Anonymous
01/17/2026 10:39
Subject: For high level players and parents only
Anonymous wrote:Just stopped by to say that I AM A HIGH LEVEL PARENT!
HI from a fellow low level parent (my kid is really good at soccer though)
Anonymous
01/17/2026 10:31
Subject: For high level players and parents only
I didnt mind the travel at first. But now Im on my 3rd kid and see through all the cash grabbing. I do still like the Disney world futsal tournament. I'd rather do one tournament in Hawaii than 3-4 around the country in places I hate.
Anonymous
01/16/2026 21:19
Subject: For high level players and parents only
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:In all these discussions here and with parents on the sidelines, the one absolute change I'd like to see is the reduction of a travel. I like the idea of soccer hubs, like the DMV, Atlanta, NY/NJ etc. where there is enough density to provide opportunities across a range of skill levels.
100% agree, so unnecessary. Even more frustrating to go to SC to play Bethesda when your club is from NOVA.
On the girls side, the whole GA and ECNL thing is going to need to resolve itself so that there isn't a dilution of talent on the top teams. Then we'd be in business.
We'd be in business for what? What do you think changes if there are fewer GA and ECNL teams? The talent is already mostly concentrated to just a few teams. It wouldn't be better for top players who may be forced to commute further to training? It wouldn't be better for mid-tier players who wouldn't have access to national leagues anymore. It wouldn't be better for parents who will need to travel out of state more often to play league games. It certainly wouldn't bring down prices with less competition. It wouldn't be better for coaches with less opportunities. It wouldn't be better for clubs who lose GA or ECNL access. I'm trying to understand who would benefit from fewer top teams.
So you drank the kool-aid. There is NO reason for midtier players to NEED a national platform. They can continue to grow and improve playing other midtier players locally. The reason for travel should be to find competition. If you can get that locally there is absolutely no need to travel for it.
How did you get to be the decider on what people need and the reasons they are allowed to travel? Maybe they just enjoy it. Why are you against more choices and more competition? Let the people and customers decide.
OMG have you missed the entire point??? The vast majority of people complain about excessive travel when there is more than enough local competition. The customers cannot decide, at least not fully. Please point me to the league/club that plays only local teams. Of course you can choose entirely not to play, but when the system is set up to have 10 year olds drive 4 hours for 1 game that should be a sign the system is a problem. Going on several long distance trips for competition they can find 20 to 30 minutes away is not choice. It benefits no one to spend that much time and $$ traveling. Sure you can have fun with it but that has nothing to do with the sport.
This level of travel -- esp from a young age and continuing for several years -- seems to put the "highest level" of soccer out of reach of many, not only from a financial perspective but also multi-kid families (other kids have activities), multi-sport families (multi-sport athletes are a good thing!), single parent families, and working parents who can't take weekdays off repeatedly. This amount of travel makes sense if that's the only way to find competition but as others have said, there is plenty of competition within an hour or even two that doesn't require a hotel bill to play just one game a day.
Anonymous
01/16/2026 21:15
Subject: For high level players and parents only
Just stopped by to say that I AM A HIGH LEVEL PARENT!
Anonymous
01/16/2026 20:46
Subject: For high level players and parents only
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:In all these discussions here and with parents on the sidelines, the one absolute change I'd like to see is the reduction of a travel. I like the idea of soccer hubs, like the DMV, Atlanta, NY/NJ etc. where there is enough density to provide opportunities across a range of skill levels.
100% agree, so unnecessary. Even more frustrating to go to SC to play Bethesda when your club is from NOVA.
On the girls side, the whole GA and ECNL thing is going to need to resolve itself so that there isn't a dilution of talent on the top teams. Then we'd be in business.
We'd be in business for what? What do you think changes if there are fewer GA and ECNL teams? The talent is already mostly concentrated to just a few teams. It wouldn't be better for top players who may be forced to commute further to training? It wouldn't be better for mid-tier players who wouldn't have access to national leagues anymore. It wouldn't be better for parents who will need to travel out of state more often to play league games. It certainly wouldn't bring down prices with less competition. It wouldn't be better for coaches with less opportunities. It wouldn't be better for clubs who lose GA or ECNL access. I'm trying to understand who would benefit from fewer top teams.
So you drank the kool-aid. There is NO reason for midtier players to NEED a national platform. They can continue to grow and improve playing other midtier players locally. The reason for travel should be to find competition. If you can get that locally there is absolutely no need to travel for it.
How did you get to be the decider on what people need and the reasons they are allowed to travel? Maybe they just enjoy it. Why are you against more choices and more competition? Let the people and customers decide.
OMG have you missed the entire point??? The vast majority of people complain about excessive travel when there is more than enough local competition. The customers cannot decide, at least not fully. Please point me to the league/club that plays only local teams. Of course you can choose entirely not to play, but when the system is set up to have 10 year olds drive 4 hours for 1 game that should be a sign the system is a problem. Going on several long distance trips for competition they can find 20 to 30 minutes away is not choice. It benefits no one to spend that much time and $$ traveling. Sure you can have fun with it but that has nothing to do with the sport.
Anonymous
01/16/2026 20:24
Subject: For high level players and parents only
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:In all these discussions here and with parents on the sidelines, the one absolute change I'd like to see is the reduction of a travel. I like the idea of soccer hubs, like the DMV, Atlanta, NY/NJ etc. where there is enough density to provide opportunities across a range of skill levels.
100% agree, so unnecessary. Even more frustrating to go to SC to play Bethesda when your club is from NOVA.
On the girls side, the whole GA and ECNL thing is going to need to resolve itself so that there isn't a dilution of talent on the top teams. Then we'd be in business.
We'd be in business for what? What do you think changes if there are fewer GA and ECNL teams? The talent is already mostly concentrated to just a few teams. It wouldn't be better for top players who may be forced to commute further to training? It wouldn't be better for mid-tier players who wouldn't have access to national leagues anymore. It wouldn't be better for parents who will need to travel out of state more often to play league games. It certainly wouldn't bring down prices with less competition. It wouldn't be better for coaches with less opportunities. It wouldn't be better for clubs who lose GA or ECNL access. I'm trying to understand who would benefit from fewer top teams.
So you drank the kool-aid. There is NO reason for midtier players to NEED a national platform. They can continue to grow and improve playing other midtier players locally. The reason for travel should be to find competition. If you can get that locally there is absolutely no need to travel for it.
How did you get to be the decider on what people need and the reasons they are allowed to travel? Maybe they just enjoy it. Why are you against more choices and more competition? Let the people and customers decide.
Anonymous
01/16/2026 18:16
Subject: For high level players and parents only
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:In all these discussions here and with parents on the sidelines, the one absolute change I'd like to see is the reduction of a travel. I like the idea of soccer hubs, like the DMV, Atlanta, NY/NJ etc. where there is enough density to provide opportunities across a range of skill levels.
100% agree, so unnecessary. Even more frustrating to go to SC to play Bethesda when your club is from NOVA.
On the girls side, the whole GA and ECNL thing is going to need to resolve itself so that there isn't a dilution of talent on the top teams. Then we'd be in business.
We'd be in business for what? What do you think changes if there are fewer GA and ECNL teams? The talent is already mostly concentrated to just a few teams. It wouldn't be better for top players who may be forced to commute further to training? It wouldn't be better for mid-tier players who wouldn't have access to national leagues anymore. It wouldn't be better for parents who will need to travel out of state more often to play league games. It certainly wouldn't bring down prices with less competition. It wouldn't be better for coaches with less opportunities. It wouldn't be better for clubs who lose GA or ECNL access. I'm trying to understand who would benefit from fewer top teams.
So you drank the kool-aid. There is NO reason for midtier players to NEED a national platform. They can continue to grow and improve playing other midtier players locally. The reason for travel should be to find competition. If you can get that locally there is absolutely no need to travel for it.
Anonymous
01/16/2026 17:59
Subject: For high level players and parents only
I don’t get why kids in youth soccer clubs have to travel so far. It’s so stupid. I say this as a parent who has travelled to NC 5 times since September for soccer games.
Anonymous
01/16/2026 16:01
Subject: For high level players and parents only
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:In all these discussions here and with parents on the sidelines, the one absolute change I'd like to see is the reduction of a travel. I like the idea of soccer hubs, like the DMV, Atlanta, NY/NJ etc. where there is enough density to provide opportunities across a range of skill levels.
100% agree, so unnecessary. Even more frustrating to go to SC to play Bethesda when your club is from NOVA.
On the girls side, the whole GA and ECNL thing is going to need to resolve itself so that there isn't a dilution of talent on the top teams. Then we'd be in business.
We'd be in business for what? What do you think changes if there are fewer GA and ECNL teams? The talent is already mostly concentrated to just a few teams. It wouldn't be better for top players who may be forced to commute further to training? It wouldn't be better for mid-tier players who wouldn't have access to national leagues anymore. It wouldn't be better for parents who will need to travel out of state more often to play league games. It certainly wouldn't bring down prices with less competition. It wouldn't be better for coaches with less opportunities. It wouldn't be better for clubs who lose GA or ECNL access. I'm trying to understand who would benefit from fewer top teams.
Anonymous
01/16/2026 15:25
Subject: For high level players and parents only
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:In all these discussions here and with parents on the sidelines, the one absolute change I'd like to see is the reduction of a travel. I like the idea of soccer hubs, like the DMV, Atlanta, NY/NJ etc. where there is enough density to provide opportunities across a range of skill levels.
100% agree, so unnecessary. Even more frustrating to go to SC to play Bethesda when your club is from NOVA.
On the girls side, the whole GA and ECNL thing is going to need to resolve itself so that there isn't a dilution of talent on the top teams. Then we'd be in business.
That's more of a NoVa problem, but I agree it would be better if all top teams were on the same platform. It's pretty clear who the top teams are elsewhere.
Anonymous
01/16/2026 15:23
Subject: For high level players and parents only
Anonymous wrote:In all these discussions here and with parents on the sidelines, the one absolute change I'd like to see is the reduction of a travel. I like the idea of soccer hubs, like the DMV, Atlanta, NY/NJ etc. where there is enough density to provide opportunities across a range of skill levels.
100% agree, so unnecessary. Even more frustrating to go to SC to play Bethesda when your club is from NOVA.
On the girls side, the whole GA and ECNL thing is going to need to resolve itself so that there isn't a dilution of talent on the top teams. Then we'd be in business.
Anonymous
01/16/2026 14:38
Subject: For high level players and parents only
Anonymous wrote:I saw the whole vide. He said it. Tournaments are money-making events for clubs. No need to travel to Arizona, Texas, Florida or the world to get beat by a team. He also spoke the truth about how expensive it is to play here. $20k a year. Soccer is a big business. NYRB usually does not attend these MLS Next Fest and silly events around the country because they know it is not a good investment for the parents. Clubs in the DMV should do the same but that would mean leaving money on the table from selling the BIG DREAM to the parents.
Red Bulls is at every MLS Next Flex
Anonymous
01/16/2026 14:28
Subject: For high level players and parents only
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I saw the whole vide. He said it. Tournaments are money-making events for clubs. No need to travel to Arizona, Texas, Florida or the world to get beat by a team. He also spoke the truth about how expensive it is to play here. $20k a year. Soccer is a big business. NYRB usually does not attend these MLS Next Fest and silly events around the country because they know it is not a good investment for the parents. Clubs in the DMV should do the same but that would mean leaving money on the table from selling the BIG DREAM to the parents.
I disagree. Why should clubs in the DMV do the same? They are businesses. Shouldn’t they do the things that make the money? That’s how I run my own business. Why shouldn’t they do the same?
Correct. They should make money if they are a business. As a consumer, I can choose how I choose my money. I don't have to support the travel and tourism industry under the disguise of development. I have not seen ONE kid in our age group that has risen far and above the rest of the age group. Why do I need to fly to Madrid or drive to DE, PA or NJ to test ourselves when I have Arlington, VDA, etc. within a hour drive to give our kids a run.
For those who did not watch the video though, you're missing the points.
But, we the smart parents on DCUM know better than a former pro player who ran FC Delco and now at Red Bulls who actually has his kid in a Pay 2 Play club. Cool.
Absolutely. We are all consumers and have a choice. So why do so many complain about the way the system works and how clubs act as if they don't have any choice? There are alternatives and we are all free to choose them. I can't think of anything else but youth soccer where people who have chosen to participate complain so much about the choice they keep making.
Anonymous
01/16/2026 13:41
Subject: For high level players and parents only
Anonymous wrote:Inside the Red Bull Academy - https://youtu.be/NjKjYmPyRkA?si=41KHeSHFLk6WDJHw
"we don't need to go anywhere" - referencing that in the NYC/NJ Metro area, there is plenty of competition. We have the same benefit in the DMV.
"we can drive 30 minutes in any direction to get beat" - Share with your DOC. Arlington should be playing Bethesda regularly. MD United should be playing VDA and NVA. MD clubs don't have to drive to NJ/PA. VA clubs don't' have to travel to NC.
"we simultaneously develop the players we have in our academy while always lookin for better players" - important for parents to understand the focus of clubs and not take it personal when clubs are scouting new talent
"Our job is not to develop great teams; our job is to develop individual who can play at the stadium..." - for those who are resistant to the age group changes and the focus of the clubs. They don't care about the team staying together for the purpose of solely winning
"The best 13-year old is rarely the best 17-year old" - for everyone
This was great, thanks for sharing.
Anonymous
01/16/2026 12:05
Subject: For high level players and parents only
In all these discussions here and with parents on the sidelines, the one absolute change I'd like to see is the reduction of a travel. I like the idea of soccer hubs, like the DMV, Atlanta, NY/NJ etc. where there is enough density to provide opportunities across a range of skill levels.