Anonymous
Post 09/05/2023 18:19     Subject: SYC
SYC for boys is a different culture. Good boys side teams. As for girls, their girls side is strongest at U9-U12, once they get to 11v11 they struggle. A lot of their girls teams just dominate physically.

I would say the 2012G team is a solid team but they lured over a couple of top players whose parents FOMO'd out and don't understand what success looks like at the older ages.
Anonymous
Post 09/05/2023 14:59     Subject: SYC
This thread is going to be lit, as the kids say, in May during tryout season. Can't wait.
Anonymous
Post 09/05/2023 14:30     Subject: SYC
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So it sounds like good coaching at the top levels?

How is the coaching on the B and lower teams? Is it more gentle?


Hit or miss. Everything is coach dependent and varies with every individual coach. Some are very good and do their best what what they have and some are not good and do not give a s***. No central club philosophy/curriculum other than win games. Is it more gentle? Again it varies.


Mostly agree with this analysis. I'm not sure that gentle should be a goal if you want a top competitive atmosphere, but if that translates into an emphasis on fun and physical exertion, would recommend either 1) SYC's third or lower teams; 2) a smaller club competing in NCSL; or 3) a team competing in the suburban friendship league.

SYC pros: 1) consistently top competitive teams in the area; 2) practices are intense and game like; 3) opportunities to play on other teams within the club; 4) coaches know soccer and develop individual players to varying degrees; 4) year round training and competitions; 5) attracting top players from other clubs in the area.

SYC cons: 1) no overall club philosophy or training curriculum; 2) weird dynamics between the club itself which fields many other types of sports and the soccer program; 3) more mobility between players at different ages on the top teams rather than within the age bracket between first and second teams; 4) exponential growth is stretching coaches and resources.

Overall, if your player wants to compete at the highest levels in the area and can either sustain or grow to compete internally for their position, it's a great club for that. There's no noticeable difference between how SYC recruits/offers slots to players than the other big clubs in the DMV. You just need to decide what you hope to accomplish for your player, or more importantly what they hope to accomplish, from their playing experience and then decide from there.


What flavor is that kool-aid? Must be delicious.
Anonymous
Post 09/05/2023 11:06     Subject: SYC
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So it sounds like good coaching at the top levels?

How is the coaching on the B and lower teams? Is it more gentle?


Hit or miss. Everything is coach dependent and varies with every individual coach. Some are very good and do their best what what they have and some are not good and do not give a s***. No central club philosophy/curriculum other than win games. Is it more gentle? Again it varies.


Mostly agree with this analysis. I'm not sure that gentle should be a goal if you want a top competitive atmosphere, but if that translates into an emphasis on fun and physical exertion, would recommend either 1) SYC's third or lower teams; 2) a smaller club competing in NCSL; or 3) a team competing in the suburban friendship league.

SYC pros: 1) consistently top competitive teams in the area; 2) practices are intense and game like; 3) opportunities to play on other teams within the club; 4) coaches know soccer and develop individual players to varying degrees; 4) year round training and competitions; 5) attracting top players from other clubs in the area.

SYC cons: 1) no overall club philosophy or training curriculum; 2) weird dynamics between the club itself which fields many other types of sports and the soccer program; 3) more mobility between players at different ages on the top teams rather than within the age bracket between first and second teams; 4) exponential growth is stretching coaches and resources.

Overall, if your player wants to compete at the highest levels in the area and can either sustain or grow to compete internally for their position, it's a great club for that. There's no noticeable difference between how SYC recruits/offers slots to players than the other big clubs in the DMV. You just need to decide what you hope to accomplish for your player, or more importantly what they hope to accomplish, from their playing experience and then decide from there.
Anonymous
Post 09/02/2023 15:53     Subject: SYC
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:They added a really good coach on the girls side this year. Also they are one of the few girls programs with female coaches


As in there are now 2 women coaches on girls side? Because last 2 seasons SYC already had a woman coach.


DD’s club in PW has at least 4.
Anonymous
Post 09/02/2023 14:50     Subject: SYC
Anonymous wrote:They added a really good coach on the girls side this year. Also they are one of the few girls programs with female coaches


As in there are now 2 women coaches on girls side? Because last 2 seasons SYC already had a woman coach.
Anonymous
Post 09/02/2023 14:00     Subject: SYC
Anonymous wrote:So it sounds like good coaching at the top levels?

How is the coaching on the B and lower teams? Is it more gentle?


Hit or miss. Everything is coach dependent and varies with every individual coach. Some are very good and do their best what what they have and some are not good and do not give a s***. No central club philosophy/curriculum other than win games. Is it more gentle? Again it varies.
Anonymous
Post 09/02/2023 13:28     Subject: SYC
So it sounds like good coaching at the top levels?

How is the coaching on the B and lower teams? Is it more gentle?
Anonymous
Post 09/02/2023 10:13     Subject: SYC
Anonymous wrote:Only familiar with the u-littles on the boys side, but they are definitely very results driven. I have seen them bench players for entire tournaments in pursuit of a win. Doesn't really speak well for development. Have heard it comes back to bite them once they hit the teen years, but haven't really paid much attention to those groups.


They are very good in the teen years. The upper coaches are great.
Anonymous
Post 09/02/2023 09:08     Subject: SYC
What about the Samba Boyzzzzzz
Anonymous
Post 09/02/2023 08:57     Subject: SYC
Only familiar with the u-littles on the boys side, but they are definitely very results driven. I have seen them bench players for entire tournaments in pursuit of a win. Doesn't really speak well for development. Have heard it comes back to bite them once they hit the teen years, but haven't really paid much attention to those groups.
Anonymous
Post 09/02/2023 08:23     Subject: SYC
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Both their 2012 and 2013 boys teams are top 3 teams in the DC area. They are technical and very aggressive (they will slide tackle all day and foul you, but they are good teams)


I think 2014 boys should also be on that list.

I’m not a huge fan of SYC, but I’m not sure they deserve all of the hate they are getting here either. My kids have played their teams plenty (boys and girls) over the years, and while they are very aggressive, I’m not sure they are any more so than lots of other teams (especially on the boys’ side). I know 2 of their coaches who are super nice guys, and have watched others.

The ‘10 Union team is basically ‘10 SYC, so add another really strong team to their list. They’re a good club.


The SYC U little boys coach (or coaches, I couldn’t tell if it was the same guy) is obnoxious with the screaming. It makes for a very hostile environment—to be clear he yells at his own team (non stop) but my son playing agains them still told me it was very stressful playing while he was screaming so much. Just not the kind of thing that U little soccer is supposed to be about.

Same with the cynical fouls. The type of intentional foul where the SYC player sees another kid breaking away and just decides to kick his legs out from under him on purpose as an easy way to stop him. (The stuff that would yield a card in a real game, but not in U little where cards are basically non-existent.)

Anyway, I’m sure it all catches up with them in the end and by the older ages. It’s just a very bad look for young kids where it’s supposed to be about developing them to make their own decisions and develop their skills, not winning at all costs.
Anonymous
Post 09/02/2023 06:47     Subject: SYC
Anonymous wrote:Both their 2012 and 2013 boys teams are top 3 teams in the DC area. They are technical and very aggressive (they will slide tackle all day and foul you, but they are good teams)


I think 2014 boys should also be on that list.

I’m not a huge fan of SYC, but I’m not sure they deserve all of the hate they are getting here either. My kids have played their teams plenty (boys and girls) over the years, and while they are very aggressive, I’m not sure they are any more so than lots of other teams (especially on the boys’ side). I know 2 of their coaches who are super nice guys, and have watched others.

The ‘10 Union team is basically ‘10 SYC, so add another really strong team to their list. They’re a good club.
Anonymous
Post 09/02/2023 00:20     Subject: Re:SYC
Their boys older teams are very good as well.

Their players have had a lot of success.
Anonymous
Post 09/02/2023 00:08     Subject: SYC
Both their 2012 and 2013 boys teams are top 3 teams in the DC area. They are technical and very aggressive (they will slide tackle all day and foul you, but they are good teams)