Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, much of this forum is VERY subjective. Any thought of someone posting a survey to get some facts from the various parents across NOVA? I would want to know gender/age group, practices per week, length of practices, when season started and ended, practices on turf, grass or mixed, how often were practices cancelled (slightly subjective), and price.

Many of us feel the grass is greener somewhere else....and it may be, but without the facts, it is hard to know this for sure.

There are so many variants, so many factors that constantly change from year to year, from club to club. We know so many folks who hop from club to club and all they do is exchange one problem for another. Unless you really think your child is in the 0.1 percent to play professional and you need DA-level, the grass is never greener, all the clubs (and leagues) are basically the same.

AMEN

No. We left a toxic club. Annoying, political parents and bad mouthing players. No transparency. No consistency in coaches or training. Prima Donna bratty kids. Two years+ at new Club and still loving it. I am no longer tense and sick to my stomach on the sidelines. It’s a great environment.

I have a friend that played pro that thinks 2 years max for any club. Most top players have been at several by the age of 16. Exposure to new things creates growth.

But, just because a player leaves a Club does not mean their parents think they are a superstar. I’ve seen players leave big clubs for what is considered on this Board “inferior” clubs for better coaching/development, not because a player didn’t make a certain color.

+1. Totally true. If you stay put, you don't grow. We turned down a top team at a top club so DC can play in a better environment. 2 years is max.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, much of this forum is VERY subjective. Any thought of someone posting a survey to get some facts from the various parents across NOVA? I would want to know gender/age group, practices per week, length of practices, when season started and ended, practices on turf, grass or mixed, how often were practices cancelled (slightly subjective), and price.

Many of us feel the grass is greener somewhere else....and it may be, but without the facts, it is hard to know this for sure.

There are so many variants, so many factors that constantly change from year to year, from club to club. We know so many folks who hop from club to club and all they do is exchange one problem for another. Unless you really think your child is in the 0.1 percent to play professional and you need DA-level, the grass is never greener, all the clubs (and leagues) are basically the same.

AMEN

No. We left a toxic club. Annoying, political parents and bad mouthing players. No transparency. No consistency in coaches or training. Prima Donna bratty kids. Two years+ at new Club and still loving it. I am no longer tense and sick to my stomach on the sidelines. It’s a great environment.

I have a friend that played pro that thinks 2 years max for any club. Most top players have been at several by the age of 16. Exposure to new things creates growth.

But, just because a player leaves a Club does not mean their parents think they are a superstar. I’ve seen players leave big clubs for what is considered on this Board “inferior” clubs for better coaching/development, not because a player didn’t make a certain color.

Anonymous wrote:Who exactly is responsible for these traveling kids?

Anonymous wrote:there's one called Bordeux at the soccer plex

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live near the SoccerPlex in Boyds MD (near Germantown MD). My 11 year old daughter plays rec there, and she is ready to move up to something more competitive. Can anybody provide a list of select/club/travel teams that are in the general area. From the Internet, I have read about Potomac Soccer, MSI, Damascus Soccer, MD Rush Montgomery, SAM Select. Are there others in the nearby area (not interested in going to Virginia). Thanks.

The problem for her right now is that all the travel teams are set for the year. I recommend signing up for a futsal program during the year, like an actual training program with a real coach, to get her foot skills up and then try out in the spring. Potomac isn't bad. They play in the CCL. It's a good place to start.

Anonymous wrote:

RantingSoccerDad wrote:I've found the happiest kids in soccer are the ones who have grown close with their teammates.

In 10 years, unless they're playing in the pros, they will have forgotten most of the games and practices. They'll remember their friends.

But this is Northern Virginia, where every parent thinks DC should be playing for DC United -- unless they're REALLY good, in which case maybe Manchester United or Juventus. So we see players literally go in circles -- Club A, Club B, Club C and back to Club A. Accomplishing ... what?

Agree in spirit. However, no club is loyal to a particular kid and most "normal" parents just want their kids to be happy playing soccer. As kids get shifted around, transitioned from A to B, to C or from B to A, replaced with or new players on their old teams, etc., the idea of growing close with your teammates is more of an aspiration than a reality. Nothing is certain. It is often the clubs who don't give kids the chance to develop relationships, not necessarily the parents. If an age group trained together as a pool, that would be one reason to stay at a club, regardless of team classification. But that's not the reality at most clubs. When a best friend gets moved up or down to a different team, is hard to maintain long term friendships when everyone is running all over the DMV area each weekend for games and tournaments. I would have loved for my kids to stay on the same team with their friends from U9 on a long term basis. Unfortunately, promotions, demotions, the calendar year age group change, and the need for clubs to attract outside players rather than to develop the players they have get in the way. It isn't always the parents who mess things up.

Anonymous wrote:

RantingSoccerDad wrote:I've found the happiest kids in soccer are the ones who have grown close with their teammates.

In 10 years, unless they're playing in the pros, they will have forgotten most of the games and practices. They'll remember their friends.

But this is Northern Virginia, where every parent thinks DC should be playing for DC United -- unless they're REALLY good, in which case maybe Manchester United or Juventus. So we see players literally go in circles -- Club A, Club B, Club C and back to Club A. Accomplishing ... what?

Agree in spirit. However, no club is loyal to a particular kid and most "normal" parents just want their kids to be happy playing soccer. As kids get shifted around, transitioned from A to B, to C or from B to A, replaced with or new players on their old teams, etc., the idea of growing close with your teammates is more of an aspiration than a reality. Nothing is certain. It is often the clubs who don't give kids the chance to develop relationships, not necessarily the parents. If an age group trained together as a pool, that would be one reason to stay at a club, regardless of team classification. But that's not the reality at most clubs. When a best friend gets moved up or down to a different team, is hard to maintain long term friendships when everyone is running all over the DMV area each weekend for games and tournaments. I would have loved for my kids to stay on the same team with their friends from U9 on a long term basis. Unfortunately, promotions, demotions, the calendar year age group change, and the need for clubs to attract outside players rather than to develop the players they have get in the way. It isn't always the parents who mess things up.

RantingSoccerDad wrote:I've found the happiest kids in soccer are the ones who have grown close with their teammates.

In 10 years, unless they're playing in the pros, they will have forgotten most of the games and practices. They'll remember their friends.

But this is Northern Virginia, where every parent thinks DC should be playing for DC United -- unless they're REALLY good, in which case maybe Manchester United or Juventus. So we see players literally go in circles -- Club A, Club B, Club C and back to Club A. Accomplishing ... what?

RantingSoccerDad wrote:I've found the happiest kids in soccer are the ones who have grown close with their teammates.

In 10 years, unless they're playing in the pros, they will have forgotten most of the games and practices. They'll remember their friends.

But this is Northern Virginia, where every parent thinks DC should be playing for DC United -- unless they're REALLY good, in which case maybe Manchester United or Juventus. So we see players literally go in circles -- Club A, Club B, Club C and back to Club A. Accomplishing ... what?