16 is plenty to run a season with. Leaving two spots keeps things open for players seeking opportunity.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CW ran the formations LO told him to use.

So LO told him to use the formation that Union uses but not Brave?

Yep — Union’s regular formation last night. Most of the 2011 top players (union and braves) were in for very limited minutes because they already have offers and have accepted (about 12 total). There were about 36 players there last night (including 5 GKs) — so the other 24 (of highly varying levels) were being looked at for 4-6 more spots. I think there were a half dozen players or more who were strong and together with those who are already been secured, will raise the overall level of the team.

This!!

I hope CW/LO keeps the roaster size to 18 so they are not playing musical chairs every weekend when the session starts. This is really not fair to the kids and parents. Also, there were a few external girls last night that deserve offers. For now, until the Bethesda, Pipeline and MD United tryouts are complete in Mid April, they need to keep the roaster at 15 and leave 3 or 4 open to see if there are some talent that would come from that direction.

Hoping this is merit based so folks do have to go through this again in a few years. This time there may not be any teams left to merge with.

So I haven't coached ECNL, but I imagine it would be a somewhat large risk to keep that many slots open until Mid-April given the current ECNL ID timelines. Do other teams do this?

Yes, heard Arlington 2011 made offers to 16 and keeping two slots open for this reason.

Is that for girls or boys?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CW ran the formations LO told him to use.

So LO told him to use the formation that Union uses but not Brave?

Yep — Union’s regular formation last night. Most of the 2011 top players (union and braves) were in for very limited minutes because they already have offers and have accepted (about 12 total). There were about 36 players there last night (including 5 GKs) — so the other 24 (of highly varying levels) were being looked at for 4-6 more spots. I think there were a half dozen players or more who were strong and together with those who are already been secured, will raise the overall level of the team.

This!!

I hope CW/LO keeps the roaster size to 18 so they are not playing musical chairs every weekend when the session starts. This is really not fair to the kids and parents. Also, there were a few external girls last night that deserve offers. For now, until the Bethesda, Pipeline and MD United tryouts are complete in Mid April, they need to keep the roaster at 15 and leave 3 or 4 open to see if there are some talent that would come from that direction.

Hoping this is merit based so folks do have to go through this again in a few years. This time there may not be any teams left to merge with.

So I haven't coached ECNL, but I imagine it would be a somewhat large risk to keep that many slots open until Mid-April given the current ECNL ID timelines. Do other teams do this?

One of the issues of the region is the MD ECNL can’t start their ID sessions until after April 1 (they are part of the North East conference for the girls and North East/South conference for boys). Northern VA clubs are part of the Mid Atlantic conference.

Bethesda and others have argued that this gives an unfair advantage to the NoVA clubs but I think it just adds to the chaos.

Holding a couple of spots open or considering double rostering a couple players with ECNL and ECNL-RL can give an ECNL team the opportunity to pick up MD players who decide it’s best to leave their club or move if it looks like they might be replaced as a starter. The double rostering might need to be resolved later (with players moving either direction). While the greater portion of all rosters should be clear by late this week or early next, there is the possibility of invites directly to practices for the first couple of weeks of April. (Which will just add to the tension among players who are not getting an ECNL offer for next year.)

Saga continues.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CW ran the formations LO told him to use.

So LO told him to use the formation that Union uses but not Brave?

Yep — Union’s regular formation last night. Most of the 2011 top players (union and braves) were in for very limited minutes because they already have offers and have accepted (about 12 total). There were about 36 players there last night (including 5 GKs) — so the other 24 (of highly varying levels) were being looked at for 4-6 more spots. I think there were a half dozen players or more who were strong and together with those who are already been secured, will raise the overall level of the team.

This!!

I hope CW/LO keeps the roaster size to 18 so they are not playing musical chairs every weekend when the session starts. This is really not fair to the kids and parents. Also, there were a few external girls last night that deserve offers. For now, until the Bethesda, Pipeline and MD United tryouts are complete in Mid April, they need to keep the roaster at 15 and leave 3 or 4 open to see if there are some talent that would come from that direction.

Hoping this is merit based so folks do have to go through this again in a few years. This time there may not be any teams left to merge with.

So I haven't coached ECNL, but I imagine it would be a somewhat large risk to keep that many slots open until Mid-April given the current ECNL ID timelines. Do other teams do this?

Yes, heard Arlington 2011 made offers to 16 and keeping two slots open for this reason.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am sorry that some of you are going through this it is stressful and the merger made it worse. Coaches are not always supportive or communicative and things are not fair but I hope your kid finds a happy place to play the beautiful game.

You are a kind soul. If you are going though the same, wish you the same.

Get a room you two. Heard there is a JV soccer thread that needs your TLC

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CW ran the formations LO told him to use.

So LO told him to use the formation that Union uses but not Brave?

Yep — Union’s regular formation last night. Most of the 2011 top players (union and braves) were in for very limited minutes because they already have offers and have accepted (about 12 total). There were about 36 players there last night (including 5 GKs) — so the other 24 (of highly varying levels) were being looked at for 4-6 more spots. I think there were a half dozen players or more who were strong and together with those who are already been secured, will raise the overall level of the team.

This!!

I hope CW/LO keeps the roaster size to 18 so they are not playing musical chairs every weekend when the session starts. This is really not fair to the kids and parents. Also, there were a few external girls last night that deserve offers. For now, until the Bethesda, Pipeline and MD United tryouts are complete in Mid April, they need to keep the roaster at 15 and leave 3 or 4 open to see if there are some talent that would come from that direction.

Hoping this is merit based so folks do have to go through this again in a few years. This time there may not be any teams left to merge with.

So I haven't coached ECNL, but I imagine it would be a somewhat large risk to keep that many slots open until Mid-April given the current ECNL ID timelines. Do other teams do this?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It could have been stronger than before if they were building from strength to strength. The reality is they are not, so just cause you can't handle that truth doesn't make it misleading or misinformation. You're just coming off disinformed.

+1 (parent who's player is safe but questioning strength of team next year and leadership)

From what I know of the 11 or so 2011s who have received offers, they are a strong and talented group of players. Not sure how the rest of the roster will fill out but it looks promising so far. Next step will be building some team chemistry between the players (which may be easier than building chemistry between the parents given the discourse on this site).

Would have thought some of them would have followed their former coach DB over to NVA

I'm guessing some have, and it makes sense for a player to go where they think they have the best opportunity to play and with a coach they feel comfortable with. Although I don't know if it makes sense to drive from Mclean to Louduon during rush hour three days a week.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CW ran the formations LO told him to use.

So LO told him to use the formation that Union uses but not Brave?

Yep — Union’s regular formation last night. Most of the 2011 top players (union and braves) were in for very limited minutes because they already have offers and have accepted (about 12 total). There were about 36 players there last night (including 5 GKs) — so the other 24 (of highly varying levels) were being looked at for 4-6 more spots. I think there were a half dozen players or more who were strong and together with those who are already been secured, will raise the overall level of the team.

This!!

I hope CW/LO keeps the roaster size to 18 so they are not playing musical chairs every weekend when the session starts. This is really not fair to the kids and parents. Also, there were a few external girls last night that deserve offers. For now, until the Bethesda, Pipeline and MD United tryouts are complete in Mid April, they need to keep the roaster at 15 and leave 3 or 4 open to see if there are some talent that would come from that direction.

Hoping this is merit based so folks do have to go through this again in a few years. This time there may not be any teams left to merge with.

Anonymous wrote:I am sorry that some of you are going through this it is stressful and the merger made it worse. Coaches are not always supportive or communicative and things are not fair but I hope your kid finds a happy place to play the beautiful game.

Thank you very much. It’s pretty terrible.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:on my kid's team "family concerns" is the mouthy joysticking dad. I'll be happy to see him go

You mean mom. Nothing is worse than the mom who played, oh lawd!

Then you see them play (parents who played), and it is like they played in the 90's when Us soccer was rec level. Not a clue.

Anonymous wrote:I am sorry that some of you are going through this it is stressful and the merger made it worse. Coaches are not always supportive or communicative and things are not fair but I hope your kid finds a happy place to play the beautiful game.

You are a kind soul. If you are going though the same, wish you the same.

Anonymous wrote:09B ID was sparsely attended last night. Existing players jumping ship? Or maybe just lots of cuts?

Last two ID sessions have been invite only.

09B ID was sparsely attended last night. Existing players jumping ship? Or maybe just lots of cuts?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It could have been stronger than before if they were building from strength to strength. The reality is they are not, so just cause you can't handle that truth doesn't make it misleading or misinformation. You're just coming off disinformed.

+1 (parent who's player is safe but questioning strength of team next year and leadership)

From what I know of the 11 or so 2011s who have received offers, they are a strong and talented group of players. Not sure how the rest of the roster will fill out but it looks promising so far. Next step will be building some team chemistry between the players (which may be easier than building chemistry between the parents given the discourse on this site).

Would have thought some of them would have followed their former coach DB over to NVA

I am sorry that some of you are going through this it is stressful and the merger made it worse. Coaches are not always supportive or communicative and things are not fair but I hope your kid finds a happy place to play the beautiful game.