K+ for ODSL is not money well spent. Good luck explaining it to parents, whose kids used to play in ODP, CCL, VPL and NCSL, that the club has good training facilities and, thus, they should be happy playing in ODSL.

The focus on leagues is incorrect for kids U9-U12. Leagues do not matter at those ages. I always sit back and wonder why people invest so much time in sorting out leagues and making tables for the younger kids.

Training sessions, Coach and how much the kid practices on his/her own are the only important things at those ages for development.

Playing in the super elite league before puberty, it just doesn't matter. Games are a very small part of the development at the younger ages.

Parents should be more worried about what the kids are doing the 3 days of week in training sessions, most have no idea because they have never watched.

The older kids are in more competitive leagues/tournaments, accordingly. And, the 2008s will be added to EDP in the Spring.

I agree that focusing on leagues for younger ages is not important for U9-U12 teams, but this is not what this discussion is about. Barca did not place any of their U9-U10 teams in ODSL. If they did, I doubt that many parents would have an issue with it. This discussion is primarily about older age groups. Barca ODSL teams play in the following age groups: U11,U12, U13, U14, U15 and U17. http://www.odsl.org/new-team-numbers-2 Let's say parents of U11 and U12 teams should not worry about the league placement, that everything goes according to the plan, and these teams eventually start playing at high level. You still have to consider if ODSL is a good league for U13, U14, U15 and U17 teams/players. U17 players, for example, should be doing college ID camps at this point. College scouts are not particularly concerned about a team's loss/win record (a good player could be on a bad team in a competitive league), but playing in a subpar league will raise some red flags.

Colleges scouts and ODSL, NCSL do not mix. If your team is ODSL that is what you are as a player, sorry but playing in college is not why you are playing soccer if you are in ODSL.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I am a Barca parent and I don't think that paying $3K+ to be on an ODSL team (at Barca or at any other club) is a wise investment.

Would you rather stay in EDP and lose every single game as many of the Barca teams did in the fall? Those teams clearly weren’t ready for that league. It doesn’t serve the player development well to have lopsided games in either direction. I am also a Barca parent. I don’t view my $3k as an investment in anything. It’s a fee and if the training, coaches, facilities, methods are good quality then I could care less which league the team plays in if the games are competitive. As players develop they will join the EDP teams, play with older age groups, face tougher teams in internal competitions and tournaments, so plenty of opportunities if ODSL isn’t enough of a challenge.

When you pay $3K for training, it is an investment in your kid's development. Paying $3K+ for ODSL is not money well spent. Good luck explaining it to parents, whose kids used to play in ODP, CCL, VPL and NCSL, that the club has good training facilities and, thus, they should be happy playing in ODSL.

The focus on leagues is incorrect for kids U9-U12. Leagues do not matter at those ages. I always sit back and wonder why people invest so much time in sorting out leagues and making tables for the younger kids.

Training sessions, Coach and how much the kid practices on his/her own are the only important things at those ages for development.

Playing in the super elite league before puberty, it just doesn't matter. Games are a very small part of the development at the younger ages.

Parents should be more worried about what the kids are doing the 3 days of week in training sessions, most have no idea because they have never watched.

The older kids are in more competitive leagues/tournaments, accordingly. And, the 2008s will be added to EDP in the Spring.

I agree that focusing on leagues for younger ages is not important for U9-U12 teams, but this is not what this discussion is about. Barca did not place any of their U9-U10 teams in ODSL. If they did, I doubt that many parents would have an issue with it. This discussion is primarily about older age groups. Barca ODSL teams play in the following age groups: U11,U12, U13, U14, U15 and U17. http://www.odsl.org/new-team-numbers-2 Let's say parents of U11 and U12 teams should not worry about the league placement, that everything goes according to the plan, and these teams eventually start playing at high level. You still have to consider if ODSL is a good league for U13, U14, U15 and U17 teams/players. U17 players, for example, should be doing college ID camps at this point. College scouts are not particularly concerned about a team's loss/win record (a good player could be on a bad team in a competitive league), but playing in a subpar league will raise some red flags.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I am a Barca parent and I don't think that paying $3K+ to be on an ODSL team (at Barca or at any other club) is a wise investment.

Would you rather stay in EDP and lose every single game as many of the Barca teams did in the fall? Those teams clearly weren’t ready for that league. It doesn’t serve the player development well to have lopsided games in either direction. I am also a Barca parent. I don’t view my $3k as an investment in anything. It’s a fee and if the training, coaches, facilities, methods are good quality then I could care less which league the team plays in if the games are competitive. As players develop they will join the EDP teams, play with older age groups, face tougher teams in internal competitions and tournaments, so plenty of opportunities if ODSL isn’t enough of a challenge.

When you pay $3K for training, it is an investment in your kid's development. Paying $3K+ for ODSL is not money well spent. Good luck explaining it to parents, whose kids used to play in ODP, CCL, VPL and NCSL, that the club has good training facilities and, thus, they should be happy playing in ODSL.

The focus on leagues is incorrect for kids U9-U12. Leagues do not matter at those ages. I always sit back and wonder why people invest so much time in sorting out leagues and making tables for the younger kids.

Training sessions, Coach and how much the kid practices on his/her own are the only important things at those ages for development.

Playing in the super elite league before puberty, it just doesn't matter. Games are a very small part of the development at the younger ages.

Parents should be more worried about what the kids are doing the 3 days of week in training sessions, most have no idea because they have never watched.

The older kids are in more competitive leagues/tournaments, accordingly. And, the 2008s will be added to EDP in the Spring.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure why Barcelona would have not applied for NCSL since they meet all of the requirements to get in. For small clubs the most difficult would be getting teams at the older levels but it seems that Barcelona has them. I'm sure NCSL would have loved to been associated with Barcelona.

I agree, that NCSL is a better fit. ODSL is just an odd choice and probably tied to fees as well, we are at the younger age groups and I'm just tired of the crappy tournaments they sign up to do for the 2nd teams.

I also agree that ODSL is an odd choice. They should have allowed EDP to relegate their underperforming teams to lower divisions of EDP or joined NCSL. Perhaps they thought that competing against ODSL level teams ensures easy wins and good win/loss record so perhaps they could claim the progress to parents who got tired of losing in EDP.

Anonymous wrote:

I am a Barca parent and I don't think that paying $3K+ to be on an ODSL team (at Barca or at any other club) is a wise investment.

Would you rather stay in EDP and lose every single game as many of the Barca teams did in the fall? Those teams clearly weren’t ready for that league. It doesn’t serve the player development well to have lopsided games in either direction. I am also a Barca parent. I don’t view my $3k as an investment in anything. It’s a fee and if the training, coaches, facilities, methods are good quality then I could care less which league the team plays in if the games are competitive. As players develop they will join the EDP teams, play with older age groups, face tougher teams in internal competitions and tournaments, so plenty of opportunities if ODSL isn’t enough of a challenge.

When you pay $3K for training, it is an investment in your kid's development. Paying $3K+ for ODSL is not money well spent. Good luck explaining it to parents, whose kids used to play in ODP, CCL, VPL and NCSL, that the club has good training facilities and, thus, they should be happy playing in ODSL.

Anonymous wrote:commnunication at the club is awful.

Genuine question - specifically what has been awful? Because my experience has been quite different. Game times and rsvp in sports engine, tournament emails come well in advance, and we know which tournaments will be applied throughout the season for each team. Weather cancellations. All have been communicated well imo. There were certainly some growing pains last year but seems pretty good to me. What are you not receiving?

I’m sure they will eventually be in NCSL. My son’s team started as a bottom-barrel ODSL team when they went into travel. They’re now in D1 NCSL. Players improve, teams move up through the divisions.

commnunication at the club is awful.

Anonymous wrote:Not sure why Barcelona would have not applied for NCSL since they meet all of the requirements to get in. For small clubs the most difficult would be getting teams at the older levels but it seems that Barcelona has them. I'm sure NCSL would have loved to been associated with Barcelona.

I agree, that NCSL is a better fit. ODSL is just an odd choice and probably tied to fees as well, we are at the younger age groups and I'm just tired of the crappy tournaments they sign up to do for the 2nd teams.

Not sure why Barcelona would have not applied for NCSL since they meet all of the requirements to get in. For small clubs the most difficult would be getting teams at the older levels but it seems that Barcelona has them. I'm sure NCSL would have loved to been associated with Barcelona.