Anonymous wrote:How many kids were rostered for your 7v7 team for next year?

11 for girls

How many kids were rostered for your 7v7 team for next year?

I'd say they start cutting after they get through the first year of ECNL placement. On the girls 2011 side, ASA cut the lowest team this year (gold) and if I were a betting person I would predict they cut silver after this year to align with their older teams. If you look at their rosters, it looks like they keep black until about 10th grade.

Anonymous wrote:Parent of ECNL player now into senior side - how big is your kid? Sadly this will determine the level of investment on clubs side. This is not Spain or Italy - such wonderful play from both of them today in Euros. Will be a generation - and I’m talking 30 years — before we see such technical depth at every position. Educate yourself on style of play now - and try to steer your kid to teams that emphasize possession. So many charlatans in club soccer!

Alas you will find this generation of coaches influenced by NFL combine more than any UEFA cup finals.

Does the new AC Milan team play more of a possession style? My DC is small but quick and technical.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of ECNL player now into senior side - how big is your kid? Sadly this will determine the level of investment on clubs side. This is not Spain or Italy - such wonderful play from both of them today in Euros. Will be a generation - and I’m talking 30 years — before we see such technical depth at every position. Educate yourself on style of play now - and try to steer your kid to teams that emphasize possession. So many charlatans in club soccer!

Alas you will find this generation of coaches influenced by NFL combine more than any UEFA cup finals.

Every single word of this. Also, pay attention to what they do NOT what they say. This goes for every club. Some coaches and clubs use “possession” as a buzz word because they know parents want to hear it. Then it’s only to see a bunch of big uncoordinated kids playing kick ball all season. True story. Look around and be diligent because so many are full of shit.

+1 Also, it is not just quick passes back and forth, it’s having a variety of options when u do possess the ball and having the technical skill and IQ to quickly decide which of those options to choose, and execute it.

Anonymous wrote:Parent of ECNL player now into senior side - how big is your kid? Sadly this will determine the level of investment on clubs side. This is not Spain or Italy - such wonderful play from both of them today in Euros. Will be a generation - and I’m talking 30 years — before we see such technical depth at every position. Educate yourself on style of play now - and try to steer your kid to teams that emphasize possession. So many charlatans in club soccer!

Alas you will find this generation of coaches influenced by NFL combine more than any UEFA cup finals.

Every single word of this. Also, pay attention to what they do NOT what they say. This goes for every club. Some coaches and clubs use “possession” as a buzz word because they know parents want to hear it. Then it’s only to see a bunch of big uncoordinated kids playing kick ball all season. True story. Look around and be diligent because so many are full of shit.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of ECNL player now into senior side - how big is your kid? Sadly this will determine the level of investment on clubs side. This is not Spain or Italy - such wonderful play from both of them today in Euros. Will be a generation - and I’m talking 30 years — before we see such technical depth at every position. Educate yourself on style of play now - and try to steer your kid to teams that emphasize possession. So many charlatans in club soccer!

Alas you will find this generation of coaches influenced by NFL combine more than any UEFA cup finals.

Are you saying that they prefer height and speed? Over skill? Does ASA invest more in taller faster kids? What age do they start cutting? Or do they always retain players they invest in? Also, which clubs in your experience emphasize possession? Wouldn't know where to begin with figuring this out.

Most clubs around here prefer height and speed over skill. I think there’s a belief that technique can be taught but that some kids are just born athletic.

Bethesda and Achilles are the MLSNext clubs that play possession consistently . At Bethesda, it may depend on the age group as to how strictly they stick with it. Achilles would rather lose than play anything else but possession and will also give short players a fair shake (assuming they are fast and quick) but you can search Achilles here and the coaching style is not for a lot of kids. I would say the same thing about Bethesda. A few of their coaches aren’t for a lot of kids. Alexandria tries to play possession but not sure that enough players have the technical capability to do it consistently. That is, they pass the ball too quickly and no one actually “possesses” the ball for very long.

SYC no. Majority of kids are above average size. They likely have the technical skill but I rarely see them play possession. It’s unfortunate bc I think those kids, if given the opportunity, would do it well. I’ve always been impressed with their physicality and hustle. Coppermine does possession too and I think it’s ECNL. Depending on the team, I’ve seen Pipeline teams play possession. Maryland united no. Finally, a fair amount of smaller clubs do it so u will just have to ask.

Most top teams will cut players yearly. At our club, at U10 and up. There were three cut from DC team this year, all had been at the club for a while.

Anonymous wrote:Parent of ECNL player now into senior side - how big is your kid? Sadly this will determine the level of investment on clubs side. This is not Spain or Italy - such wonderful play from both of them today in Euros. Will be a generation - and I’m talking 30 years — before we see such technical depth at every position. Educate yourself on style of play now - and try to steer your kid to teams that emphasize possession. So many charlatans in club soccer!

Alas you will find this generation of coaches influenced by NFL combine more than any UEFA cup finals.

Are you saying that they prefer height and speed? Over skill? Does ASA invest more in taller faster kids? What age do they start cutting? Or do they always retain players they invest in? Also, which clubs in your experience emphasize possession? Wouldn't know where to begin with figuring this out.

And how fast?

Parent of ECNL player now into senior side - how big is your kid? Sadly this will determine the level of investment on clubs side. This is not Spain or Italy - such wonderful play from both of them today in Euros. Will be a generation - and I’m talking 30 years — before we see such technical depth at every position. Educate yourself on style of play now - and try to steer your kid to teams that emphasize possession. So many charlatans in club soccer!

Alas you will find this generation of coaches influenced by NFL combine more than any UEFA cup finals.

Anonymous wrote:Once you are on a lower team at a young age and then stay on a lower team after new team formation, do you really ever get the real opportunity from the coaches to move up? Do they have it in their minds where you belong and then you stay there? Is it better to stay with Arlington and maybe get the chance to move up or is it better to change clubs and grow elsewhere? What age do you need to start worrying about being on a lower team and getting cut?

Wondering this as well. Does my child need to worry being on the lowest team? Is a cut coming for my child or will ASA develop my child until we decide to do something different?

Anonymous wrote:My experience has been mixed. DC mostly had fun and improved. The coaches weren’t yellers and DC liked them. Communication and feedback from coaches were nonexistent. I heard that even the kids on DC’s team that got moved down didn’t get any sort of warning or feedback (which is supposedly against policy, but tough luck for them).

What people have been saying about lower level players being seen as disposable sources of funds seems true. But I disagree with people who are saying it’s similar to rec. The coaches are professionals (not parents), there are three practices (including skill sessions) per week for most of the season, and the level of competition is way higher (the worst travel players are similar to the best rec players).

Where is the policy?

Anonymous wrote:ASA girls lower teams embody the stereotype. Disinterested coaches and inconsistent field space at full price

Not sure which age groups you are referring to. Younger age groups seem to have some pretty good coaches.

Know nothing about ASA

Anonymous wrote:ASA girls lower teams embody the stereotype. Disinterested coaches and inconsistent field space at full price

No truer words have been spoken about club soccer in DMV in general ( no nothing about ASA in particular)

Needs to be regulated by Feds, as Michael Lewis argues.