Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here you go.
https://washingtonspirit.com/2019/10/24/spirit-host-first-ever-advanced-development-program-at-maryland-soccerplex/

Yep, there's the PR release. They don't care about the youth. They just want to improve their image so they cam sell tickets.

Yep, it's very sad and pathetic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here you go.
https://washingtonspirit.com/2019/10/24/spirit-host-first-ever-advanced-development-program-at-maryland-soccerplex/

Yep, there's the PR release. They don't care about the youth. They just want to improve their image so they cam sell tickets.

Anonymous wrote:Here you go.
https://washingtonspirit.com/2019/10/24/spirit-host-first-ever-advanced-development-program-at-maryland-soccerplex/

Yep, there's the PR release. They don't care about the youth. They just want to improve their image so they cam sell tickets.

Here you go.
https://washingtonspirit.com/2019/10/24/spirit-host-first-ever-advanced-development-program-at-maryland-soccerplex/

Anonymous wrote:For anyone who attended, what were your thoughts? How was the quality of the players? the training?

Purpose of training? Worth the trip and time?

For anyone who attended, what were your thoughts? How was the quality of the players? the training?

Anonymous wrote:There’s no defense for Larry and the Spirit.

They suck

+100000000. They are indefensible.

There’s no defense for Larry and the Spirit.

They suck

I’ll defend Larry and the Spirit here.

This is entirely consistent with what Spirit/Larry said when they dropped the DA - they want to be able to work with top players from all area clubs, not just those playing for Spirit DA. Now they are trying to get those players to participate. I’d be interested to see who they invite (my daughter didn’t get her invite yet Larry!) and who they ultimately get to participate but from a pure pro-club development perspective, this is a solid way for Spirit to familiarize themselves with top local talent.

Now whether this actually works, I’m not so sure. VA ECNL players, especially U17s, will be busy through for the next several months and high school soccer starts not too long later (in MD, the ECNL schedule will start), so how often will those players be able to practice. On the DA side, there’s no one on MetroUtd or Arlington that would qualify other than as a sympathy vote, so it’s really only FCV (and I say that as someone who thinks anyone who sends their kid to FCV should be reported for child abuse). FCV has so much training going year round that their players have no need for this program. The only reason I could see FCV players participating is Christian’s affiliation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think McDonalds pays more than the Spirit, so what’s the point?

+1. Just a waste of time and more marketing for season tickets. Spirit’s rep doesn’t lie.

Yep, they are pretending they actually care about youth so they can sell tickets. I'm sure Larry will throw a few tickets BRYC's way, for old time's sake.

Well, season ticket sales have dropped dramatically since they don't have a youth program to bundle the tickets into anymore.

But I'm not sure Larry's really interested in putting that much effort into it...

As long as he keeps getting that check...

I've lost all taste for the Spirit.

Anonymous wrote:Why all CAPS?

Because IT’S.THE.BEST.EVER!!!!!!!

(Though what happened to the “w”?)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think McDonalds pays more than the Spirit, so what’s the point?

+1. Just a waste of time and more marketing for season tickets. Spirit’s rep doesn’t lie.

Yep, they are pretending they actually care about youth so they can sell tickets. I'm sure Larry will throw a few tickets BRYC's way, for old time's sake.

Well, season ticket sales have dropped dramatically since they don't have a youth program to bundle the tickets into anymore.

But I'm not sure Larry's really interested in putting that much effort into it...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think McDonalds pays more than the Spirit, so what’s the point?

+1. Just a waste of time and more marketing for season tickets. Spirit’s rep doesn’t lie.

Yep, they are pretending they actually care about youth so they can sell tickets. I'm sure Larry will throw a few tickets BRYC's way, for old time's sake.

Anonymous wrote:I think McDonalds pays more than the Spirit, so what’s the point?

+1. Just a waste of time and more marketing for season tickets. Spirit’s rep doesn’t lie.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now that the invitations have been sent out to the girls for this program, what is your take? Will it be booked with FCV girls (Richie and Christian) or other clubs? Lots of time away from school - Starts mid-week in mid October? Great idea? Marketing campaign?

The Washington Spirit has created a Market Training program for Advanced Player Development and Education. This is a unique program that offers a Path 2 Pro perspective for learning what it takes to be a professional player in all aspects of player development both on and off the field. This program is intended to bring together the TOP players in the market at U17 & U19 as part of an identification process for the Washington Spirit and US Soccer for potential US Soccer Youth National Team selections and future NWSL professional prospects.

The program will include both classroom and field sessions that will be directed by our Professional Coaching staff with support from our Professional players when they are in market. Sessions will cover advanced educational topics that will include direction from our High-Performance coach.

https://washingtonspirit.com/advanced-development-program/

This is very much the sort of program I would expect Larry Best to have started with the Spirit. This could be very interesting, especially with their being no cost.

So you see it as more of a "goodwill" type program? Community outreach for Spirit?