Anonymous
Post 03/20/2026 13:25     Subject: Re:Arlington U11/U12 pre-academy
Anonymous wrote:Arlington not alone in pursuing this strategy. SYC & Alexandria 2016 teams playing in NCSL girls U11 Div1 as well this Spring.



It's the American Way! Less touches and time on ball for ulittles! Upselling by local travel clubs to justify "Academy" branding! Parents telling themselves uneven play will make their DCs stronger elite players!

There are definitely cases where teams should play up. Arlington, ASA, SYC and all of these DMV clubs having not one, but multiple teams doing this is not for development.

Pay-to-play soccer at its best.
Anonymous
Post 03/20/2026 12:00     Subject: Re:Arlington U11/U12 pre-academy
Arlington not alone in pursuing this strategy. SYC & Alexandria 2016 teams playing in NCSL girls U11 Div1 as well this Spring.

Anonymous
Post 03/19/2026 15:59     Subject: Arlington U11/U12 pre-academy
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:i know wins don't matter for these ulittles, but getting smoked by mid clubs a year older is bad for development. they should play on age to develop good habits, possession.


I totally agree it is a weird process. And frustrating because there are so many strong correct age team they could play against in the DMV - but across so many leagues that they can’t just play each other.


totally agree. My kid's team which has its own set of issues has demolished the Arlington PA1 year younger team in the NCSL top division last fall. The Arlington kids had tears in their eyes. I did not see how that is a helpful move for them when they barely touch the ball in a game.



Oh that is so sad - and just not developmentally worth it. I have a friend whose son is on “play up” team in Arlington. She said they get destroyed and the size differences are insane across these 4-6 graders.
Anonymous
Post 03/19/2026 15:30     Subject: Arlington U11/U12 pre-academy
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:i know wins don't matter for these ulittles, but getting smoked by mid clubs a year older is bad for development. they should play on age to develop good habits, possession.


I totally agree it is a weird process. And frustrating because there are so many strong correct age team they could play against in the DMV - but across so many leagues that they can’t just play each other.


you're totally right. This has to be the club catering to parent egos and chasing badges a la "My kid's team plays up" when they really can't. Another example of DMV parents putting the cart before the horse.


Its funny you say this. My kid plays in a different academy also in u12, and I have been begging that they DONT play up because they are gonna get killed and I would much prefer for them to actually have fun!
Anonymous
Post 03/19/2026 12:41     Subject: Arlington U11/U12 pre-academy
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:i know wins don't matter for these ulittles, but getting smoked by mid clubs a year older is bad for development. they should play on age to develop good habits, possession.


I totally agree it is a weird process. And frustrating because there are so many strong correct age team they could play against in the DMV - but across so many leagues that they can’t just play each other.


totally agree. My kid's team which has its own set of issues has demolished the Arlington PA1 year younger team in the NCSL top division last fall. The Arlington kids had tears in their eyes. I did not see how that is a helpful move for them when they barely touch the ball in a game.
Anonymous
Post 03/19/2026 10:25     Subject: Arlington U11/U12 pre-academy
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:i know wins don't matter for these ulittles, but getting smoked by mid clubs a year older is bad for development. they should play on age to develop good habits, possession.


I totally agree it is a weird process. And frustrating because there are so many strong correct age team they could play against in the DMV - but across so many leagues that they can’t just play each other.


you're totally right. This has to be the club catering to parent egos and chasing badges a la "My kid's team plays up" when they really can't. Another example of DMV parents putting the cart before the horse.
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2026 13:59     Subject: Arlington U11/U12 pre-academy
Anonymous wrote:If they were U13 PA1 would be ECNL and PA2 would be ECNL RL. It doesn't mean all the kids from pa1 will go to the NL team and all the pa2 kids will go to RL teams but typically more kids will go to NL team from PA1 then PA2. PA2 usually plays teams at a lower level. There may be kids from both teams that don't make either NL or RL team for u13


U13 Red is also being advertised as RL this year, so I’m not sure if ECNL2 only plays RL or they get into ECNL games too.
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2026 13:43     Subject: Arlington U11/U12 pre-academy
Anonymous wrote:i know wins don't matter for these ulittles, but getting smoked by mid clubs a year older is bad for development. they should play on age to develop good habits, possession.


I totally agree it is a weird process. And frustrating because there are so many strong correct age team they could play against in the DMV - but across so many leagues that they can’t just play each other.
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2026 13:18     Subject: Arlington U11/U12 pre-academy
i know wins don't matter for these ulittles, but getting smoked by mid clubs a year older is bad for development. they should play on age to develop good habits, possession.
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2026 12:20     Subject: Arlington U11/U12 pre-academy
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Welp, this is all clear as mud. We're new to Arlington soccer, but my kid will play girls U11 PA2 next year, and I think that's NCSL, maybe a year up?, but I honestly have no idea, even after reading these responses. I don't understand why this is all so complicated! At the end of the day, just hoping she has good coaching and plays in a competitive environment where she feels challenged.


Some digging around on NCSL’s site might be helpful, but as someone said, it does depend on the skill level of the PA2 team/strength of the age group in any given year. For example, this spring, the U11 PA2 boys are playing up in U12 Div 1.

https://www.ncsl-soccer.com/_element_display/#%2F80738%2Fschedules%2FSpring2026%2F115907846.html%3Frnd%3D1773850478153
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2026 12:18     Subject: Arlington U11/U12 pre-academy
Anonymous wrote:Welp, this is all clear as mud. We're new to Arlington soccer, but my kid will play girls U11 PA2 next year, and I think that's NCSL, maybe a year up?, but I honestly have no idea, even after reading these responses. I don't understand why this is all so complicated! At the end of the day, just hoping she has good coaching and plays in a competitive environment where she feels challenged.


Some digging around on NCSL’s site might be helpful, but as someone said, it does depend on the skill level of the PA2 team/strength of the age group in any given year. For example, this spring, the U11 PA2 boys are playing up in U12 Div 2. In my experience, they always play up but the division will change based on the team’s strength. I would say PA2 often plays up an age group in NCSL Div 1.

https://www.ncsl-soccer.com/_element_display/#%2F80738%2Fschedules%2FSpring2026%2F115907846.html%3Frnd%3D1773850478153
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2026 11:55     Subject: Arlington U11/U12 pre-academy
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Girls PA1 offers hit inboxes today.


Is the assumption that they sent all the offers and teams are locked unless someone declines?

Yes for this age group, typically all offers go out at once.


Thanks. Interesting that they seem to be holding PA2 invites.


They need to know the accepts/rejects to fill PA1 first because it could change the makeup of PA2.
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2026 10:32     Subject: Arlington U11/U12 pre-academy
Welp, this is all clear as mud. We're new to Arlington soccer, but my kid will play girls U11 PA2 next year, and I think that's NCSL, maybe a year up?, but I honestly have no idea, even after reading these responses. I don't understand why this is all so complicated! At the end of the day, just hoping she has good coaching and plays in a competitive environment where she feels challenged.
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2026 09:48     Subject: Arlington U11/U12 pre-academy
Anonymous wrote:Typically for u12 the pa1 kids would play the bigger clubs in vpsl like Richmond PWC and VSA and PA2 would play most of the smaller clubs (Herndon, Villareal). Team not playing in VPSL that week would be playing the u13 NCSL D1 team pa2 is scheduled to play that weekend. Usually not a huge difference in skill between 2 teams its the speed in which they use that skill and the overall speed of play that is so much different.


So U12 PA1 boys plays 11v11 at times throughout the year?
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2026 09:26     Subject: Arlington U11/U12 pre-academy
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Girls PA1 offers hit inboxes today.


Is the assumption that they sent all the offers and teams are locked unless someone declines?

Yes for this age group, typically all offers go out at once.


Thanks. Interesting that they seem to be holding PA2 invites.