Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 12:49     Subject: Girls ID Season 26/27 Thread

My daughter really wants to play ECNL, and her goal is to reach the highest level she can. As a parent, I’m trying to figure out which club would be the better choice for her at the U13 level between VDA and ARL. Those are our only two options, and driving distance isn’t an issue for us.

Which club do you think would be the best fit for her?
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 12:49     Subject: Girls ID Season 26/27 Thread

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The clubs will recruit/lock in girls from outside the club first. Then they will decide who moves down from one team to the other. Last step will be offers to current players. It's going to be rough for the kids that get cut (pour one out for the whole VDA 2012 team, there might be 1 or 2 of them left) as they'll be scrambling around looking for a home in a week or two.


Why are young kids so quick to try and join super star teams? Every player will develop better with more opportunities at their home clubs and then they can come together at the recruiting ages.


Parent of littles here — what are the recruiting ages of girls?


10th Grade
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 12:48     Subject: Girls ID Season 26/27 Thread

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The clubs will recruit/lock in girls from outside the club first. Then they will decide who moves down from one team to the other. Last step will be offers to current players. It's going to be rough for the kids that get cut (pour one out for the whole VDA 2012 team, there might be 1 or 2 of them left) as they'll be scrambling around looking for a home in a week or two.


Why are young kids so quick to try and join super star teams? Every player will develop better with more opportunities at their home clubs and then they can come together at the recruiting ages.


Parent of littles here — what are the recruiting ages of girls?


DCUM posters mean high schoolers when talking about recruiting ages.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 12:44     Subject: Girls ID Season 26/27 Thread

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The clubs will recruit/lock in girls from outside the club first. Then they will decide who moves down from one team to the other. Last step will be offers to current players. It's going to be rough for the kids that get cut (pour one out for the whole VDA 2012 team, there might be 1 or 2 of them left) as they'll be scrambling around looking for a home in a week or two.


Why are young kids so quick to try and join super star teams? Every player will develop better with more opportunities at their home clubs and then they can come together at the recruiting ages.


Parent of littles here — what are the recruiting ages of girls?
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 12:39     Subject: Girls ID Season 26/27 Thread

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If my child joins VDA at the U13 level, does that increase her chances of staying with the club through U15?
I’m wondering if it’s easier to join now rather than trying to enter later during the high school ages.

Also, does VDA tend to keep current players year after year, giving returning players priority over new players?


Ask the current 12's who are probably very nervous right now.


The team that DCUM calls a rec team?
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 12:34     Subject: Girls ID Season 26/27 Thread

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You all realize the coaches know the names from signing up for IDs. Numerous girls are giving offers without showing up. I know one child has offers from every single team in area. If you kid doesn't have any other then there own club i suggest you don't bother.


This only happens at non-serious clubs. If this applies to you, then you are at a non-serious club. Serious clubs wiil recruit, yes, but they will also want to see how recruits will do in IDs against serious players, i.e, their own players. You can tell if your club is serious if they give offers to players before they see how they match up with potentials from IDs. If you are are a club that has already given offers, you are at a non-serious club. Serious clubs are not worried about their players moving, because serious clubs are the best at lace to be. Period. If you are at a club that has already given offers, you are at a club that doesn’t think better players want to join.


Lol this is not how it works. ID sessions don't mean much. At this point all the clubs in the area have given offers across all teams to their existing core players and those they want from outside. ID sessions might be to fill in couple holes and subs.


The superlatives are a bit much. All clubs, all teams. I know of an existing TOP player, not just core, who does not have an offer from their big club. Kid will get one. Club has no reason to rush.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 12:32     Subject: Girls ID Season 26/27 Thread

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is the start of the recruiting year, freshman year in HS it basically starts. Super teams, equals more exposure at big events.


Are there scouts really coming to u15 games at the showcases? And if you're on a super team don't your chances of getting ID selections go down? Arlington 2011's seem to have that problem of deserving kids not being selected because of the quotas each of the clubs seem to be given.


What quota's? Or is it really who and who they do not believe in? VDA doesn't seem to have a "Quota" problem


So GA teams getting invites for 2011 over additional Arl 2011 girls makes sense? Seems like a quota to me.


So you are making this about a GA vs ECNL? Those 2011 GA could easily make 2011 ECNL team. Just because a person is on an elite team does not make them an elite player.


I don't think that's true for Arl 2011 which is the example that was referenced. A few Arl 2011 players that didn't make the team this year moved onto GA teams and are their stronger players. This is not about GA vs ECNL but about the strength of teams and players on those teams. But if you believe GA teams have players that can easily make Arl 2011, you do you.




How many Arlington 2011 players started their soccer careers at Arlington? 5? 6?



5 or 6 is a good estimate. They’ve picked up players from syc, union, brave, McLean (a lot), etc over the years.

When Arlington 2011 picks up new players, it’s amazing.

When other clubs do, it’s poaching and recruiting and a lack of development.

Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 12:24     Subject: Girls ID Season 26/27 Thread

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You all realize the coaches know the names from signing up for IDs. Numerous girls are giving offers without showing up. I know one child has offers from every single team in area. If you kid doesn't have any other then there own club i suggest you don't bother.


This only happens at non-serious clubs. If this applies to you, then you are at a non-serious club. Serious clubs wiil recruit, yes, but they will also want to see how recruits will do in IDs against serious players, i.e, their own players. You can tell if your club is serious if they give offers to players before they see how they match up with potentials from IDs. If you are are a club that has already given offers, you are at a non-serious club. Serious clubs are not worried about their players moving, because serious clubs are the best at lace to be. Period. If you are at a club that has already given offers, you are at a club that doesn’t think better players want to join.


Lol this is not how it works. ID sessions don't mean much. At this point all the clubs in the area have given offers across all teams to their existing core players and those they want from outside. ID sessions might be to fill in couple holes and subs.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 12:16     Subject: Girls ID Season 26/27 Thread

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If my child joins VDA at the U13 level, does that increase her chances of staying with the club through U15?
I’m wondering if it’s easier to join now rather than trying to enter later during the high school ages.

Also, does VDA tend to keep current players year after year, giving returning players priority over new players?


DD’s high school age VDA has 21 players. 14 of them were at VDA from the beginning. 7 have been added from other clubs. There have been plenty of girls from other clubs that are with the team for a year or two and then get cut.

You’re better coming in early but if she’s elite, she’ll get on the team in high school too.


Things have changed a lot over the last few years. I don't think this will be the case as VDA gets more aggressive at recruiting in the younger ages moving forward. But as always, more landscape changes to come sooner than later as this is the only certainty in youth soccer.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 12:14     Subject: Girls ID Season 26/27 Thread

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is the start of the recruiting year, freshman year in HS it basically starts. Super teams, equals more exposure at big events.


Are there scouts really coming to u15 games at the showcases? And if you're on a super team don't your chances of getting ID selections go down? Arlington 2011's seem to have that problem of deserving kids not being selected because of the quotas each of the clubs seem to be given.


What quota's? Or is it really who and who they do not believe in? VDA doesn't seem to have a "Quota" problem


That's because BP has a dual role as a scout and club coach. He can guarantee invites in order to recruit. How do you think he got this whole ball rolling in the first place, because he's an amazing coach? Even with that, he cannot send as many as he wants.


BP scouts college. Youth coaches aren’t allowed to scout for youth ID centers/camps anymore. This change happened almost 3 years ago. Try and keep up!

EG touts herself as a big player in the YNT scene, talk to her.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 12:12     Subject: Girls ID Season 26/27 Thread

Anonymous wrote:If my child joins VDA at the U13 level, does that increase her chances of staying with the club through U15?
I’m wondering if it’s easier to join now rather than trying to enter later during the high school ages.

Also, does VDA tend to keep current players year after year, giving returning players priority over new players?


DD’s high school age VDA has 21 players. 14 of them were at VDA from the beginning. 7 have been added from other clubs. There have been plenty of girls from other clubs that are with the team for a year or two and then get cut.

You’re better coming in early but if she’s elite, she’ll get on the team in high school too.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 12:11     Subject: Girls ID Season 26/27 Thread

Anonymous wrote:If my child joins VDA at the U13 level, does that increase her chances of staying with the club through U15?
I’m wondering if it’s easier to join now rather than trying to enter later during the high school ages.

Also, does VDA tend to keep current players year after year, giving returning players priority over new players?

Realistically it probably lowers your chances of staying through U15, unless your child is really good. They'll get bored with your kid and be looking for the new shiny object to replace them. Again if your kid is really good, you may not have an issue.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 12:09     Subject: Girls ID Season 26/27 Thread

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is the start of the recruiting year, freshman year in HS it basically starts. Super teams, equals more exposure at big events.


Are there scouts really coming to u15 games at the showcases? And if you're on a super team don't your chances of getting ID selections go down? Arlington 2011's seem to have that problem of deserving kids not being selected because of the quotas each of the clubs seem to be given.


What quota's? Or is it really who and who they do not believe in? VDA doesn't seem to have a "Quota" problem


That's because BP has a dual role as a scout and club coach. He can guarantee invites in order to recruit. How do you think he got this whole ball rolling in the first place, because he's an amazing coach? Even with that, he cannot send as many as he wants.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 12:07     Subject: Girls ID Season 26/27 Thread

Anonymous wrote:If my child joins VDA at the U13 level, does that increase her chances of staying with the club through U15?
I’m wondering if it’s easier to join now rather than trying to enter later during the high school ages.

Also, does VDA tend to keep current players year after year, giving returning players priority over new players?


Play with your local club. Don’t get distracted by the VDA trolls who flood these forums and comment on every post. The landscape will shift and things are going to look very different in 2–3 years.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 12:06     Subject: Girls ID Season 26/27 Thread

Anonymous wrote:If my child joins VDA at the U13 level, does that increase her chances of staying with the club through U15?
I’m wondering if it’s easier to join now rather than trying to enter later during the high school ages.

Also, does VDA tend to keep current players year after year, giving returning players priority over new players?


Ask the current 12's who are probably very nervous right now.