Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Let me illiterate. My DD will soon be 10. She’s being approached to go to to ECNL CLUBS, what I guess is pre-ECNL. I feel it’s important to work hard and follow any dream. Dreams change and that’s ok. Best thing is to give them the tools and let them grow.

I do think it’s important not to be a “club hopper” and make bonds with teammates and coaches. I personally played a D1 sport, but never had to deal with ECNL, GA and so on. Times have changed.

Found out tonight the coach was an ECNL coach, and is well licensed.(not that makes a difference) He has relationships with college coaches. One parent has said he is a great coach and has done a lot for his older DD.

Is this doable. Can 1 coach start a team, make it his super team in hopes to start a non bias soccer club that focuses on player’s growth and ambitions? Has anyone experience or seen it happen?

She’s so young that what’s really important is that she’s in an environment that is challenging, fun, and rewarding. Maybe he can provide that, but words are just words. If you just listen to proposals and don’t actually get to let her experience what this next step might actually feel like to her, you could end up putting her into a position that will make her no longer enjoy what she’s doing.

See if this coach will let her come and train with one of his current teams if he’s currently coaching players her age or near her age. That way she can feel the environment out and how he runs his sessions. You can then also talk to parents on his team and their experiences.

He currently has no team. He’s working on getting a team built and registering the team in tournaments. The team will primarily do only tournaments.

He’s an ECNL coach but has no team? That just means he’s not an ECNL coach. Furthermore, ECNL has no requirements to coach a team other than the sham safe sport background check. So that doesn’t really mean anything. I would approach with caution.

He was an ECNL coach. My understanding is he left the stress of corporate ECNL. Right now his goal is to start a “super” team that can play up an age group at tournaments. More focus on ranking. 1 tournament a month, scrimmaging on other weekends. Incorporating a more European approach.

An item to consider on scrimmaging is that while this would be a 1 off team, the teams you're looking to scrimmage aren't and they're already playing in leagues and tournaments, so the availability is not likely to match up. That's before you consider existing clubs having most of the fields already permitted with the county and that refs are hard to come by these days. Logistically much of what you're being told is fairly difficult. Soccer coaches aren't known for their planning and administrative skills, so while much of what you're hearing sounds great, it would take a pretty special person to pull off all the coaching, planning, logistics, and recruiting side of this equation. The Eddie Johnson model someone mentioned on here works because it's in addition to their regular team at home. Those kids are already registered and carded with a team, they're paying for individual training and traveling to the facility on a semi-regular basis, and then the best of those kids whose parents are willing to travel with them take on established teams in big tournaments - all of which removes the logistics of field space, team scrimmages, league registration. It's a great model and the kids he trains are very talented, but it's a fairly different model than what it sounds like your kid is being recruited to join.

That's where the grand plan falls apart. Every decent field in any of the inner counties is already spoken for. This team will struggle to find anywhere to either practice or play

It also falls apart when it’s run by a coach nobody will hire.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Let me illiterate. My DD will soon be 10. She’s being approached to go to to ECNL CLUBS, what I guess is pre-ECNL. I feel it’s important to work hard and follow any dream. Dreams change and that’s ok. Best thing is to give them the tools and let them grow.

I do think it’s important not to be a “club hopper” and make bonds with teammates and coaches. I personally played a D1 sport, but never had to deal with ECNL, GA and so on. Times have changed.

Found out tonight the coach was an ECNL coach, and is well licensed.(not that makes a difference) He has relationships with college coaches. One parent has said he is a great coach and has done a lot for his older DD.

Is this doable. Can 1 coach start a team, make it his super team in hopes to start a non bias soccer club that focuses on player’s growth and ambitions? Has anyone experience or seen it happen?

She’s so young that what’s really important is that she’s in an environment that is challenging, fun, and rewarding. Maybe he can provide that, but words are just words. If you just listen to proposals and don’t actually get to let her experience what this next step might actually feel like to her, you could end up putting her into a position that will make her no longer enjoy what she’s doing.

See if this coach will let her come and train with one of his current teams if he’s currently coaching players her age or near her age. That way she can feel the environment out and how he runs his sessions. You can then also talk to parents on his team and their experiences.

He currently has no team. He’s working on getting a team built and registering the team in tournaments. The team will primarily do only tournaments.

He’s an ECNL coach but has no team? That just means he’s not an ECNL coach. Furthermore, ECNL has no requirements to coach a team other than the sham safe sport background check. So that doesn’t really mean anything. I would approach with caution.

He was an ECNL coach. My understanding is he left the stress of corporate ECNL. Right now his goal is to start a “super” team that can play up an age group at tournaments. More focus on ranking. 1 tournament a month, scrimmaging on other weekends. Incorporating a more European approach.

An item to consider on scrimmaging is that while this would be a 1 off team, the teams you're looking to scrimmage aren't and they're already playing in leagues and tournaments, so the availability is not likely to match up. That's before you consider existing clubs having most of the fields already permitted with the county and that refs are hard to come by these days. Logistically much of what you're being told is fairly difficult. Soccer coaches aren't known for their planning and administrative skills, so while much of what you're hearing sounds great, it would take a pretty special person to pull off all the coaching, planning, logistics, and recruiting side of this equation. The Eddie Johnson model someone mentioned on here works because it's in addition to their regular team at home. Those kids are already registered and carded with a team, they're paying for individual training and traveling to the facility on a semi-regular basis, and then the best of those kids whose parents are willing to travel with them take on established teams in big tournaments - all of which removes the logistics of field space, team scrimmages, league registration. It's a great model and the kids he trains are very talented, but it's a fairly different model than what it sounds like your kid is being recruited to join.

That's where the grand plan falls apart. Every decent field in any of the inner counties is already spoken for. This team will struggle to find anywhere to either practice or play

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Let me illiterate. My DD will soon be 10. She’s being approached to go to to ECNL CLUBS, what I guess is pre-ECNL. I feel it’s important to work hard and follow any dream. Dreams change and that’s ok. Best thing is to give them the tools and let them grow.

I do think it’s important not to be a “club hopper” and make bonds with teammates and coaches. I personally played a D1 sport, but never had to deal with ECNL, GA and so on. Times have changed.

Found out tonight the coach was an ECNL coach, and is well licensed.(not that makes a difference) He has relationships with college coaches. One parent has said he is a great coach and has done a lot for his older DD.

Is this doable. Can 1 coach start a team, make it his super team in hopes to start a non bias soccer club that focuses on player’s growth and ambitions? Has anyone experience or seen it happen?

She’s so young that what’s really important is that she’s in an environment that is challenging, fun, and rewarding. Maybe he can provide that, but words are just words. If you just listen to proposals and don’t actually get to let her experience what this next step might actually feel like to her, you could end up putting her into a position that will make her no longer enjoy what she’s doing.

See if this coach will let her come and train with one of his current teams if he’s currently coaching players her age or near her age. That way she can feel the environment out and how he runs his sessions. You can then also talk to parents on his team and their experiences.

He currently has no team. He’s working on getting a team built and registering the team in tournaments. The team will primarily do only tournaments.

He’s an ECNL coach but has no team? That just means he’s not an ECNL coach. Furthermore, ECNL has no requirements to coach a team other than the sham safe sport background check. So that doesn’t really mean anything. I would approach with caution.

He was an ECNL coach. My understanding is he left the stress of corporate ECNL. Right now his goal is to start a “super” team that can play up an age group at tournaments. More focus on ranking. 1 tournament a month, scrimmaging on other weekends. Incorporating a more European approach.

An item to consider on scrimmaging is that while this would be a 1 off team, the teams you're looking to scrimmage aren't and they're already playing in leagues and tournaments, so the availability is not likely to match up. That's before you consider existing clubs having most of the fields already permitted with the county and that refs are hard to come by these days. Logistically much of what you're being told is fairly difficult. Soccer coaches aren't known for their planning and administrative skills, so while much of what you're hearing sounds great, it would take a pretty special person to pull off all the coaching, planning, logistics, and recruiting side of this equation. The Eddie Johnson model someone mentioned on here works because it's in addition to their regular team at home. Those kids are already registered and carded with a team, they're paying for individual training and traveling to the facility on a semi-regular basis, and then the best of those kids whose parents are willing to travel with them take on established teams in big tournaments - all of which removes the logistics of field space, team scrimmages, league registration. It's a great model and the kids he trains are very talented, but it's a fairly different model than what it sounds like your kid is being recruited to join.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Let me illiterate. My DD will soon be 10. She’s being approached to go to to ECNL CLUBS, what I guess is pre-ECNL. I feel it’s important to work hard and follow any dream. Dreams change and that’s ok. Best thing is to give them the tools and let them grow.

I do think it’s important not to be a “club hopper” and make bonds with teammates and coaches. I personally played a D1 sport, but never had to deal with ECNL, GA and so on. Times have changed.

Found out tonight the coach was an ECNL coach, and is well licensed.(not that makes a difference) He has relationships with college coaches. One parent has said he is a great coach and has done a lot for his older DD.

Is this doable. Can 1 coach start a team, make it his super team in hopes to start a non bias soccer club that focuses on player’s growth and ambitions? Has anyone experience or seen it happen?

She’s so young that what’s really important is that she’s in an environment that is challenging, fun, and rewarding. Maybe he can provide that, but words are just words. If you just listen to proposals and don’t actually get to let her experience what this next step might actually feel like to her, you could end up putting her into a position that will make her no longer enjoy what she’s doing.

See if this coach will let her come and train with one of his current teams if he’s currently coaching players her age or near her age. That way she can feel the environment out and how he runs his sessions. You can then also talk to parents on his team and their experiences.

He currently has no team. He’s working on getting a team built and registering the team in tournaments. The team will primarily do only tournaments.

He’s an ECNL coach but has no team? That just means he’s not an ECNL coach. Furthermore, ECNL has no requirements to coach a team other than the sham safe sport background check. So that doesn’t really mean anything. I would approach with caution.

He was an ECNL coach. My understanding is he left the stress of corporate ECNL. Right now his goal is to start a “super” team that can play up an age group at tournaments. More focus on ranking. 1 tournament a month, scrimmaging on other weekends. Incorporating a more European approach.

Anyone who aims for ranking at U9 is a con man. An approach based on forming a U9 team with a focus on winning tournaments is as opposite from a European approach as you can possible get

#SYC

first club that came to mind when I read that comment too. Those guys are something else lol

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Let me illiterate. My DD will soon be 10. She’s being approached to go to to ECNL CLUBS, what I guess is pre-ECNL. I feel it’s important to work hard and follow any dream. Dreams change and that’s ok. Best thing is to give them the tools and let them grow.

I do think it’s important not to be a “club hopper” and make bonds with teammates and coaches. I personally played a D1 sport, but never had to deal with ECNL, GA and so on. Times have changed.

Found out tonight the coach was an ECNL coach, and is well licensed.(not that makes a difference) He has relationships with college coaches. One parent has said he is a great coach and has done a lot for his older DD.

Is this doable. Can 1 coach start a team, make it his super team in hopes to start a non bias soccer club that focuses on player’s growth and ambitions? Has anyone experience or seen it happen?

She’s so young that what’s really important is that she’s in an environment that is challenging, fun, and rewarding. Maybe he can provide that, but words are just words. If you just listen to proposals and don’t actually get to let her experience what this next step might actually feel like to her, you could end up putting her into a position that will make her no longer enjoy what she’s doing.

See if this coach will let her come and train with one of his current teams if he’s currently coaching players her age or near her age. That way she can feel the environment out and how he runs his sessions. You can then also talk to parents on his team and their experiences.

He currently has no team. He’s working on getting a team built and registering the team in tournaments. The team will primarily do only tournaments.

He’s an ECNL coach but has no team? That just means he’s not an ECNL coach. Furthermore, ECNL has no requirements to coach a team other than the sham safe sport background check. So that doesn’t really mean anything. I would approach with caution.

He was an ECNL coach. My understanding is he left the stress of corporate ECNL. Right now his goal is to start a “super” team that can play up an age group at tournaments. More focus on ranking. 1 tournament a month, scrimmaging on other weekends. Incorporating a more European approach.

Anyone who aims for ranking at U9 is a con man. An approach based on forming a U9 team with a focus on winning tournaments is as opposite from a European approach as you can possible get

#SYC

Anonymous wrote:One of the biggest problems will be keeping the team together as they get older. Some will naturally leave the team as they stop playing soccer to focus on other interests, families move away, and some will leave to join the established ECNL teams. It's not easy to find good older players who want to leave their established teams. This may work for a couple years at U9-U11, but the team is highly likely to fall apart by U14.

OP mentioned D1 in the initial post. If that's what he's selling, the team will collapse as the parents with kids who have a chance to play D1 leave for clubs with good records placing kids in D1. Every year you see the social media bragging when offers start coming out. If you're a parent and you see Arlington and McClean listing the girls who have offers every year and this guy just says trust me, you're taking your kid to an ECNL tryout.

One of the biggest problems will be keeping the team together as they get older. Some will naturally leave the team as they stop playing soccer to focus on other interests, families move away, and some will leave to join the established ECNL teams. It's not easy to find good older players who want to leave their established teams. This may work for a couple years at U9-U11, but the team is highly likely to fall apart by U14.

Thanks to this group for helping. A lot of valuables to take into consideration.

Is his name Ryan Reynolds?

I would join the group and stay with a more traditional club team. If you can balance both do so. See how things go and take it one season at a time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Let me illiterate. My DD will soon be 10. She’s being approached to go to to ECNL CLUBS, what I guess is pre-ECNL. I feel it’s important to work hard and follow any dream. Dreams change and that’s ok. Best thing is to give them the tools and let them grow.

I do think it’s important not to be a “club hopper” and make bonds with teammates and coaches. I personally played a D1 sport, but never had to deal with ECNL, GA and so on. Times have changed.

Found out tonight the coach was an ECNL coach, and is well licensed.(not that makes a difference) He has relationships with college coaches. One parent has said he is a great coach and has done a lot for his older DD.

Is this doable. Can 1 coach start a team, make it his super team in hopes to start a non bias soccer club that focuses on player’s growth and ambitions? Has anyone experience or seen it happen?

She’s so young that what’s really important is that she’s in an environment that is challenging, fun, and rewarding. Maybe he can provide that, but words are just words. If you just listen to proposals and don’t actually get to let her experience what this next step might actually feel like to her, you could end up putting her into a position that will make her no longer enjoy what she’s doing.

See if this coach will let her come and train with one of his current teams if he’s currently coaching players her age or near her age. That way she can feel the environment out and how he runs his sessions. You can then also talk to parents on his team and their experiences.

He currently has no team. He’s working on getting a team built and registering the team in tournaments. The team will primarily do only tournaments.

He’s an ECNL coach but has no team? That just means he’s not an ECNL coach. Furthermore, ECNL has no requirements to coach a team other than the sham safe sport background check. So that doesn’t really mean anything. I would approach with caution.

He was an ECNL coach. My understanding is he left the stress of corporate ECNL. Right now his goal is to start a “super” team that can play up an age group at tournaments. More focus on ranking. 1 tournament a month, scrimmaging on other weekends. Incorporating a more European approach.

If you follow previous usmnt player Eddie Johnson, he does this in Florida. Makes superstar teams of kids from various clubs and enters them in tournaments a year up. They played the edp fall cup recently. Some teams did okay, some that had mixed ages did not do well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Let me illiterate. My DD will soon be 10. She’s being approached to go to to ECNL CLUBS, what I guess is pre-ECNL. I feel it’s important to work hard and follow any dream. Dreams change and that’s ok. Best thing is to give them the tools and let them grow.

I do think it’s important not to be a “club hopper” and make bonds with teammates and coaches. I personally played a D1 sport, but never had to deal with ECNL, GA and so on. Times have changed.

Found out tonight the coach was an ECNL coach, and is well licensed.(not that makes a difference) He has relationships with college coaches. One parent has said he is a great coach and has done a lot for his older DD.

Is this doable. Can 1 coach start a team, make it his super team in hopes to start a non bias soccer club that focuses on player’s growth and ambitions? Has anyone experience or seen it happen?

She’s so young that what’s really important is that she’s in an environment that is challenging, fun, and rewarding. Maybe he can provide that, but words are just words. If you just listen to proposals and don’t actually get to let her experience what this next step might actually feel like to her, you could end up putting her into a position that will make her no longer enjoy what she’s doing.

See if this coach will let her come and train with one of his current teams if he’s currently coaching players her age or near her age. That way she can feel the environment out and how he runs his sessions. You can then also talk to parents on his team and their experiences.

He currently has no team. He’s working on getting a team built and registering the team in tournaments. The team will primarily do only tournaments.

Teams that do only tournaments won't have the chemistry and understanding of a 10 month team. I would consider this as an adjunct to my child's team, not the only team.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Let me illiterate. My DD will soon be 10. She’s being approached to go to to ECNL CLUBS, what I guess is pre-ECNL. I feel it’s important to work hard and follow any dream. Dreams change and that’s ok. Best thing is to give them the tools and let them grow.

I do think it’s important not to be a “club hopper” and make bonds with teammates and coaches. I personally played a D1 sport, but never had to deal with ECNL, GA and so on. Times have changed.

Found out tonight the coach was an ECNL coach, and is well licensed.(not that makes a difference) He has relationships with college coaches. One parent has said he is a great coach and has done a lot for his older DD.

Is this doable. Can 1 coach start a team, make it his super team in hopes to start a non bias soccer club that focuses on player’s growth and ambitions? Has anyone experience or seen it happen?

She’s so young that what’s really important is that she’s in an environment that is challenging, fun, and rewarding. Maybe he can provide that, but words are just words. If you just listen to proposals and don’t actually get to let her experience what this next step might actually feel like to her, you could end up putting her into a position that will make her no longer enjoy what she’s doing.

See if this coach will let her come and train with one of his current teams if he’s currently coaching players her age or near her age. That way she can feel the environment out and how he runs his sessions. You can then also talk to parents on his team and their experiences.

He currently has no team. He’s working on getting a team built and registering the team in tournaments. The team will primarily do only tournaments.

He’s an ECNL coach but has no team? That just means he’s not an ECNL coach. Furthermore, ECNL has no requirements to coach a team other than the sham safe sport background check. So that doesn’t really mean anything. I would approach with caution.

He was an ECNL coach. My understanding is he left the stress of corporate ECNL. Right now his goal is to start a “super” team that can play up an age group at tournaments. More focus on ranking. 1 tournament a month, scrimmaging on other weekends. Incorporating a more European approach.

An “old” ECNL coach? And a pathway using USYS system outside of ECNL and GA? Sounds nice but will never happen. There is only ONE USYS team that is ranked inside the top 20 from U13 to U17, which is the 2008 New England Surf State.

I would be very cautious.

Even if it somehow works at U9, 10, 11, 12, the better players will leave for GA and ECNL clubs at U13

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Let me illiterate. My DD will soon be 10. She’s being approached to go to to ECNL CLUBS, what I guess is pre-ECNL. I feel it’s important to work hard and follow any dream. Dreams change and that’s ok. Best thing is to give them the tools and let them grow.

I do think it’s important not to be a “club hopper” and make bonds with teammates and coaches. I personally played a D1 sport, but never had to deal with ECNL, GA and so on. Times have changed.

Found out tonight the coach was an ECNL coach, and is well licensed.(not that makes a difference) He has relationships with college coaches. One parent has said he is a great coach and has done a lot for his older DD.

Is this doable. Can 1 coach start a team, make it his super team in hopes to start a non bias soccer club that focuses on player’s growth and ambitions? Has anyone experience or seen it happen?

She’s so young that what’s really important is that she’s in an environment that is challenging, fun, and rewarding. Maybe he can provide that, but words are just words. If you just listen to proposals and don’t actually get to let her experience what this next step might actually feel like to her, you could end up putting her into a position that will make her no longer enjoy what she’s doing.

See if this coach will let her come and train with one of his current teams if he’s currently coaching players her age or near her age. That way she can feel the environment out and how he runs his sessions. You can then also talk to parents on his team and their experiences.

He currently has no team. He’s working on getting a team built and registering the team in tournaments. The team will primarily do only tournaments.

He’s an ECNL coach but has no team? That just means he’s not an ECNL coach. Furthermore, ECNL has no requirements to coach a team other than the sham safe sport background check. So that doesn’t really mean anything. I would approach with caution.

He was an ECNL coach. My understanding is he left the stress of corporate ECNL. Right now his goal is to start a “super” team that can play up an age group at tournaments. More focus on ranking. 1 tournament a month, scrimmaging on other weekends. Incorporating a more European approach.

Anyone who aims for ranking at U9 is a con man. An approach based on forming a U9 team with a focus on winning tournaments is as opposite from a European approach as you can possible get

Was his last club a “corporate ecnl” club in Prince William County?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Let me illiterate. My DD will soon be 10. She’s being approached to go to to ECNL CLUBS, what I guess is pre-ECNL. I feel it’s important to work hard and follow any dream. Dreams change and that’s ok. Best thing is to give them the tools and let them grow.

I do think it’s important not to be a “club hopper” and make bonds with teammates and coaches. I personally played a D1 sport, but never had to deal with ECNL, GA and so on. Times have changed.

Found out tonight the coach was an ECNL coach, and is well licensed.(not that makes a difference) He has relationships with college coaches. One parent has said he is a great coach and has done a lot for his older DD.

Is this doable. Can 1 coach start a team, make it his super team in hopes to start a non bias soccer club that focuses on player’s growth and ambitions? Has anyone experience or seen it happen?

She’s so young that what’s really important is that she’s in an environment that is challenging, fun, and rewarding. Maybe he can provide that, but words are just words. If you just listen to proposals and don’t actually get to let her experience what this next step might actually feel like to her, you could end up putting her into a position that will make her no longer enjoy what she’s doing.

See if this coach will let her come and train with one of his current teams if he’s currently coaching players her age or near her age. That way she can feel the environment out and how he runs his sessions. You can then also talk to parents on his team and their experiences.

He currently has no team. He’s working on getting a team built and registering the team in tournaments. The team will primarily do only tournaments.

He’s an ECNL coach but has no team? That just means he’s not an ECNL coach. Furthermore, ECNL has no requirements to coach a team other than the sham safe sport background check. So that doesn’t really mean anything. I would approach with caution.

He was an ECNL coach. My understanding is he left the stress of corporate ECNL. Right now his goal is to start a “super” team that can play up an age group at tournaments. More focus on ranking. 1 tournament a month, scrimmaging on other weekends. Incorporating a more European approach.

An “old” ECNL coach? And a pathway using USYS system outside of ECNL and GA? Sounds nice but will never happen. There is only ONE USYS team that is ranked inside the top 20 from U13 to U17, which is the 2008 New England Surf State.

I would be very cautious.