Anonymous
Post 01/10/2026 14:39     Subject: 2014 girls GA/ECNL recs for 2013 with late birthday

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:DD is a late 2013 and will be playing with her SY next year. Wondering what ECNL/GA teams would be good potential landing spots in the area. Don’t know much about that age group.
It is really hard to say because many of the teams will change. Everyone will have their own bias so I anticipate a lot of unhelpful feedback on DCUM, but I will try. SYC, McLean and Loudoun are playing 11v11 this year, which is a pro and a con. Most other notable clubs are focusing on 9v9 to strengthen skill in smaller spaces etc. FVU has major risk (if Mclean girls come over then they will be ok, if they dont, then the team will struggle). VDA should be solid but takes time to stitch PWSI and VSA. VDA has a very defined path and coaching structure so you should look at their youtube townhalls to see if that resonates. SYC is strong but lost players this year to Mclean and Arlington. Loudoun has some really talented players but the NVA/ Loudoun thing is messy IMHO. Arlington is Arlington. They won WAGS top division and tied VSA, so that can give you a sense of where they fit in. For some reason Arlington isnt in Jeff Cup. That was a quick ramble but hopefully helpful.


Pretty accurate. A potential wild card is the GFR 2014s. Where will they end up?
Yeah they have a few talented players. I am guessing FVU or they stay. NVA is pretty much set, so I guess Loudoun is an option too. I wouldn’t consider GFR for u13 next year.


If you are guessing one option is they stay (which seems like a real possibility if the coaching lineup stays the same and they stay in ML and NM's orbit), why wouldn't you consider GFR for U13?
With GA expanding last year, RL is definitely a level lower. I think it would make it harder or less advantageous to switch back a year later to higher level of play. I think it would slow down too much


Some will take the technical development under these coaches at U13 over the badge. They won't be sold on the argument that if they don't step into ECNL and GA at U13, they will never be able to do so again.


At u17 it gets easier as kids drop out and the rosters expand.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2026 14:38     Subject: 2014 girls GA/ECNL recs for 2013 with late birthday

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:DD is a late 2013 and will be playing with her SY next year. Wondering what ECNL/GA teams would be good potential landing spots in the area. Don’t know much about that age group.
It is really hard to say because many of the teams will change. Everyone will have their own bias so I anticipate a lot of unhelpful feedback on DCUM, but I will try. SYC, McLean and Loudoun are playing 11v11 this year, which is a pro and a con. Most other notable clubs are focusing on 9v9 to strengthen skill in smaller spaces etc. FVU has major risk (if Mclean girls come over then they will be ok, if they dont, then the team will struggle). VDA should be solid but takes time to stitch PWSI and VSA. VDA has a very defined path and coaching structure so you should look at their youtube townhalls to see if that resonates. SYC is strong but lost players this year to Mclean and Arlington. Loudoun has some really talented players but the NVA/ Loudoun thing is messy IMHO. Arlington is Arlington. They won WAGS top division and tied VSA, so that can give you a sense of where they fit in. For some reason Arlington isnt in Jeff Cup. That was a quick ramble but hopefully helpful.


Wow, this is a very accurate summary of the age group for DCUM. Nicely done!

If your DD is a starter on a very good team for 2013 (not necessarily a top ECNL/GA team), she can probably make it onto one of the top teams listed above. For reference, MYS and SYC played in the top 2013 EDP league and both did well there (but not amazing) against some very good non-GA and non-ECL teams. But if your DD is not a starter or not on a top team, you'll want to think about priorities in terms of how far you are willing to drive for practices/games. For our club, I know some RL and Aspire families were expecting their DDs would be able to easily make the top team in the younger age group, but I haven't seen that happen.


There is a big gap between RL/Aspire and ECNL NL/ GA. I know tons of kids comfortable on those 2nd level teams, but they are 2 levels below pre GA/pre-ECNL level. If you are comfortable on a 2nd tier team now, be prepared for tight for a 1st team spot. Unless you are trying to go with FVU, they tend to carry a very large roster and they is easier to get on (historically).


Why is someone who is clearly a parent of a child that is still young trying to give advice? FVU has existed for less than 2 years so what historical is there? Their younger two teams carry 15-17.


Because I have older kids too and prior to FVU it was FXU...they have existed in a different name(since) for years, with large rosters. the younger teams list 18 kids the older exceed 20 kids; which isn't terrible, but it used to be much worse with 24 kids.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2026 10:27     Subject: 2014 girls GA/ECNL recs for 2013 with late birthday

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:DD is a late 2013 and will be playing with her SY next year. Wondering what ECNL/GA teams would be good potential landing spots in the area. Don’t know much about that age group.
It is really hard to say because many of the teams will change. Everyone will have their own bias so I anticipate a lot of unhelpful feedback on DCUM, but I will try. SYC, McLean and Loudoun are playing 11v11 this year, which is a pro and a con. Most other notable clubs are focusing on 9v9 to strengthen skill in smaller spaces etc. FVU has major risk (if Mclean girls come over then they will be ok, if they dont, then the team will struggle). VDA should be solid but takes time to stitch PWSI and VSA. VDA has a very defined path and coaching structure so you should look at their youtube townhalls to see if that resonates. SYC is strong but lost players this year to Mclean and Arlington. Loudoun has some really talented players but the NVA/ Loudoun thing is messy IMHO. Arlington is Arlington. They won WAGS top division and tied VSA, so that can give you a sense of where they fit in. For some reason Arlington isnt in Jeff Cup. That was a quick ramble but hopefully helpful.


Pretty accurate. A potential wild card is the GFR 2014s. Where will they end up?
Yeah they have a few talented players. I am guessing FVU or they stay. NVA is pretty much set, so I guess Loudoun is an option too. I wouldn’t consider GFR for u13 next year.


If you are guessing one option is they stay (which seems like a real possibility if the coaching lineup stays the same and they stay in ML and NM's orbit), why wouldn't you consider GFR for U13?
With GA expanding last year, RL is definitely a level lower. I think it would make it harder or less advantageous to switch back a year later to higher level of play. I think it would slow down too much


Some will take the technical development under these coaches at U13 over the badge. They won't be sold on the argument that if they don't step into ECNL and GA at U13, they will never be able to do so again.


Yeah, depending on the available choices, if it were my kid I would take a U13 season of NM or ML coaching on a good RL team over a U13 season on a middling/bad GA team.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2026 10:10     Subject: 2014 girls GA/ECNL recs for 2013 with late birthday

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:DD is a late 2013 and will be playing with her SY next year. Wondering what ECNL/GA teams would be good potential landing spots in the area. Don’t know much about that age group.
It is really hard to say because many of the teams will change. Everyone will have their own bias so I anticipate a lot of unhelpful feedback on DCUM, but I will try. SYC, McLean and Loudoun are playing 11v11 this year, which is a pro and a con. Most other notable clubs are focusing on 9v9 to strengthen skill in smaller spaces etc. FVU has major risk (if Mclean girls come over then they will be ok, if they dont, then the team will struggle). VDA should be solid but takes time to stitch PWSI and VSA. VDA has a very defined path and coaching structure so you should look at their youtube townhalls to see if that resonates. SYC is strong but lost players this year to Mclean and Arlington. Loudoun has some really talented players but the NVA/ Loudoun thing is messy IMHO. Arlington is Arlington. They won WAGS top division and tied VSA, so that can give you a sense of where they fit in. For some reason Arlington isnt in Jeff Cup. That was a quick ramble but hopefully helpful.


Pretty accurate. A potential wild card is the GFR 2014s. Where will they end up?
Yeah they have a few talented players. I am guessing FVU or they stay. NVA is pretty much set, so I guess Loudoun is an option too. I wouldn’t consider GFR for u13 next year.


If you are guessing one option is they stay (which seems like a real possibility if the coaching lineup stays the same and they stay in ML and NM's orbit), why wouldn't you consider GFR for U13?
With GA expanding last year, RL is definitely a level lower. I think it would make it harder or less advantageous to switch back a year later to higher level of play. I think it would slow down too much


Some will take the technical development under these coaches at U13 over the badge. They won't be sold on the argument that if they don't step into ECNL and GA at U13, they will never be able to do so again.