Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can’t believe this stupid thread made it to 100 pages. Ugh!

Hi Head Valor Guy.

Anonymous wrote:Can’t believe this stupid thread made it to 100 pages. Ugh!

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid with this club and have zero complaints. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and definition of ROI based on fees and their desired outcomes. The parents on our team and the coach have been pretty good. We win more than we lose, the kids are kind to each other, and the parents are laid back.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://dt5602vnjxv0c.cloudfront.net/portals/28638/docs/travel/2024-25%20travel%20docs/24-25%20travel%20fees%203.pdf

https://herndonyouthsoccer.org/travel/travel-fees/

https://www.gfrsoccerclub.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1278593

Loudoun soccer isn't too far, neither is Herndon or GFR, all three play ECNL-RL and $3050 is a lot all in, they should probably evaluate that cost for ages U9-U12 but for U13+ they're not THAT far off when you add club and team fees together. GFR being at about $2500 of club dues, add in team fees and you're likely at $3k if not a little more depending on the team.

Yes, I recently compared prices for these and a couple other clubs and it seems like the difference is not that big by the time you add in team fees which are a bit uncertain. It’s not enough of a difference to cancel out the longer drive.

My own child has had a good experience at Valor, but it’s very age group and coach dependent I think. Every year at this time we re-evaluate and our child has gotten offers from other clubs, but decides to stay because they like their team.

That being said, we keep our expectations realistic. We followed our child’s lead when signing up for travel
soccer and signed them up because they stood out and needed more, not because we thought travel can make an ok player into a great player. Training with and competing against strong players has had the biggest impact on improving our child’s play. I would not pay Valor prices (or the price of most of these clubs) for a bottom team thinking it’s going to make my child a good player. At the end of the day all these clubs will say whatever in order to get your check. You have to be skeptical and go into it knowing that.

On your comments “ I would not pay Valor prices (or the price of most of these clubs) for a bottom team thinking it’s going to make my child a good player. At the end of the day all these clubs will say whatever in order to get your check. You have to be skeptical and go into it knowing that” …I

-I think this is the issue with Valor and maybe other clubs. Its a bit disingenuous to communicate that during the tryout that they will deliver a high level of performing players/upper division class teams.

I don't disagree this is an issue. I do think this is has more to do with who the coach is than the club. Some coaches on lower teams are great at developing players, invested in the kids, and enjoy doing it. Others are abysmal and you have to wonder how they were even hired. Clubs won't talk about those, they'll just highlight the superstar coaches to sell you on the clubs reputation.

You pay the club, but you're buying the coach. If the goal is development, size up the coach, ask them questions, and see if you think they can deliver. If not, find a coach you think can.

Totally agree with your point about paying the club but buying the coach.

The friend with the offer of a team where the club hasn't bothered to hire a coach yet--thats a huge red flag

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can’t believe this stupid thread made it to 100 pages. Ugh!

Dumpster fire clubs get a lot of negative engagement.

Anonymous wrote:Can’t believe this stupid thread made it to 100 pages. Ugh!

Anonymous wrote:Can’t believe this stupid thread made it to 100 pages. Ugh!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://dt5602vnjxv0c.cloudfront.net/portals/28638/docs/travel/2024-25%20travel%20docs/24-25%20travel%20fees%203.pdf

https://herndonyouthsoccer.org/travel/travel-fees/

https://www.gfrsoccerclub.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1278593

Loudoun soccer isn't too far, neither is Herndon or GFR, all three play ECNL-RL and $3050 is a lot all in, they should probably evaluate that cost for ages U9-U12 but for U13+ they're not THAT far off when you add club and team fees together. GFR being at about $2500 of club dues, add in team fees and you're likely at $3k if not a little more depending on the team.

Yes, I recently compared prices for these and a couple other clubs and it seems like the difference is not that big by the time you add in team fees which are a bit uncertain. It’s not enough of a difference to cancel out the longer drive.

My own child has had a good experience at Valor, but it’s very age group and coach dependent I think. Every year at this time we re-evaluate and our child has gotten offers from other clubs, but decides to stay because they like their team.

That being said, we keep our expectations realistic. We followed our child’s lead when signing up for travel
soccer and signed them up because they stood out and needed more, not because we thought travel can make an ok player into a great player. Training with and competing against strong players has had the biggest impact on improving our child’s play. I would not pay Valor prices (or the price of most of these clubs) for a bottom team thinking it’s going to make my child a good player. At the end of the day all these clubs will say whatever in order to get your check. You have to be skeptical and go into it knowing that.

On your comments “ I would not pay Valor prices (or the price of most of these clubs) for a bottom team thinking it’s going to make my child a good player. At the end of the day all these clubs will say whatever in order to get your check. You have to be skeptical and go into it knowing that” …I

-I think this is the issue with Valor and maybe other clubs. Its a bit disingenuous to communicate that during the tryout that they will deliver a high level of performing players/upper division class teams.

I don't disagree this is an issue. I do think this is has more to do with who the coach is than the club. Some coaches on lower teams are great at developing players, invested in the kids, and enjoy doing it. Others are abysmal and you have to wonder how they were even hired. Clubs won't talk about those, they'll just highlight the superstar coaches to sell you on the clubs reputation.

You pay the club, but you're buying the coach. If the goal is development, size up the coach, ask them questions, and see if you think they can deliver. If not, find a coach you think can.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://dt5602vnjxv0c.cloudfront.net/portals/28638/docs/travel/2024-25%20travel%20docs/24-25%20travel%20fees%203.pdf

https://herndonyouthsoccer.org/travel/travel-fees/

https://www.gfrsoccerclub.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1278593

Loudoun soccer isn't too far, neither is Herndon or GFR, all three play ECNL-RL and $3050 is a lot all in, they should probably evaluate that cost for ages U9-U12 but for U13+ they're not THAT far off when you add club and team fees together. GFR being at about $2500 of club dues, add in team fees and you're likely at $3k if not a little more depending on the team.

Yes, I recently compared prices for these and a couple other clubs and it seems like the difference is not that big by the time you add in team fees which are a bit uncertain. It’s not enough of a difference to cancel out the longer drive.

My own child has had a good experience at Valor, but it’s very age group and coach dependent I think. Every year at this time we re-evaluate and our child has gotten offers from other clubs, but decides to stay because they like their team.

That being said, we keep our expectations realistic. We followed our child’s lead when signing up for travel
soccer and signed them up because they stood out and needed more, not because we thought travel can make an ok player into a great player. Training with and competing against strong players has had the biggest impact on improving our child’s play. I would not pay Valor prices (or the price of most of these clubs) for a bottom team thinking it’s going to make my child a good player. At the end of the day all these clubs will say whatever in order to get your check. You have to be skeptical and go into it knowing that.

On your comments “ I would not pay Valor prices (or the price of most of these clubs) for a bottom team thinking it’s going to make my child a good player. At the end of the day all these clubs will say whatever in order to get your check. You have to be skeptical and go into it knowing that” …I

-I think this is the issue with Valor and maybe other clubs. Its a bit disingenuous to communicate that during the tryout that they will deliver a high level of performing players/upper division class teams.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If Burke is $2000 inc fees and Valor is $3000 inc fees, that seems like a huge difference to me.

You gotta do apples to apples. Sure, Valor has issues with their all in pricing, particularly at the younger ages and with the lower teams, but BAC does not play RL. That's why the comparables given are what they are.

Anonymous wrote:If Burke is $2000 inc fees and Valor is $3000 inc fees, that seems like a huge difference to me.

Anonymous wrote:One of my dc plays CYA rec (I am not the CYA rec hating poster, he has had a good experience) and a teammate tried out for the rising 2011 team. She said they were told there wasn't a coach yet but they would be sent offers within a day. I told her the coach was the most important part and how could she take an offer for a team without knowing the coach? How can they have a team with no coach?