Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your daughter a 2005 or 2006? For a 2005 LMVSC would be okay. For a 2006, they are forming a new team because they lost their team due to some between-clubs drama so the team would be new and would be fine for someone that’s a decent player, but not for a very strong player.

Also there is an ID session tonight for 2006 girls. Of the clubs mention, LMVSC is the only one i know of that is running tryouts currently, so you would want to check their website for dates and times.

Gunston and Alexandria have definitely not set tryout dates and times yet and I don’t know about SYC

OP here. She's a 2006. Came from a competitive team by MN standards. Not sure how it translates to the level in this area.

Go to Alexandria Soccer to get a feel for the area; the Gunston 06 team lost A LOT of their players to SYC. LMVSC's 06 team doesn't exist and they aren't going to create one.

Gunston 05 team lost a lot of players, and LMVSC 2005 team is good but they're also losing a handful of players.

We were previously at Gunston and moved as well. Although LMVSC is having issues with some teams we have been happy with our coaches and experience. DC has worked with the coach assigned to 06 girls and it was a very good one. I'm sure they wouldn't have assigned him unless they didn't have plans to put a team together. Reach out to the coach.

I think at u16 and up, you really need to look at the particulars of the teams to see if it fits what you are looking for. Gunston’s 2005 girls team plays in NCSL Division 1 and is coached by their president. (Their 2003/04 team played in CCL this past year and was a u18 state cup finalist.). Both teams are major feeders to West Potomac and MVHS girls soccer teams so could also provide social benefits for someone new to the area. SYC has a really solid 2006 team but is a further commute and the impact of the MacLean “merger” remains to be seen. ASA has solid teams generally but you may run into complications because lots of their players go to private schools and have different high school seasons (fewer players at practice on a regular basis in the fall). LMV is really hit or miss right now, so you just need to do some research on their 2006 team.

My suggestion would be to reach out to coaches, ask questions, go the tryouts for a couple different teams and make an informed decision based on what you think will provide the best overall experience for your daughter. Coming from Minnesota, you may find the community feel of Gunston more attractive, where all of the kids go to the same high schools or you may not. In terms of level of play, the SYC 06 team is the highest, if it stays in tact after the merger.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your daughter a 2005 or 2006? For a 2005 LMVSC would be okay. For a 2006, they are forming a new team because they lost their team due to some between-clubs drama so the team would be new and would be fine for someone that’s a decent player, but not for a very strong player.

Also there is an ID session tonight for 2006 girls. Of the clubs mention, LMVSC is the only one i know of that is running tryouts currently, so you would want to check their website for dates and times.

Gunston and Alexandria have definitely not set tryout dates and times yet and I don’t know about SYC

OP here. She's a 2006. Came from a competitive team by MN standards. Not sure how it translates to the level in this area.

Go to Alexandria Soccer to get a feel for the area; the Gunston 06 team lost A LOT of their players to SYC. LMVSC's 06 team doesn't exist and they aren't going to create one.

Gunston 05 team lost a lot of players, and LMVSC 2005 team is good but they're also losing a handful of players.

Anonymous wrote:My kid plays for Gunston on the boys side at a younger age. It is not at all sketchy. It’s run by a guy who is very rules oriented and not at all afraid to enforce them regardless of who the kid, parent, or team is and regardless of who or where they’re scheduled to play. It’s a small club. If you’re gunning to play college soccer, it’s probably not for you. Kids/parents who are super duper serious tend to leave around U11-13. We looked around a bit at other clubs, but once we realized that DS is a good (not outstanding by DMV standards) player who enjoys playing but isn’t committed (or talented) enough to play in college (and he likes to play other sports), it seemed silly to be anywhere other than the club closest to home. And, for the most part, that’s the kind of players/families you’ll find at Gunston, in my experience so far—some of the players are very good, but for whatever reason the parents aren’t interested in the DMV soccer rat race.

+1 Another Gunston parent

My kid plays for Gunston on the boys side at a younger age. It is not at all sketchy. It’s run by a guy who is very rules oriented and not at all afraid to enforce them regardless of who the kid, parent, or team is and regardless of who or where they’re scheduled to play. It’s a small club. If you’re gunning to play college soccer, it’s probably not for you. Kids/parents who are super duper serious tend to leave around U11-13. We looked around a bit at other clubs, but once we realized that DS is a good (not outstanding by DMV standards) player who enjoys playing but isn’t committed (or talented) enough to play in college (and he likes to play other sports), it seemed silly to be anywhere other than the club closest to home. And, for the most part, that’s the kind of players/families you’ll find at Gunston, in my experience so far—some of the players are very good, but for whatever reason the parents aren’t interested in the DMV soccer rat race.