Anonymous wrote:I have a 2016, so I want to understand more about the landscape.
1) So clubs assume kids on their first team to take supplemental training elsewhere to earn the spot, besides 4days team trains on games on weekends? So basically club soccer is 5day training?
2) will coach ever talk to parents about where /which areas they want the kid to develop/improve?
3) specifically for pa1, what does AK do during team practice to develop kids?
4) earlier post said some other teams/clubs develop players, what are they for 2016?

Thx!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2016 pa1 get two from pa2, don’t they?

I’m talking about girl side. How is girl’s 2016 pa1? Does it struggle or thrive this year so far?

they are middling in the standings, but are playing up a year. 4-6 kids on the team although identified as pa1 level pre-season, are just not - which is not a knock on them, but just reality. so it's not surprising to hear complaints that now there are more guest players than the fall.

so what are you saying? if you get picked for PA1 but half way into the fall the club/coach decides you are not on the level they will just bring in guest players and your kid gets to ride the bench for most of the time the rest of the year? what kind of shit show is this? who are the morons choosing kids for teams where they decide up to 6 kids are not on the level so they will just bring other players and they can ride the bench!?! why would any parent put up with that? what a complete disaster and for what so the club/coach and win a couple of meaningless ncsl league games which they don't seem to be winning anyways for the most part

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Arlington’s problem may be that it is simply too big to manage. The same club that you want to succeed in ECNL is weighed down by its desire to field six teams at every age group. FVU and VDA specialize in just the top layer. Arlington ECNL can never be great because it always wants to be everything to everyone. It’s more a community association not a soccer academy.

New soccer mom here: my son plays ADP (I’d say he’s the 3rd best player on his team) and I didn’t let him try out for U9 travel this year because, frankly, it’s a lot of money for something I don’t really understand.

WHY does Arlington have 6 travel teams for each age and gender? That seems to imply they’ll take almost anyone willing to play—it doesn’t seem like the kids who make travel (particularly the lower level teams) are great players.

From reading this board, it seems like little kid travel is a road to nowhere. But my kid loves soccer and wants to play travel, so please tell me what I’m missing, beyond travel having one more practice each week and participation in tournaments.

Just so you know, it’s extremely difficult to make even the lowest team for boys when going from ADP to Arlington travel. The easiest way to get on a team is at that U9 stage. My son played ADP and tried out for travel before moving on to other sports and we were shocked at how many kids came to tryouts. My son’s a good athlete and has had no problem making other travel level teams in other sports, but he did not have the ball skills of other kids at that age that had been playing serious soccer for several years already. No one from his ADP team made it that year. This was heading into an U11 year.

Yep. Someone outed this above. ADP is a total sham money grab and just further dilutes the rec option.

I'm definitely not under the illusion that ADP is a pathway to travel, however ADP has been a good middle ground for us. My son really loves soccer but he's not the strongest player. The uneven experience in red (with some pretty insane volunteer coaches and kids who didn't want to be there) was enough for us to look to ADP. He likes that ADP attracts more kids who seem to really love soccer / want to improve, even if it's not world class training. As parents, we like that the focus is on playing, not winning. I agree that the training could be better for the cost, but even still, the cost is worth it for us as a step above rec and with the commitment of travel.

NP - I feel the same way about ADP.

I agree with you but problem is it stops at end of elementary school. So you either return to rec or stop playing and if more of these kids had stayed in rec from the beginning, rec would to be a more viable option and program.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Arlington’s problem may be that it is simply too big to manage. The same club that you want to succeed in ECNL is weighed down by its desire to field six teams at every age group. FVU and VDA specialize in just the top layer. Arlington ECNL can never be great because it always wants to be everything to everyone. It’s more a community association not a soccer academy.

New soccer mom here: my son plays ADP (I’d say he’s the 3rd best player on his team) and I didn’t let him try out for U9 travel this year because, frankly, it’s a lot of money for something I don’t really understand.

WHY does Arlington have 6 travel teams for each age and gender? That seems to imply they’ll take almost anyone willing to play—it doesn’t seem like the kids who make travel (particularly the lower level teams) are great players.

From reading this board, it seems like little kid travel is a road to nowhere. But my kid loves soccer and wants to play travel, so please tell me what I’m missing, beyond travel having one more practice each week and participation in tournaments.

Just so you know, it’s extremely difficult to make even the lowest team for boys when going from ADP to Arlington travel. The easiest way to get on a team is at that U9 stage. My son played ADP and tried out for travel before moving on to other sports and we were shocked at how many kids came to tryouts. My son’s a good athlete and has had no problem making other travel level teams in other sports, but he did not have the ball skills of other kids at that age that had been playing serious soccer for several years already. No one from his ADP team made it that year. This was heading into an U11 year.

Yep. Someone outed this above. ADP is a total sham money grab and just further dilutes the rec option.

Anonymous wrote:Does anybody know what the waitlist means? What are the chances of getting placed on a travel team? Are they selecting players by evaluating the most competitive team first (Red) and then moving down from there? Any info would be appreciated.

Anonymous wrote:Anyone get off a waitlist?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Arlington’s problem may be that it is simply too big to manage. The same club that you want to succeed in ECNL is weighed down by its desire to field six teams at every age group. FVU and VDA specialize in just the top layer. Arlington ECNL can never be great because it always wants to be everything to everyone. It’s more a community association not a soccer academy.

New soccer mom here: my son plays ADP (I’d say he’s the 3rd best player on his team) and I didn’t let him try out for U9 travel this year because, frankly, it’s a lot of money for something I don’t really understand.

WHY does Arlington have 6 travel teams for each age and gender? That seems to imply they’ll take almost anyone willing to play—it doesn’t seem like the kids who make travel (particularly the lower level teams) are great players.

From reading this board, it seems like little kid travel is a road to nowhere. But my kid loves soccer and wants to play travel, so please tell me what I’m missing, beyond travel having one more practice each week and participation in tournaments.

Just so you know, it’s extremely difficult to make even the lowest team for boys when going from ADP to Arlington travel. The easiest way to get on a team is at that U9 stage. My son played ADP and tried out for travel before moving on to other sports and we were shocked at how many kids came to tryouts. My son’s a good athlete and has had no problem making other travel level teams in other sports, but he did not have the ball skills of other kids at that age that had been playing serious soccer for several years already. No one from his ADP team made it that year. This was heading into an U11 year.

Yep. Someone outed this above. ADP is a total sham money grab and just further dilutes the rec option.

I'm definitely not under the illusion that ADP is a pathway to travel, however ADP has been a good middle ground for us. My son really loves soccer but he's not the strongest player. The uneven experience in red (with some pretty insane volunteer coaches and kids who didn't want to be there) was enough for us to look to ADP. He likes that ADP attracts more kids who seem to really love soccer / want to improve, even if it's not world class training. As parents, we like that the focus is on playing, not winning. I agree that the training could be better for the cost, but even still, the cost is worth it for us as a step above rec and with the commitment of travel.

NP - I feel the same way about ADP.

I agree with you but problem is it stops at end of elementary school. So you either return to rec or stop playing and if more of these kids had stayed in rec from the beginning, rec would to be a more viable option and program.

They also play it up as some pathway to travel which is not exactly an outright lie but is grossly misleading.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Arlington’s problem may be that it is simply too big to manage. The same club that you want to succeed in ECNL is weighed down by its desire to field six teams at every age group. FVU and VDA specialize in just the top layer. Arlington ECNL can never be great because it always wants to be everything to everyone. It’s more a community association not a soccer academy.

New soccer mom here: my son plays ADP (I’d say he’s the 3rd best player on his team) and I didn’t let him try out for U9 travel this year because, frankly, it’s a lot of money for something I don’t really understand.

WHY does Arlington have 6 travel teams for each age and gender? That seems to imply they’ll take almost anyone willing to play—it doesn’t seem like the kids who make travel (particularly the lower level teams) are great players.

From reading this board, it seems like little kid travel is a road to nowhere. But my kid loves soccer and wants to play travel, so please tell me what I’m missing, beyond travel having one more practice each week and participation in tournaments.

Just so you know, it’s extremely difficult to make even the lowest team for boys when going from ADP to Arlington travel. The easiest way to get on a team is at that U9 stage. My son played ADP and tried out for travel before moving on to other sports and we were shocked at how many kids came to tryouts. My son’s a good athlete and has had no problem making other travel level teams in other sports, but he did not have the ball skills of other kids at that age that had been playing serious soccer for several years already. No one from his ADP team made it that year. This was heading into an U11 year.

Yep. Someone outed this above. ADP is a total sham money grab and just further dilutes the rec option.

I'm definitely not under the illusion that ADP is a pathway to travel, however ADP has been a good middle ground for us. My son really loves soccer but he's not the strongest player. The uneven experience in red (with some pretty insane volunteer coaches and kids who didn't want to be there) was enough for us to look to ADP. He likes that ADP attracts more kids who seem to really love soccer / want to improve, even if it's not world class training. As parents, we like that the focus is on playing, not winning. I agree that the training could be better for the cost, but even still, the cost is worth it for us as a step above rec and with the commitment of travel.

NP - I feel the same way about ADP.

I agree with you but problem is it stops at end of elementary school. So you either return to rec or stop playing and if more of these kids had stayed in rec from the beginning, rec would to be a more viable option and program.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Arlington’s problem may be that it is simply too big to manage. The same club that you want to succeed in ECNL is weighed down by its desire to field six teams at every age group. FVU and VDA specialize in just the top layer. Arlington ECNL can never be great because it always wants to be everything to everyone. It’s more a community association not a soccer academy.

New soccer mom here: my son plays ADP (I’d say he’s the 3rd best player on his team) and I didn’t let him try out for U9 travel this year because, frankly, it’s a lot of money for something I don’t really understand.

WHY does Arlington have 6 travel teams for each age and gender? That seems to imply they’ll take almost anyone willing to play—it doesn’t seem like the kids who make travel (particularly the lower level teams) are great players.

From reading this board, it seems like little kid travel is a road to nowhere. But my kid loves soccer and wants to play travel, so please tell me what I’m missing, beyond travel having one more practice each week and participation in tournaments.

Just so you know, it’s extremely difficult to make even the lowest team for boys when going from ADP to Arlington travel. The easiest way to get on a team is at that U9 stage. My son played ADP and tried out for travel before moving on to other sports and we were shocked at how many kids came to tryouts. My son’s a good athlete and has had no problem making other travel level teams in other sports, but he did not have the ball skills of other kids at that age that had been playing serious soccer for several years already. No one from his ADP team made it that year. This was heading into an U11 year.

Yep. Someone outed this above. ADP is a total sham money grab and just further dilutes the rec option.

I'm definitely not under the illusion that ADP is a pathway to travel, however ADP has been a good middle ground for us. My son really loves soccer but he's not the strongest player. The uneven experience in red (with some pretty insane volunteer coaches and kids who didn't want to be there) was enough for us to look to ADP. He likes that ADP attracts more kids who seem to really love soccer / want to improve, even if it's not world class training. As parents, we like that the focus is on playing, not winning. I agree that the training could be better for the cost, but even still, the cost is worth it for us as a step above rec and with the commitment of travel.

NP - I feel the same way about ADP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are good enough they are not going to hold you back in PA2 or Red. Problem is everyone thinks their kid is better than they actually are. Just because you were on a top team from 9 to 12 doesn't mean there are not other players that have gotten better than your kid or your kid stop progressing. This is perfectly normal but everyone feels entitled because they were on top team and spent all that money. Socker...Everyone is spending the same money to play.

This is my read of the situation, too. Parents think their kid is way better than they actually are and blame coaches / club / the system on why they aren't advancing instead of realizing other kids are just better.

It’s also a real unique aspect this year of the age change. I gathered a lot of the 2016 “guests” were really 2015s who are now making that team.

People may not like the outcome but my sense from talking to people is they were well ahead in timing of how other clubs were in terms of “bad news” to their own families about kids making it or not for next season.

LOL yes they started instilling seeds of panic amongst players & parents in January, announced a whole complicated program of age group scrimmages that got cancelled due to weather and never rescheduled, wound up leaving kids on teams who were told they’d be moved down, and moving down kids who were told they’d be remaining on the same team. Soooooo they were ahead in causing extra stress, being dishonest, and in terms of poor quality of communication?? I always heard Arlington was disorganized but people have complaints about all clubs so chalked it up to noise. That was a mistake - it really is spectacularly poorly run.

So I guess offers for black and blue have gone out?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are good enough they are not going to hold you back in PA2 or Red. Problem is everyone thinks their kid is better than they actually are. Just because you were on a top team from 9 to 12 doesn't mean there are not other players that have gotten better than your kid or your kid stop progressing. This is perfectly normal but everyone feels entitled because they were on top team and spent all that money. Socker...Everyone is spending the same money to play.

This is my read of the situation, too. Parents think their kid is way better than they actually are and blame coaches / club / the system on why they aren't advancing instead of realizing other kids are just better.

It’s also a real unique aspect this year of the age change. I gathered a lot of the 2016 “guests” were really 2015s who are now making that team.

People may not like the outcome but my sense from talking to people is they were well ahead in timing of how other clubs were in terms of “bad news” to their own families about kids making it or not for next season.

LOL yes they started instilling seeds of panic amongst players & parents in January, announced a whole complicated program of age group scrimmages that got cancelled due to weather and never rescheduled, wound up leaving kids on teams who were told they’d be moved down, and moving down kids who were told they’d be remaining on the same team. Soooooo they were ahead in causing extra stress, being dishonest, and in terms of poor quality of communication?? I always heard Arlington was disorganized but people have complaints about all clubs so chalked it up to noise. That was a mistake - it really is spectacularly poorly run.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Arlington’s problem may be that it is simply too big to manage. The same club that you want to succeed in ECNL is weighed down by its desire to field six teams at every age group. FVU and VDA specialize in just the top layer. Arlington ECNL can never be great because it always wants to be everything to everyone. It’s more a community association not a soccer academy.

New soccer mom here: my son plays ADP (I’d say he’s the 3rd best player on his team) and I didn’t let him try out for U9 travel this year because, frankly, it’s a lot of money for something I don’t really understand.

WHY does Arlington have 6 travel teams for each age and gender? That seems to imply they’ll take almost anyone willing to play—it doesn’t seem like the kids who make travel (particularly the lower level teams) are great players.

From reading this board, it seems like little kid travel is a road to nowhere. But my kid loves soccer and wants to play travel, so please tell me what I’m missing, beyond travel having one more practice each week and participation in tournaments.

Just so you know, it’s extremely difficult to make even the lowest team for boys when going from ADP to Arlington travel. The easiest way to get on a team is at that U9 stage. My son played ADP and tried out for travel before moving on to other sports and we were shocked at how many kids came to tryouts. My son’s a good athlete and has had no problem making other travel level teams in other sports, but he did not have the ball skills of other kids at that age that had been playing serious soccer for several years already. No one from his ADP team made it that year. This was heading into an U11 year.

Yep. Someone outed this above. ADP is a total sham money grab and just further dilutes the rec option.

I'm definitely not under the illusion that ADP is a pathway to travel, however ADP has been a good middle ground for us. My son really loves soccer but he's not the strongest player. The uneven experience in red (with some pretty insane volunteer coaches and kids who didn't want to be there) was enough for us to look to ADP. He likes that ADP attracts more kids who seem to really love soccer / want to improve, even if it's not world class training. As parents, we like that the focus is on playing, not winning. I agree that the training could be better for the cost, but even still, the cost is worth it for us as a step above rec and with the commitment of travel.