Anonymous
Post 02/10/2018 18:27     Subject: Re:Great Falls Travel Soccer
Anonymous wrote:As a parent of two older kids who did travel, I would advise avoiding travel until u-12/u-13. Find a good classic or other team with a strong coach in a regional league. I have seen little benefit from paying $2,500 annually to play for an elite club where you are traveling long distances. Spend more time training and less time traveling.


How often do “regional” teams train? 2x a week? then what local training is really available for an extra 1 or 2 days a week? thats gonna likely be $250 avg per 1 day a week for half a fall or spring season and then potentially add a winter session or 2. at 250$ a session that could be close to $2K for 2 sessions each year. (2 x a week both sessions each season for group work. for private at $50 an hour for 6-7 sessions, you’re at even more.



Anonymous
Post 02/09/2018 17:53     Subject: Great Falls Travel Soccer
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes agree the Girls U14 did well this year in NPL. Surprised me.


As well as U12 and U11. The rest of the age groups were a bit of a mixed bag but overall Great Falls was certainly more than competitive in NPL.


Reston and Great Falls are considering a merger of clubs.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2018 06:05     Subject: Re:Great Falls Travel Soccer
As a parent of two older kids who did travel, I would advise avoiding travel until u-12/u-13. Find a good classic or other team with a strong coach in a regional league. I have seen little benefit from paying $2,500 annually to play for an elite club where you are traveling long distances. Spend more time training and less time traveling.
Anonymous
Post 01/24/2018 21:11     Subject: Great Falls Travel Soccer
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Do kids try out for multiple travel teams to see which team they make? For example, could DS try out in Arlington, Mclean and GF?


yes!


there is usually a 48-72 hour acceptance based on deposit, so it realy make sense to have a good idea of whats what as tryouts can be weeks apart.


But a note of caution (and I know a troll will show up to claim this is a humble brag and I think my kid is a Messi or Pusilic, that he is already on his way for a college scholarship, etc,.... which I don't). If your son is likely to play for a top team, you might not want to go to the 1st tryout at a less competitive club. If your child is good, you might get an immediate offer that expires in a couple of days, and that kind of kills your flexibility to determine if you like that team and club.

A few years back, during our son's U10 tryouts, he got 3 offers from other teams before he accepted a top team at a large club. We wanted him to have the tryout experience and to get to know the other teams and players. But since we did not accept the initial offer from the various clubs, we couldn't really go back to their 2nd or 3rd tryout. After the 1st tryout, they kind of put kids in slots and make some offers. So if you do not show until the 2nd tryout, they will be less likely to make an immediate offer since they are waiting to hear back from some other kids. Others may have different experiences, that was our experience. If your child is just hoping to get on any travel team and may not be destined for the top team, then go to all the tryouts.


Let me guess, your son plays for McLean, Arlington, or Loudon. Those parents are the worst at showboating their kids thinking they are superior because they wear $100 cleats at U9. Just kidding, I actually agree with you, but you know you will offend some asshat and their view of soccer parents.


Who says your first contact with a team should be in tryouts. If at all possible, you should drive out to watch practice at clubs you're thinking about. Where possible, ask the parents on the sidelines how their experience has been. And take a look at the players. If you can be objective, you can tell how/if your child would fit in and whether you'd want him/her in that environment. Combine that with the calculus on how much it's going to cost you in time (practice and commutes for practice and games), money (fees, gear, extra trainings and camps), and forgone other opportunities and then you have a good idea what you're getting yourself into. And if the club won't even let you see practice, then start to wonder why.
Anonymous
Post 01/24/2018 09:48     Subject: Great Falls Travel Soccer
Anonymous wrote:Yes agree the Girls U14 did well this year in NPL. Surprised me.


As well as U12 and U11. The rest of the age groups were a bit of a mixed bag but overall Great Falls was certainly more than competitive in NPL.
Anonymous
Post 01/23/2018 23:14     Subject: Great Falls Travel Soccer
Yes agree the Girls U14 did well this year in NPL. Surprised me.
Anonymous
Post 01/23/2018 15:14     Subject: Great Falls Travel Soccer
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:GF travel team parent here. We like GF soccer club but my son’s team just got overwhelmed in NPL in the fall, and the boys are NOT happy. Hope the coaches will come up with a plan to make the team stronger.


Why did they leave NCSL? That seemed like a better fit in my opinion.


The girls side did very well in NPL.
Anonymous
Post 01/23/2018 15:11     Subject: Great Falls Travel Soccer
Anonymous wrote:GF travel team parent here. We like GF soccer club but my son’s team just got overwhelmed in NPL in the fall, and the boys are NOT happy. Hope the coaches will come up with a plan to make the team stronger.


Why did they leave NCSL? That seemed like a better fit in my opinion.
Anonymous
Post 01/23/2018 14:37     Subject: Great Falls Travel Soccer
GF travel team parent here. We like GF soccer club but my son’s team just got overwhelmed in NPL in the fall, and the boys are NOT happy. Hope the coaches will come up with a plan to make the team stronger.
Anonymous
Post 01/23/2018 14:05     Subject: Great Falls Travel Soccer
Anonymous wrote:Chill out, nobody said Great Falls was in CCL. It was simply noting that McLean was another possibility if you are looking at Great Falls.


Actually someone did, and then everyone lost their sh*t.
Anonymous
Post 01/23/2018 10:09     Subject: Great Falls Travel Soccer
Chill out, nobody said Great Falls was in CCL. It was simply noting that McLean was another possibility if you are looking at Great Falls.
Anonymous
Post 01/23/2018 08:26     Subject: Great Falls Travel Soccer
Different poster but why is there the mention of Great Falls in CCL. They just joined VPL this year. Is it because of a possible merger with Reston? Is Reston even applying for CCL. They can't do it alone as they barely have any girls teams so a merger would need to happen.

For those in Great Falls, is the club not happy with VPL?
Anonymous
Post 01/23/2018 07:47     Subject: Great Falls Travel Soccer
Great Falls is (also) NCSL. Not sure what CCL would give them that NCSL doesn't.
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2018 19:42     Subject: Great Falls Travel Soccer
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:They are not part of CCL but if you do join one that is part of CCL they bundle the away games for example, you will play the Chancellorsville team on Saturday and the Roanoke team on Sunday.

It sucks for those southern teams because most teams are up this way.


It has never been bundled for us. Have had to drive down there in back to back weekends.


Are we still talking about CCL in a Great Falls thread?
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2018 19:33     Subject: Great Falls Travel Soccer
Anonymous wrote:They are not part of CCL but if you do join one that is part of CCL they bundle the away games for example, you will play the Chancellorsville team on Saturday and the Roanoke team on Sunday.

It sucks for those southern teams because most teams are up this way.


It has never been bundled for us. Have had to drive down there in back to back weekends.