Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A couple years ago, the conventional wisdom on this board was that you could move from NL team to another (or top MLSN division) or you could move down. But the attitude was coaches wouldn’t promote you to the top team internally because they didn’t trust that you could adjust to the speed/quality of play if you weren’t on a top team to begin with. And they’d rather take another top team’s cast-offs than risk an internal promotion not being able to handle it. Top team or bust, especially for U13+ was always the message here. Not sure why Arlington is getting picked on here.

Wouldn’t say picked on but Arlington is the only club with NL and RL so there is more expectation from RL parents to have their DD promoted.
What they don’t realize is the NL teams are essentially a separate organization at Arlington. RL players aren’t guesting with NL teams or even practicing with them. NL teams practice together. RL teams practice on whichever night works for the coach. NL teams scrimmage NL teams. RL teams scrimmage whoever happens to sharing the field which is often a “lower” team.

This is spot on. It really is a separate organization. I think Arlington does a great job with a lot of things- but the RL to NL movement and opportunities are a huge weak spot. I have no idea if the top RL kids are good enough- but the issue is Arlington NL has no idea either because they refuse to take a serious look. Frustrating for all RL families.

Why is it frustrating? It is well known that minimal if any RL kids move up. The RL structure (number of practices and intensity) is less than ECNL/GA. Why would Arlington want to pull up girls who aren’t training as much?

Um, because they would gladly do more intense and more trainings if given the chance. Your little darling was given a chance at one point. Others deserve the same chance.

I agree. The 1st team scrimmages/ training is a lot more intense. An iron sharpens iron kind of system. The 2nd team, while full of potential, has no great players, a less intense coach and less intense practice. They play against less demanding opposition, which all leads to less developed players. Every time we play the 1st team or see them scrimmage, it is apparent how much better they are and they seem to be getting better while the 2nd team relies on natural athleticism, but he skill level/ technical ability just plateaus. It's tough on the 2nd team as it's hard to improve once you are there and early rarely will a player be invited up. If they are, we have only seen that is because one of the 1st team payers is hurt and they need someone to fill a certain position.

It's ok, but the OP is correct, the movement between a 2nd team to a 1st team is slow/ super hard. All the while the club coaches are saying your kid will get great development on the 2nd team...when that is often not the case.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A couple years ago, the conventional wisdom on this board was that you could move from NL team to another (or top MLSN division) or you could move down. But the attitude was coaches wouldn’t promote you to the top team internally because they didn’t trust that you could adjust to the speed/quality of play if you weren’t on a top team to begin with. And they’d rather take another top team’s cast-offs than risk an internal promotion not being able to handle it. Top team or bust, especially for U13+ was always the message here. Not sure why Arlington is getting picked on here.

Wouldn’t say picked on but Arlington is the only club with NL and RL so there is more expectation from RL parents to have their DD promoted.
What they don’t realize is the NL teams are essentially a separate organization at Arlington. RL players aren’t guesting with NL teams or even practicing with them. NL teams practice together. RL teams practice on whichever night works for the coach. NL teams scrimmage NL teams. RL teams scrimmage whoever happens to sharing the field which is often a “lower” team.

This is spot on. It really is a separate organization. I think Arlington does a great job with a lot of things- but the RL to NL movement and opportunities are a huge weak spot. I have no idea if the top RL kids are good enough- but the issue is Arlington NL has no idea either because they refuse to take a serious look. Frustrating for all RL families.

Why is it frustrating? It is well known that minimal if any RL kids move up. The RL structure (number of practices and intensity) is less than ECNL/GA. Why would Arlington want to pull up girls who aren’t training as much?

Um, because they would gladly do more intense and more trainings if given the chance. Your little darling was given a chance at one point. Others deserve the same chance.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A couple years ago, the conventional wisdom on this board was that you could move from NL team to another (or top MLSN division) or you could move down. But the attitude was coaches wouldn’t promote you to the top team internally because they didn’t trust that you could adjust to the speed/quality of play if you weren’t on a top team to begin with. And they’d rather take another top team’s cast-offs than risk an internal promotion not being able to handle it. Top team or bust, especially for U13+ was always the message here. Not sure why Arlington is getting picked on here.

Wouldn’t say picked on but Arlington is the only club with NL and RL so there is more expectation from RL parents to have their DD promoted.
What they don’t realize is the NL teams are essentially a separate organization at Arlington. RL players aren’t guesting with NL teams or even practicing with them. NL teams practice together. RL teams practice on whichever night works for the coach. NL teams scrimmage NL teams. RL teams scrimmage whoever happens to sharing the field which is often a “lower” team.

This is so inaccurate. With those RL parents came on her to say their DD get to practice with NL. Some came several times throughout the year. And NL and RL scrimmage each other although you should ask those RL kids/ parents if they actually want to scrimmage NL teams.

If you have no idea these are happening it means your kids aren’t selected.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A couple years ago, the conventional wisdom on this board was that you could move from NL team to another (or top MLSN division) or you could move down. But the attitude was coaches wouldn’t promote you to the top team internally because they didn’t trust that you could adjust to the speed/quality of play if you weren’t on a top team to begin with. And they’d rather take another top team’s cast-offs than risk an internal promotion not being able to handle it. Top team or bust, especially for U13+ was always the message here. Not sure why Arlington is getting picked on here.

Wouldn’t say picked on but Arlington is the only club with NL and RL so there is more expectation from RL parents to have their DD promoted.
What they don’t realize is the NL teams are essentially a separate organization at Arlington. RL players aren’t guesting with NL teams or even practicing with them. NL teams practice together. RL teams practice on whichever night works for the coach. NL teams scrimmage NL teams. RL teams scrimmage whoever happens to sharing the field which is often a “lower” team.

This is spot on. It really is a separate organization. I think Arlington does a great job with a lot of things- but the RL to NL movement and opportunities are a huge weak spot. I have no idea if the top RL kids are good enough- but the issue is Arlington NL has no idea either because they refuse to take a serious look. Frustrating for all RL families.

Why is it frustrating? It is well known that minimal if any RL kids move up. The RL structure (number of practices and intensity) is less than ECNL/GA. Why would Arlington want to pull up girls who aren’t training as much?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A couple years ago, the conventional wisdom on this board was that you could move from NL team to another (or top MLSN division) or you could move down. But the attitude was coaches wouldn’t promote you to the top team internally because they didn’t trust that you could adjust to the speed/quality of play if you weren’t on a top team to begin with. And they’d rather take another top team’s cast-offs than risk an internal promotion not being able to handle it. Top team or bust, especially for U13+ was always the message here. Not sure why Arlington is getting picked on here.

Wouldn’t say picked on but Arlington is the only club with NL and RL so there is more expectation from RL parents to have their DD promoted.
What they don’t realize is the NL teams are essentially a separate organization at Arlington. RL players aren’t guesting with NL teams or even practicing with them. NL teams practice together. RL teams practice on whichever night works for the coach. NL teams scrimmage NL teams. RL teams scrimmage whoever happens to sharing the field which is often a “lower” team.

This is spot on. It really is a separate organization. I think Arlington does a great job with a lot of things- but the RL to NL movement and opportunities are a huge weak spot. I have no idea if the top RL kids are good enough- but the issue is Arlington NL has no idea either because they refuse to take a serious look. Frustrating for all RL families.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:on all their million teams they only moved up 3 kids?

Out of 6 ECNL teams - that doesn’t seem so bad. Likely most kids in the older age group probably don’t get much movement at that point.

What do you mean, 6? U13, u14, u15, u16, u17-18? boys and girls= at least 10

6 teams on girls side at the RL level. U13, U14, U15, U16, U17, U19

Did someone say they were only talking about girls teams? that would be 12 total teams, including boys. And 3 kids total moved up.

NP - they didn’t say either way and the PP was being conservative by assuming it was one gender. PP’s point holds either way.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:on all their million teams they only moved up 3 kids?

Out of 6 ECNL teams - that doesn’t seem so bad. Likely most kids in the older age group probably don’t get much movement at that point.

What do you mean, 6? U13, u14, u15, u16, u17-18? boys and girls= at least 10

6 teams on girls side at the RL level. U13, U14, U15, U16, U17, U19

Did someone say they were only talking about girls teams? that would be 12 total teams, including boys. And 3 kids total moved up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:on all their million teams they only moved up 3 kids?

Out of 6 ECNL teams - that doesn’t seem so bad. Likely most kids in the older age group probably don’t get much movement at that point.

What do you mean, 6? U13, u14, u15, u16, u17-18? boys and girls= at least 10

6 teams on girls side at the RL level. U13, U14, U15, U16, U17, U19

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:on all their million teams they only moved up 3 kids?

Out of 6 ECNL teams - that doesn’t seem so bad. Likely most kids in the older age group probably don’t get much movement at that point.

What do you mean, 6? U13, u14, u15, u16, u17-18? boys and girls= at least 10

Anonymous wrote:A couple years ago, the conventional wisdom on this board was that you could move from NL team to another (or top MLSN division) or you could move down. But the attitude was coaches wouldn’t promote you to the top team internally because they didn’t trust that you could adjust to the speed/quality of play if you weren’t on a top team to begin with. And they’d rather take another top team’s cast-offs than risk an internal promotion not being able to handle it. Top team or bust, especially for U13+ was always the message here. Not sure why Arlington is getting picked on here.

Wouldn’t say picked on but Arlington is the only club with NL and RL so there is more expectation from RL parents to have their DD promoted.
What they don’t realize is the NL teams are essentially a separate organization at Arlington. RL players aren’t guesting with NL teams or even practicing with them. NL teams practice together. RL teams practice on whichever night works for the coach. NL teams scrimmage NL teams. RL teams scrimmage whoever happens to sharing the field which is often a “lower” team.

Anonymous wrote:on all their million teams they only moved up 3 kids?

Out of 6 ECNL teams - that doesn’t seem so bad. Likely most kids in the older age group probably don’t get much movement at that point.

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think this is being picked up. I believe it’s entirely reasonable to ask Arlington-specific questions in the Arlington thread.

Huh?

I don’t think this is being picked up. I believe it’s entirely reasonable to ask Arlington-specific questions in the Arlington thread.

A couple years ago, the conventional wisdom on this board was that you could move from NL team to another (or top MLSN division) or you could move down. But the attitude was coaches wouldn’t promote you to the top team internally because they didn’t trust that you could adjust to the speed/quality of play if you weren’t on a top team to begin with. And they’d rather take another top team’s cast-offs than risk an internal promotion not being able to handle it. Top team or bust, especially for U13+ was always the message here. Not sure why Arlington is getting picked on here.

We moved to Arlington a few seasons ago for a great coach, and early on it felt like a true development environment, with several players moving up from RL to NL.
More recently, however, the pattern seems to have shifted—players are progressing into RL from within the club, but then remaining there, with no upward movement beyond that. This makes us wonder whether the issue is with player development, or if the pathway effectively stops at RL rather than supporting continued progression within the club.
While we don’t have full visibility across all age groups, we’ve heard enough consistent feedback from others to suggest this may be a broader pattern. We hope we’re mistaken…