At least we don't have to keep explaining that we have nothing to do with VA Union University. White people just don't get how annoying that is.

Can't wait to see the coaches faces at showcases when they ask which club we are This is the old VA Union/Brave which was McLean/BRYC/Vienna and is now FairFax Va. Union. Won't cause ANY confusion at all.

Anonymous wrote:How happy would we be if ECNL took away both Brave and Union's boys programs? That was the threat. Then we'd complain that the clubs didn't do anything to protect their teams. No win situation.

LW should get the "Captain of The Titanic Award" instead of the USYS Honor Award for her handling of this merger. It keeps being stated the clubs had no choice and that the club is doing this in the best interest of its members. Let's be real. The league wasn't kicking out Union Girls ECNL. The only question is if the club would be better off without Union Boys ECNL. Brave was/is a lost cause no mater what. Let them die and preserve what we have. Sometimes the best thing is to do nothing. Instead they panicked. Given the current outcome of Boys coaches leaving I'm 100% sure the parents would rather have kept their coaches over the league status. The problem is that MYS leadership didn't even bother to ask their members what THEY wanted. That is why they are upset with this merger. There was path forward for McLean to retain it's Girls ECNL program without causing such turmoil in the Boys program. LW and CW have destroyed the legacy that was McLean. Nobody is going to recognize this club in the coming years.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VA Unions Girls 2025 Commits so far:

(MULTIPLE) UVA (ACC)
Florida State (ACC)
GEORGIA (SEC)
UCLA (BIG 10)
Penn State (BIG 10)
Wisconsin (BIG 10)
Maryland (BIG 10)
GEORGE MASON

I'm sure there are more. The point is that's a ton even compared to some of the top ECNL clubs in the country

The phrase, "You couldn't pay me to go these schools," literally applies, except for one on the list that offered to do so. Let's just be clear about this: which ones are the recruits who could not have gotten these offers if they had played for a different coach or club? Are you one of the parents saying that these kids were not good enough to get these offers on their own (I certainly hope not)? Or are you one of the coaches who is trying to take the credit?

Just stop posting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm somewhat puzzled. I was under the impression that the merger occurred primarily due to McLean's lackluster performance over time. Given its location, McLean should have had access to a good talent pool, and the talent from SYC didn't seem to benefit the Union boys much. So, why would they retain coaches from McLean then?

The boys side both clubs suck.

The girls side McLean is better and has a long standing history of competitive and placement success.

They both suck on both the boys and girls side. If the playoff qualifications ended today, one Mclean girls and one Fairfax Brave girls teams would make it. That is it.

IF (they still have 2 more games left)

That's inaccurate. Multiple McLean girls' teams have qualified for playoffs. The last few games will determine how many go to champion's league playoffs. At this point, the 10s, 08s, 07s are definitely going to playoffs -- remaining games will determine level. The 11s still have a chance because they have about 11 games left to play; they are in 7th place and the top 5 go to playoffs. That only leaves the 09s (7th place and only top 5 go; still have 2 games to play) and the 06s (they are in 3rd and only top finisher from MA goes to playoffs for U18). Compare to Brave....

"Playoffs" are for the top 5 teams in the MA. The 08s (7th place) and the 07s (6th place) are currently sitting outside of "playoffs". They should both get at least a post-season showcase, and the 07s will likely end up top 5. The 08s haven't actually clinched a showcase yet -- they still need to win OR tie 1 of their last 2 games, or Arlington could take a spot.

Anonymous wrote:VA Unions Girls 2025 Commits so far:

(MULTIPLE) UVA (ACC)
Florida State (ACC)
GEORGIA (SEC)
UCLA (BIG 10)
Penn State (BIG 10)
Wisconsin (BIG 10)
Maryland (BIG 10)
GEORGE MASON

I'm sure there are more. The point is that's a ton even compared to some of the top ECNL clubs in the country

The phrase, "You couldn't pay me to go these schools," literally applies, except for one on the list that offered to do so. Let's just be clear about this: which ones are the recruits who could not have gotten these offers if they had played for a different coach or club? Are you one of the parents saying that these kids were not good enough to get these offers on their own (I certainly hope not)? Or are you one of the coaches who is trying to take the credit?

Now that everything has been publicly released, this thread is irrelevant. Thank you to all my co-authors that have joined me over the last few days reminiscing about our past and in some cases future.

I leave you with this last thought. Do it for the children! You had your day and now it's time to sit back and relax.

barf

VA Unions Girls 2025 Commits so far:

(MULTIPLE) UVA (ACC)
Florida State (ACC)
GEORGIA (SEC)
UCLA (BIG 10)
Penn State (BIG 10)
Wisconsin (BIG 10)
Maryland (BIG 10)
GEORGE MASON

I'm sure there are more. The point is that's a ton even compared to some of the top ECNL clubs in the country

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm somewhat puzzled. I was under the impression that the merger occurred primarily due to McLean's lackluster performance over time. Given its location, McLean should have had access to a good talent pool, and the talent from SYC didn't seem to benefit the Union boys much. So, why would they retain coaches from McLean then?

The boys side both clubs suck.

The girls side McLean is better and has a long standing history of competitive and placement success.

I wholeheartedly disagree with the comment that, "the boys side both clubs suck" in reference to coaching. My family has had players registered with MYS since 2009. Most clubs have a few "duds," coaches who disappoint. But overall, MYS coaches have not disappointed. To the contrary, they've consistently demonstrated professionalism and a commitment to their players. Talent pool is another topic. Lets not confuse the two. The opportunities for boys to play college soccer (on scholarship) differs drastically compared to opportunities for girls. So is it possible that many parents of male youth soccer players in this area (where traffic frequently sucks) just aren't willing to spend money and time commuting for an ECNL experience that ultimately won't lead to a college scholarship for their sons? There are cheaper other opportunities for youth boys to play a similar level of soccer (as most of the local boys ECNL teams) in the DC Metro area.

The boys side of both clubs suck in regards to results. And the results are why ECNL stepped in in the first place.

Your experience sounds fine but ECNL doesn’t see things the same way regarding either club.

And combining two underperforming clubs together while creating upheaval in your coaching staff is a recipe for success?? Club leadership lacks a backbone when dealing with the league and now they can just push us around when this fails (which it will). Less than 1% of these kids have a chance of playing in college. All this shuffling around doesn't change the outcome. What should matter is the experience we provide to the majority of the players. That's what lost in all this crap. Finding a good coach that can impact your kids life is what parents want. The hyper competitive "ELITE" BS that is marketed only helps a select handful. The parent above is right. McLean was fine on the boys side with the coaching staff and progress was being made. Why let the league tell you how to determine what's best for your own kids. This merger is hurting more kids than is helping and that is a fact. We forget the role of the clubs isn't just to appeal to the 1%.

Thank you - +10000 % agree!

If less than 1% of the kids from an ECNL club isn't committing to playing in college, then that program should get blown up.