RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We pulled our daughter from their program because she was complaining that the coaches were always showing up late and spent the majority of practice talking instead of coaching. I really don't know a lot about the sport my husband played in college. When i told him he started making a point to go to some practices and he quickly made the decision to move her as she really wants to improve and develop as a player. We were not the only ones to make this decision. It was great when she was 9 and 10 and so close to our house, but the simple fact is the club is not competitive.

This was over the summer?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those coaches that you are referring to are now gone for GFRSC and have been replaced.

One of the best things about GFRSC is that there is something for everyone-from recreational to high level (NPL). Their technical director Rado Pletka is excellent and the focus is on individual development, love for the game, and then transitions into more tactical as they get older. Depends what you want and if your child is able to get to that....not as "high level" as ECNL/Mclean YET but your kids can do other things (sports, music, extracurricular) which is much more difficult at that higher level. Larger than Vienna. Leadership is great in setting the tone for personal development, coaches positive and mentoring.

This is a joke written by GFR to promote this politician. Rado is a TD of a club who has produced nothing. They have not one single state cup winner nor have they produced any quality teams under his direction. His teams do not play in any major tournaments and he spends his entire summer and winter in Europe laughing as the GFR parents fund his trips. He also doesn't develop individual players as not one GFR player (male or female) was identified for PDP this past year. If you want to play for a club that promotes a TD that does nothing but lie then it's a fantastic club. If you need any real proof just look at how many of the GFR board members own children play for other clubs. This year he actually sent a letter threatening to not pay any of his coaches if they were not making enough revenue for the club. So yes if you would like your son or daughter to play for a team that doesn't care about competing or developing and you as parents want to pay more than double for rec and at least 50% more on the travel side for inferior coaching and development then GFR is a great club.

Brand new travel GFR U9 parent here. Is this the consensus about the program?

If you live in GFR area, your 9 year old will be fine with the club and you'll enjoy a short commute to practices. If he/she is a talented high level player, you will eventually end up moving him/her to a stronger club. Travel soccer is about making money of the parents and GFR is no different from the majority of the local clubs in this respect.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those coaches that you are referring to are now gone for GFRSC and have been replaced.

One of the best things about GFRSC is that there is something for everyone-from recreational to high level (NPL). Their technical director Rado Pletka is excellent and the focus is on individual development, love for the game, and then transitions into more tactical as they get older. Depends what you want and if your child is able to get to that....not as "high level" as ECNL/Mclean YET but your kids can do other things (sports, music, extracurricular) which is much more difficult at that higher level. Larger than Vienna. Leadership is great in setting the tone for personal development, coaches positive and mentoring.

This is a joke written by GFR to promote this politician. Rado is a TD of a club who has produced nothing. They have not one single state cup winner nor have they produced any quality teams under his direction. His teams do not play in any major tournaments and he spends his entire summer and winter in Europe laughing as the GFR parents fund his trips. He also doesn't develop individual players as not one GFR player (male or female) was identified for PDP this past year. If you want to play for a club that promotes a TD that does nothing but lie then it's a fantastic club. If you need any real proof just look at how many of the GFR board members own children play for other clubs. This year he actually sent a letter threatening to not pay any of his coaches if they were not making enough revenue for the club. So yes if you would like your son or daughter to play for a team that doesn't care about competing or developing and you as parents want to pay more than double for rec and at least 50% more on the travel side for inferior coaching and development then GFR is a great club.

Brand new travel GFR U9 parent here. Is this the consensus about the program?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those coaches that you are referring to are now gone for GFRSC and have been replaced.

One of the best things about GFRSC is that there is something for everyone-from recreational to high level (NPL). Their technical director Rado Pletka is excellent and the focus is on individual development, love for the game, and then transitions into more tactical as they get older. Depends what you want and if your child is able to get to that....not as "high level" as ECNL/Mclean YET but your kids can do other things (sports, music, extracurricular) which is much more difficult at that higher level. Larger than Vienna. Leadership is great in setting the tone for personal development, coaches positive and mentoring.

This is a joke written by GFR to promote this politician. Rado is a TD of a club who has produced nothing. They have not one single state cup winner nor have they produced any quality teams under his direction. His teams do not play in any major tournaments and he spends his entire summer and winter in Europe laughing as the GFR parents fund his trips. He also doesn't develop individual players as not one GFR player (male or female) was identified for PDP this past year. If you want to play for a club that promotes a TD that does nothing but lie then it's a fantastic club. If you need any real proof just look at how many of the GFR board members own children play for other clubs. This year he actually sent a letter threatening to not pay any of his coaches if they were not making enough revenue for the club. So yes if you would like your son or daughter to play for a team that doesn't care about competing or developing and you as parents want to pay more than double for rec and at least 50% more on the travel side for inferior coaching and development then GFR is a great club.

Brand new travel GFR U9 parent here. Is this the consensus about the program?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those coaches that you are referring to are now gone for GFRSC and have been replaced.

One of the best things about GFRSC is that there is something for everyone-from recreational to high level (NPL). Their technical director Rado Pletka is excellent and the focus is on individual development, love for the game, and then transitions into more tactical as they get older. Depends what you want and if your child is able to get to that....not as "high level" as ECNL/Mclean YET but your kids can do other things (sports, music, extracurricular) which is much more difficult at that higher level. Larger than Vienna. Leadership is great in setting the tone for personal development, coaches positive and mentoring.

This is a joke written by GFR to promote this politician. Rado is a TD of a club who has produced nothing. They have not one single state cup winner nor have they produced any quality teams under his direction. His teams do not play in any major tournaments and he spends his entire summer and winter in Europe laughing as the GFR parents fund his trips. He also doesn't develop individual players as not one GFR player (male or female) was identified for PDP this past year. If you want to play for a club that promotes a TD that does nothing but lie then it's a fantastic club. If you need any real proof just look at how many of the GFR board members own children play for other clubs. This year he actually sent a letter threatening to not pay any of his coaches if they were not making enough revenue for the club. So yes if you would like your son or daughter to play for a team that doesn't care about competing or developing and you as parents want to pay more than double for rec and at least 50% more on the travel side for inferior coaching and development then GFR is a great club.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those coaches that you are referring to are now gone for GFRSC and have been replaced.

One of the best things about GFRSC is that there is something for everyone-from recreational to high level (NPL). Their technical director Rado Pletka is excellent and the focus is on individual development, love for the game, and then transitions into more tactical as they get older. Depends what you want and if your child is able to get to that....not as "high level" as ECNL/Mclean YET but your kids can do other things (sports, music, extracurricular) which is much more difficult at that higher level. Larger than Vienna. Leadership is great in setting the tone for personal development, coaches positive and mentoring.

Mclean's level has been steadily declining for their boys teams. Yes, their 2001 team is a high level team and their 2006 team got decent results, but the vast majority of their boys teams are mediocre. For example, their top 2003 team finished 13th in CCL with 1 win, 9 losses and 4 ties. Their 2004 team finished in the 12th place with 4 wins, 9 losses and 1 tie. http://www.clubchampionsleague.com/standings/ They will move their top teams to ECNL this year, but simply moving to another league does not make players better.

You are mistaken about Mclean. The Boys O5 top team (now ECNL) is ranked 3rd in the state. They came in 2nd at State Cup and made it to the semis at Regionals. The 03 team you speak of was not good but with a major roster change and a new coach that has had plenty of success, their future is bright. Keep your eye on them! Also, the 2000 team went to Nationals this summer.

I can only go by the standings in the league they play. The 05 team finished 8th in CCL with 6 wins, 5 losses and 1 tie. It sounds like they had a good run in the State Cup, so they might be better than their league results suggest. If McLean improves their program with new coaches/players, I will be glad, but currently, as a club, they are not a power house they used to be.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those coaches that you are referring to are now gone for GFRSC and have been replaced.

One of the best things about GFRSC is that there is something for everyone-from recreational to high level (NPL). Their technical director Rado Pletka is excellent and the focus is on individual development, love for the game, and then transitions into more tactical as they get older. Depends what you want and if your child is able to get to that....not as "high level" as ECNL/Mclean YET but your kids can do other things (sports, music, extracurricular) which is much more difficult at that higher level. Larger than Vienna. Leadership is great in setting the tone for personal development, coaches positive and mentoring.

Mclean's level has been steadily declining for their boys teams. Yes, their 2001 team is a high level team and their 2006 team got decent results, but the vast majority of their boys teams are mediocre. For example, their top 2003 team finished 13th in CCL with 1 win, 9 losses and 4 ties. Their 2004 team finished in the 12th place with 4 wins, 9 losses and 1 tie. http://www.clubchampionsleague.com/standings/ They will move their top teams to ECNL this year, but simply moving to another league does not make players better.

You are mistaken about Mclean. The Boys O5 top team (now ECNL) is ranked 3rd in the state. They came in 2nd at State Cup and made it to the semis at Regionals. The 03 team you speak of was not good but with a major roster change and a new coach that has had plenty of success, their future is bright. Keep your eye on them! Also, the 2000 team went to Nationals this summer.

Anonymous wrote:Those coaches that you are referring to are now gone for GFRSC and have been replaced.

One of the best things about GFRSC is that there is something for everyone-from recreational to high level (NPL). Their technical director Rado Pletka is excellent and the focus is on individual development, love for the game, and then transitions into more tactical as they get older. Depends what you want and if your child is able to get to that....not as "high level" as ECNL/Mclean YET but your kids can do other things (sports, music, extracurricular) which is much more difficult at that higher level. Larger than Vienna. Leadership is great in setting the tone for personal development, coaches positive and mentoring.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those coaches that you are referring to are now gone for GFRSC and have been replaced.

One of the best things about GFRSC is that there is something for everyone-from recreational to high level (NPL). Their technical director Rado Pletka is excellent and the focus is on individual development, love for the game, and then transitions into more tactical as they get older. Depends what you want and if your child is able to get to that....not as "high level" as ECNL/Mclean YET but your kids can do other things (sports, music, extracurricular) which is much more difficult at that higher level. Larger than Vienna. Leadership is great in setting the tone for personal development, coaches positive and mentoring.

Mclean's level has been steadily declining for their boys teams. Yes, their 2001 team is a high level team and their 2006 team got decent results, but the vast majority of their boys teams are mediocre. For example, their top 2003 team finished 13th in CCL with 1 win, 9 losses and 4 ties. Their 2004 team finished in the 12th place with 4 wins, 9 losses and 1 tie. http://www.clubchampionsleague.com/standings/ They will move their top teams to ECNL this year, but simply moving to another league does not make players better.

Anonymous wrote:Growing pains - short travel players now gonna have kids go sell coupon books for fundraising like little leaguers. Wonder if rec families will enjoy subsidizing travel. Money goes to pay off fields etc that travel gets priority on.