Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think we wouldn’t know who the coach is until he gets placed on the team he’ll be on, which happens at the start of the season. At least that’s how it worked this past year.

He seems happy so maybe we sit tight. I just don’t know what I don’t know.

Chill until he outgrows where he is. You will know. He will ask for more training, etc.

The 1st team, top club blender is a mix more toxic than the Ivy league or bust environment. If you don’t have to be in that mix for your child, don’t join in the fray.

So much to say but will shorten it to this:

U13 is the Rubicon. Do whatever you can to have your player make it to first team MLSNext - or face System 1 purgatory the rest of the journey regardless of merit. (From ‘Thinking Fast and Slow’

Soccer should be about participation and growing as a youthman or youthwoman not about technique and wins/losses. People put too much focus on trying. Let it be!

Anonymous wrote:Correct. I would say as long as he is participating, having fun, and engaging in self-determination through the beautiful game, leave it alone. People who focus on winning games, “developing” skills, and awards are the real losers. True winning is being fully present and totally actualized on the field. Find a coach that promotes manifesting over aggressive training.

This post means well. But you say both "leave it alone" and "find a coach..." Although you can't do both, it is important to evaluate the coaches for next year. Be sure to ask who the coach is going to be for the next fall time. And, don't be surprised if they can't tell you this early as pinning down coaches for next august is hard to do.

Correct. I would say as long as he is participating, having fun, and engaging in self-determination through the beautiful game, leave it alone. People who focus on winning games, “developing” skills, and awards are the real losers. True winning is being fully present and totally actualized on the field. Find a coach that promotes manifesting over aggressive training.

If his coach is focused on development and fundamentals, you're in the right place for now. Don't overthink it. Make life easy on yourself while you can.

If practices are more focused on strategy than skills and your coach is telling kids to kick it as far as they can so [top athlete] can run after it, find a better option.

Anonymous wrote:What about Villarreal? Thats close by.

That's usually a club people go to when then don't make their A or B choice, IMO.

Do not go to anonymous posting sites for advice on what you should do for the happiness of your child. More than half the people here are just trolls doing their troll thing

My Lord. If your son is happy and there is no issue with the coach once announced, stay put. Let your kid play with his friends and be able to go play with them after a game, or grab dinner with them after practice because you don't drive 45 minutes to get to the field.
Do not get eaten alive by other opinions on this ever-so-toxic platform where parents live out their dreams through their kids.

If he’s happy I recommend staying put but getting him some reps with a private coach/small group training to introduce technical training. If he gets the bug and starts practicing on his own, making the top team and flourishing, WANTS more from soccer than I would look at bigger clubs. But if he’s happy let him be happy.

VYS parent here…

Don’t overthink this. If you are having a good experience and not chasing a top team, then I wouldn’t have a longer commute to practice. Older kids leave this club because they want to play at a higher level than -RL (and there’s some debate of whether you should make the move at U11/12 to let other coaches get to know you vs U13), but you are so far from needing an opinion on that.

That being said, on the top VYS teams at the U12 and under ages, there are a lot of parents that take their kids to multiple tryouts so they get used to what it is like and will make it easier when your child actually does try out for other teams in the future. No harm in doing it.

Someone mentioned Villarreal, BRYC is also close, etc.

So if you don’t find it annoying, go to other tryouts. If you do, no harm staying at VYS for a U9 year.

What about Villarreal? Thats close by.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in Vienna. It’s probably worth exploring area options but I understand the whole “don’t fix what’s not broken” mentality and he’s super happy at the moment.

Oh wait that changes everything! You live in Vienna? Then yes look for another team!

Wait what’s wrong with Vienna?

At his age, if he's learning basic fundamentals, progressing, and enjoying playing with friends, nothing is wrong with Vienna. As he gets older, he may want to switch to another club.

Vienna is fine for kids his age to start out and learn basics of the game. And, fwiw, I'm not a fan of the club, or a lot of parents I've experienced. However, I am able to think for a little kid it works.

So is it safe to say they don’t have a strong program for the older kids?

My kid plays for a national level team now. When DC was still playing "locally" the kids I saw who were a few years older just weren't "into it" or as "serious" as some other places.

Where they having fun? It looked like it, and great for them! But, if your son develops into a quality player and wants more, in a couple/few years you may want to look elsewhere.

All this comes with a caveat. I am not on expert on the club. It's merely just what I had seen over the course of a few years.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in Vienna. It’s probably worth exploring area options but I understand the whole “don’t fix what’s not broken” mentality and he’s super happy at the moment.

Oh wait that changes everything! You live in Vienna? Then yes look for another team!

Wait what’s wrong with Vienna?

At his age, if he's learning basic fundamentals, progressing, and enjoying playing with friends, nothing is wrong with Vienna. As he gets older, he may want to switch to another club.

Vienna is fine for kids his age to start out and learn basics of the game. And, fwiw, I'm not a fan of the club, or a lot of parents I've experienced. However, I am able to think for a little kid it works.

So is it safe to say they don’t have a strong program for the older kids?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in Vienna. It’s probably worth exploring area options but I understand the whole “don’t fix what’s not broken” mentality and he’s super happy at the moment.

Oh wait that changes everything! You live in Vienna? Then yes look for another team!

Wait what’s wrong with Vienna?

At his age, if he's learning basic fundamentals, progressing, and enjoying playing with friends, nothing is wrong with Vienna. As he gets older, he may want to switch to another club.

Vienna is fine for kids his age to start out and learn basics of the game. And, fwiw, I'm not a fan of the club, or a lot of parents I've experienced. However, I am able to think for a little kid it works.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in Vienna. It’s probably worth exploring area options but I understand the whole “don’t fix what’s not broken” mentality and he’s super happy at the moment.

Oh wait that changes everything! You live in Vienna? Then yes look for another team!

Wait what’s wrong with Vienna?