Anonymous wrote:Do that call it "Va ler" or "Vuh lore"?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone tell us how things went with tryouts and if they got a strong roster for the 2014G top team next year?
How is a new coach SA from GFR, Is he good?

So I have looked into this Coach and it seems like parents are very divided on him. Some parents liked him and others did not. It does seem like he is not leaving on the best of terms. From what I’ve heard he seems very cocky and will overpromise parents and tell them what they want to hear and will not deliver. Which is what a lot of parents had issues with At Great Falls.

We did see him Coach the other weekend, which is when we chatted with the parents and I didn’t see anything alarming or positive to note.

IMO, you ought to ask a couple of questions...

What is their expectation on coach/parent engagement: How often, what's too much and too little?

Player development approach, outlook for the season? Where we are today, what I want us to look like by mid-season and towards the end of the year.
-Rotation in positioning vs pigeon-holing players early in youth development?
-How will they determine time/minutes on the field?
-How will they determine performance improvement/assessment/feedback?

Are they...
-Assertive, confident, project authority and demand discipline?
-Proactive in correcting issues on the spot with executing drills.
-Working on the basics when those fundamentals are not meeting performance thresholds? What does that expectation look like?

Are the players sitting around for X number minutes while other kids/teams/coaches seem to be already training? Why is that?

What does attendance, custody and accountability for players look like for the coach?
-Do they just leave the kids on the fields?

Completely agree with this. However many coaches will just tell you what you want to hear and then go and do the opposite. This is typical with new coaches to club. That is why talking to the parents of a current team is needed however typically isn't done because they are hard to find.

Agree and there lies the probelm in Valor being disingenuous. You must talk to the previous parents because they are customer base.

-To be fair you should talk to a few of the lower-level team parents 3-4-5 and see if it's the same negative messaging. They can't all be wrong can they.

In my experience interacting with parents of kids on lower Valor teams, their satisfaction correlates pretty strongly with how realistic they are about their kids’ ability. The ones who are unhappy tend be to anxious and competitive parents. They want their kids to be better than they actually are, and are upset that their kid isn’t being moved up. You can see the tension in their faces on the sidelines and when you talk to them. Then there are the parents who are more laid back and kind of taking the experience for what it is. Their kids like soccer a lot, but they know their kids are just ok at it. They stay because their kid enjoys their teammates, the extra practices, going to tournaments, etc.

This is just what I have seen in the younger age groups. The coaches at all levels generally show up and seem to be engaged with the kids. I can’t comment on what’s happening at older age groups.

Oh, that's hysterical. Tell us more, Valor Marketing Person. "Third Team Larla"s parents are unhappy because they are anxious and unrealistic? Well-adjusted parents happily fork over 3k to Valor to overpay for a terrible experience with a bad (or nonexistent apparently) coach. They are happy just to be included in the Valor Mystique!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone tell us how things went with tryouts and if they got a strong roster for the 2014G top team next year?
How is a new coach SA from GFR, Is he good?

So I have looked into this Coach and it seems like parents are very divided on him. Some parents liked him and others did not. It does seem like he is not leaving on the best of terms. From what I’ve heard he seems very cocky and will overpromise parents and tell them what they want to hear and will not deliver. Which is what a lot of parents had issues with At Great Falls.

We did see him Coach the other weekend, which is when we chatted with the parents and I didn’t see anything alarming or positive to note.

IMO, you ought to ask a couple of questions...

What is their expectation on coach/parent engagement: How often, what's too much and too little?

Player development approach, outlook for the season? Where we are today, what I want us to look like by mid-season and towards the end of the year.
-Rotation in positioning vs pigeon-holing players early in youth development?
-How will they determine time/minutes on the field?
-How will they determine performance improvement/assessment/feedback?

Are they...
-Assertive, confident, project authority and demand discipline?
-Proactive in correcting issues on the spot with executing drills.
-Working on the basics when those fundamentals are not meeting performance thresholds? What does that expectation look like?

Are the players sitting around for X number minutes while other kids/teams/coaches seem to be already training? Why is that?

What does attendance, custody and accountability for players look like for the coach?
-Do they just leave the kids on the fields?

Completely agree with this. However many coaches will just tell you what you want to hear and then go and do the opposite. This is typical with new coaches to club. That is why talking to the parents of a current team is needed however typically isn't done because they are hard to find.

Agree and there lies the probelm in Valor being disingenuous. You must talk to the previous parents because they are customer base.

-To be fair you should talk to a few of the lower-level team parents 3-4-5 and see if it's the same negative messaging. They can't all be wrong can they.

In my experience interacting with parents of kids on lower Valor teams, their satisfaction correlates pretty strongly with how realistic they are about their kids’ ability. The ones who are unhappy tend be to anxious and competitive parents. They want their kids to be better than they actually are, and are upset that their kid isn’t being moved up. You can see the tension in their faces on the sidelines and when you talk to them. Then there are the parents who are more laid back and kind of taking the experience for what it is. Their kids like soccer a lot, but they know their kids are just ok at it. They stay because their kid enjoys their teammates, the extra practices, going to tournaments, etc.

This is just what I have seen in the younger age groups. The coaches at all levels generally show up and seem to be engaged with the kids. I can’t comment on what’s happening at older age groups.

Anonymous wrote:I honestly cannot believe people pay $3000 for their 3rd grader to play on the 5th level travel team. These are people who live in Chantilly and Centreville which are not exactly Beverly Hills 90120.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone tell us how things went with tryouts and if they got a strong roster for the 2014G top team next year?
How is a new coach SA from GFR, Is he good?

So I have looked into this Coach and it seems like parents are very divided on him. Some parents liked him and others did not. It does seem like he is not leaving on the best of terms. From what I’ve heard he seems very cocky and will overpromise parents and tell them what they want to hear and will not deliver. Which is what a lot of parents had issues with At Great Falls.

We did see him Coach the other weekend, which is when we chatted with the parents and I didn’t see anything alarming or positive to note.

IMO, you ought to ask a couple of questions...

What is their expectation on coach/parent engagement: How often, what's too much and too little?

Player development approach, outlook for the season? Where we are today, what I want us to look like by mid-season and towards the end of the year.
-Rotation in positioning vs pigeon-holing players early in youth development?
-How will they determine time/minutes on the field?
-How will they determine performance improvement/assessment/feedback?

Are they...
-Assertive, confident, project authority and demand discipline?
-Proactive in correcting issues on the spot with executing drills.
-Working on the basics when those fundamentals are not meeting performance thresholds? What does that expectation look like?

Are the players sitting around for X number minutes while other kids/teams/coaches seem to be already training? Why is that?

What does attendance, custody and accountability for players look like for the coach?
-Do they just leave the kids on the fields?

Completely agree with this. However many coaches will just tell you what you want to hear and then go and do the opposite. This is typical with new coaches to club. That is why talking to the parents of a current team is needed however typically isn't done because they are hard to find.

Agree and there lies the probelm in Valor being disingenuous. You must talk to the previous parents because they are customer base.

-To be fair you should talk to a few of the lower-level team parents 3-4-5 and see if it's the same negative messaging. They can't all be wrong can they.

In my experience interacting with parents of kids on lower Valor teams, their satisfaction correlates pretty strongly with how realistic they are about their kids’ ability. The ones who are unhappy tend be to anxious and competitive parents. They want their kids to be better than they actually are, and are upset that their kid isn’t being moved up. You can see the tension in their faces on the sidelines and when you talk to them. Then there are the parents who are more laid back and kind of taking the experience for what it is. Their kids like soccer a lot, but they know their kids are just ok at it. They stay because their kid enjoys their teammates, the extra practices, going to tournaments, etc.

This is just what I have seen in the younger age groups. The coaches at all levels generally show up and seem to be engaged with the kids. I can’t comment on what’s happening at older age groups.


Firstly, that seem a little passive to the idea and the correlation is somewhat off. This also occurs at 2nd and 3rd level teams where kids haven't moved up.
Oh, I guess we can also disregard parents' kids moving up to a level 1 team the next year at another club within the same division as Valor best. It must be pure luck and only warranted through the performance with your kid...right?

Oh man, competitive parents...those are worst.

-No coaches at the start of season, cancelations and coaches quitting mid-way through all seem to justify your point about engaging. "All coaches general show up"......? Well, I hope so.

I think your completely unaware what that "reality" that you speak of looks like or you've been on the Valor train too long. I hope they are taking care you, I'm sure you are.

-I can only assume you're on a high-level team and not funding the development of your kid on a lower-level team. That would be iidiotic.

You seem disconnected.

Competitive parents kind of are the worst. They ruin things that kids should be enjoying. I’d much rather be disconnected than filled with bitterness as you seem to be. This level of engagement does not seem healthy at all. I think you need to take a break from posting here and go find some perspective. None of this is all that big of a deal in the grand scheme.

Oh, ok so we are here now...

No, it is taking advantage of parents and their children: their genuine interest, pouring commitment to the club and team where they are not truly being supported.
-Whole-heartedly, it is disingenuous, almost evil in its sense and disgusting how they will market the idea that its institution is genuinely interested in the development of your child with zero intention of following through.

My perspective is exactly where it needs to be.
-You sound defensive, almost like the staff, coach or even a parent whose kid probably did not move up and still holding on to hope.

In any case, I'm sure your busy still trying to fill your pockets and talk a good game to other parents coming. Good luck with that.
So, you with the halo on your head, you can take your self-righteousness and put it back where all the garbage comes out. Your other option would be your mouth.