Most Fairfax County high schools have 100+ kids at tryouts. Current 8th graders should definitely plan to attend the Green Days and all of the interest meetings to become a recognizable face. The problem is some high schools have coaches who are actually soccer coaches and can recognize good players, and some are teachers who like the sport but don't necessarily have the experience needed to determine who can play as opposed to who is just big or fast. It also won't hurt your player to get to a few JV games this spring to see the level. They may or may not be surprised but its a good measuring tool for them anyway.

Anonymous wrote:My son is in 8th grade and wants to play at his high school next year. How competitive are tryouts in Fairfax county? what level should he be playing at now to have a reasonable expectation of making a jv or varsity team as a freshman?

What high school?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most likely yes, though she may not make varsity her freshman year. The majority of the girls on the MHS varsity team are usually coming from second/non-ECNL/GA teams.

Thanks. She just wants to make the high school team. One concern we had was the amount of ENCL girls in the area.

Honest response - there is a lot of variance on the 2nd team, which isn’t that strong. If your daughter is at the top, sure, but if she’s at the bottom, she’s not making varsity.

It's not about making varsity. It's about being part of a team sport in high school and enjoying the high school life. Though, if course by 11th or 12th she would expect to be on varsity. On her team she's above the middle of the pack. #1 defender. Top 5 in offense.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:High school soccer teams vary because many high school soccer coaches don't like travel team players. As they will always prioritize their travel team over their high school team. This includes missing practice and games.

This isn't all coaches, but for many this is an issue.

Many high school soccer coaches are connected with private soccer clubs and advantage that club's players in the selection of the HS team.

^^^This is the correct answer.^^^

+1000% truth

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For McLean HS:
ECNL = In
ECNL-R = 50/50
Lower teams = not likely

Hard to know how to interpret the above rule of thumb. The relative age/class of a player makes a big difference. Certainly a national ECNL senior will have a much easier time making varsity than an national ENCL freshman. Similarly, there is at least one Regional ECNL player at a local high school who has been playing three years above their birth year (been playing club with and against graduating seniors) who made their varsity HS team as a freshman.

My daughter plays MYS U12 travel. She's on the second to best team. We plan to keep her on the normal travel side (no ECNL). If she continues to play until 9th grade will be make the soccer team? That's her goal.

How can we answer this for you? We don't know who her competition will be.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most likely yes, though she may not make varsity her freshman year. The majority of the girls on the MHS varsity team are usually coming from second/non-ECNL/GA teams.

Thanks. She just wants to make the high school team. One concern we had was the amount of ENCL girls in the area.

Honest response - there is a lot of variance on the 2nd team, which isn’t that strong. If your daughter is at the top, sure, but if she’s at the bottom, she’s not making varsity.

Anonymous wrote:He really sealed the deal

Hahaha I’m gonna tell him that… thanks.

Anonymous wrote:He really sealed the deal

At least somebody has talent and humor on these boards. Nice one.

Anonymous wrote:My ECNL-RL boy showed up at the sideline at tryout with his ball balanced on his head for about half a minute and he was invited to join varsity team.

Sounds about right for HS coaches. Lol

He really sealed the deal

My ECNL-RL boy showed up at the sideline at tryout with his ball balanced on his head for about half a minute and he was invited to join varsity team.

Understandable. The fact is that not many of the McLean/Union ECNL girls actually go to MHS and even among those that do, not all choose to play HS soccer.

Anonymous wrote:Most likely yes, though she may not make varsity her freshman year. The majority of the girls on the MHS varsity team are usually coming from second/non-ECNL/GA teams.

Thanks. She just wants to make the high school team. One concern we had was the amount of ENCL girls in the area.

Most likely yes, though she may not make varsity her freshman year. The majority of the girls on the MHS varsity team are usually coming from second/non-ECNL/GA teams.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For McLean HS:
ECNL = In
ECNL-R = 50/50
Lower teams = not likely

Hard to know how to interpret the above rule of thumb. The relative age/class of a player makes a big difference. Certainly a national ECNL senior will have a much easier time making varsity than an national ENCL freshman. Similarly, there is at least one Regional ECNL player at a local high school who has been playing three years above their birth year (been playing club with and against graduating seniors) who made their varsity HS team as a freshman.

My daughter plays MYS U12 travel. She's on the second to best team. We plan to keep her on the normal travel side (no ECNL). If she continues to play until 9th grade will be make the soccer team? That's her goal.