Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are relatively happy on a current travel soccer team, but not on a top team. What is your opinion about going to various local tryouts to see how your kid performs against others in the area? Even if you don't think you will change teams if offered a higher spot?

Will your current coach care if he hears you are trying out elsewhere?

Will you even have a shot since it is kind of a cattle call, and if you were serious, you would sign up to practice with the other team a few times.

I'm glad you brought this up. My DC will be trying out for U9 this spring. I have an idea that they will make one as they are already playing for the club at U8. However there needs to be a security blanket in case it does not workout at the club my DC is currently with and have options ready.

If you are trying out for U9, and your kid is already on a travel team elsewhere, then my advice is to tryout at other clubs, but don't tryout at their first tryout. If your kid is good, you'll get an immediate offer, and you won't be ready to commit within 48 hours. Wish I had gone to the 2nd and/or 3rd (if offered) tryout rather than the first. We couldn't commit after the first tryout, and then couldn't go back to any more of the tryouts to judge the quality of the other players.

I don't think there is anything wrong with U-Littles trying out at other clubs to see how they are in the region. But it comes down to convenience and where their friends are playing. My kid would have been at Alexandria or Bethesda if they were more convenient that our place in greater Fairfax / Loudoun area.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are relatively happy on a current travel soccer team, but not on a top team. What is your opinion about going to various local tryouts to see how your kid performs against others in the area? Even if you don't think you will change teams if offered a higher spot?

Will your current coach care if he hears you are trying out elsewhere?

Will you even have a shot since it is kind of a cattle call, and if you were serious, you would sign up to practice with the other team a few times.

I'm glad you brought this up. My DC will be trying out for U9 this spring. I have an idea that they will make one as they are already playing for the club at U8. However there needs to be a security blanket in case it does not workout at the club my DC is currently with and have options ready.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are relatively happy on a current travel soccer team, but not on a top team. What is your opinion about going to various local tryouts to see how your kid performs against others in the area? Even if you don't think you will change teams if offered a higher spot?

Will your current coach care if he hears you are trying out elsewhere?

Will you even have a shot since it is kind of a cattle call, and if you were serious, you would sign up to practice with the other team a few times.

I'm glad you brought this up. My DC will be trying out for U9 this spring. I have an idea that they will make one as they are already playing for the club at U8. However there needs to be a security blanket in case it does not workout at the club my DC is currently with and have options ready.

Anonymous wrote:If you are relatively happy on a current travel soccer team, but not on a top team. What is your opinion about going to various local tryouts to see how your kid performs against others in the area? Even if you don't think you will change teams if offered a higher spot?

Will your current coach care if he hears you are trying out elsewhere?

Will you even have a shot since it is kind of a cattle call, and if you were serious, you would sign up to practice with the other team a few times.

Anonymous wrote:If you are relatively happy on a current travel soccer team, but not on a top team. What is your opinion about going to various local tryouts to see how your kid performs against others in the area? Even if you don't think you will change teams if offered a higher spot?

Will your current coach care if he hears you are trying out elsewhere?

Will you even have a shot since it is kind of a cattle call, and if you were serious, you would sign up to practice with the other team a few times.

Anonymous wrote:If you are relatively happy on a current travel soccer team, but not on a top team. What is your opinion about going to various local tryouts to see how your kid performs against others in the area? Even if you don't think you will change teams if offered a higher spot?

Will your current coach care if he hears you are trying out elsewhere?

Will you even have a shot since it is kind of a cattle call, and if you were serious, you would sign up to practice with the other team a few times.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm 10:35 - this particular team is a rec team, so theoretically these families haven't signed anything saying we are their first priority. So we can't really do anything.

We did have one family drop the team after one season - their daughter literally missed half of the games (after they badgered us to get on the roster) and I think they decided it was too much of a commitment and they were pissing us off. (They were right. We were annoyed.) If you're taking up a roster spot on a team and we turned down other kids so you could play with us, you do need to respect the commitment.

We were on a travel team, and one girl missed nearly every tournament (holiday weekend) because her family liked to travel on holidays. That bugged me. We were short every tournament because they either didn't read the fine print in the contract they signed, or they just didn't care.

The church thing annoys me because Sunday games are pretty infrequent and I feel like your God will probably understand if you miss church twice a year for soccer. And these weren't Sunday morning games - these were well into the afternoon. Go to an earlier service, for Pete's sake.

For some of us, soccer is not the highest priority. We want our kids to play at the highest level and not feel penalized because of their commitment to their faith. Fortunately we have run into teams team/coaches that are flexible.

Fine, it doesn't need to be the highest priority but most games are on sundays so play rec and leave the roster spot to a kid who can play.

Why? I want it all, beautiful kids in travel sports, because rec is for poor Latinonkids. A great career that still gives me flexibility to leave early but something I can brag about. Ideally my spouse wants the same thing and we are both intensely focused on our goals and if you are inconvenianced by our ambition you are meant to be a nobody anyway.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tryouts for Achilles FC

Sunday 5/6, 5/13, 5/20

2007-2011 5:00-6:30
2002-2006 6:30-8:00

All sessions at St. John’s College High School in NW DC

http://salsoccer.com

My son plays for this club and we are really happy with the training and coaches. We also like the families involved because many are soccer people who are knowledgeable about the game and expect top quality training. That said, Coach Sal (the founder) doesn't publicize well what a great thing he's got going so I wanted to post here what I believe to be the best option for kids in NW DC or MD who are serious about soccer. It's a small club that won't take a lot of kids at each age, but high level players will fit in well.

How many teams do they field at each age? How many players per team? When and where do they practice?

There’s not a team at every age yet, and there are a few younger ages (but not all) with two. It’s more based on where kids ability puts them than their age and there’s a lot of mixing years at practices and for games. Also no strict “a” or “b” teams. I think it works well, but he doesn’t advertise well so I posted here to let quality players know it’s out there.

And yes he’s a former Bethesda coach, and from New York. Quite a personality- some love it, some not so much. But those I know agree that he’s excellent at coaching and is building a strong and attentive coaching staff.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tryouts for Achilles FC

Sunday 5/6, 5/13, 5/20

2007-2011 5:00-6:30
2002-2006 6:30-8:00

All sessions at St. John’s College High School in NW DC

http://salsoccer.com

My son plays for this club and we are really happy with the training and coaches. We also like the families involved because many are soccer people who are knowledgeable about the game and expect top quality training. That said, Coach Sal (the founder) doesn't publicize well what a great thing he's got going so I wanted to post here what I believe to be the best option for kids in NW DC or MD who are serious about soccer. It's a small club that won't take a lot of kids at each age, but high level players will fit in well.

How many teams do they field at each age? How many players per team? When and where do they practice?

There’s not a team at every age yet, and there are a few younger ages (but not all) with two. It’s more based on where kids ability puts them than their age and there’s a lot of mixing years at practices and for games. Also no strict “a” or “b” teams. I think it works well, but he doesn’t advertise well so I posted here to let quality players know it’s out there.

And yes he’s a former Bethesda coach, and from New York. Quite a personality- some love it, some not so much. But those I know agree that he’s excellent at coaching and is building a strong and attentive coaching staff.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tryouts for Achilles FC

Sunday 5/6, 5/13, 5/20

2007-2011 5:00-6:30
2002-2006 6:30-8:00

All sessions at St. John’s College High School in NW DC

http://salsoccer.com

My son plays for this club and we are really happy with the training and coaches. We also like the families involved because many are soccer people who are knowledgeable about the game and expect top quality training. That said, Coach Sal (the founder) doesn't publicize well what a great thing he's got going so I wanted to post here what I believe to be the best option for kids in NW DC or MD who are serious about soccer. It's a small club that won't take a lot of kids at each age, but high level players will fit in well.

How many teams do they field at each age? How many players per team? When and where do they practice?

Anonymous wrote:Tryouts for Achilles FC

Sunday 5/6, 5/13, 5/20

2007-2011 5:00-6:30
2002-2006 6:30-8:00

All sessions at St. John’s College High School in NW DC

http://salsoccer.com

My son plays for this club and we are really happy with the training and coaches. We also like the families involved because many are soccer people who are knowledgeable about the game and expect top quality training. That said, Coach Sal (the founder) doesn't publicize well what a great thing he's got going so I wanted to post here what I believe to be the best option for kids in NW DC or MD who are serious about soccer. It's a small club that won't take a lot of kids at each age, but high level players will fit in well.

Anonymous wrote:Tryouts for Achilles FC

Sunday 5/6, 5/13, 5/20

2007-2011 5:00-6:30
2002-2006 6:30-8:00

All sessions at St. John’s College High School in NW DC

http://salsoccer.com

My son plays for this club and we are really happy with the training and coaches. We also like the families involved because many are soccer people who are knowledgeable about the game and expect top quality training. That said, Coach Sal (the founder) doesn't publicize well what a great thing he's got going so I wanted to post here what I believe to be the best option for kids in NW DC or MD who are serious about soccer. It's a small club that won't take a lot of kids at each age, but high level players will fit in well.