Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone travel with NOVA to Spain? what was that like? Do you guys do a lot of tournaments? I'd love to hear what parents think of the program, especially of older kids.

We did not go to Spain this summer, but the invitation indicated that the players would train and play friendlies in Barcelona and Madrid. One of U16 teams is slated to play in Donosti Cup next year. There was some talk about the top U18 team playing in MIC tournament in Spain, but I don't know the current status for that team. Most teams will play in 2-4 tournaments in the US, plus the league play in EDP. My son, who is U16, loves the program. The coach for the top U16 and U18 teams is excellent. I believe they are adding quite a few new kids in the older age groups so it will be interesting to see how the new players will adapt to the style of play with the league play starting so soon.

+1 he’s a fantastic coach.

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone travel with NOVA to Spain? what was that like? Do you guys do a lot of tournaments? I'd love to hear what parents think of the program, especially of older kids.

We did not go to Spain this summer, but the invitation indicated that the players would train and play friendlies in Barcelona and Madrid. One of U16 teams is slated to play in Donosti Cup next year. There was some talk about the top U18 team playing in MIC tournament in Spain, but I don't know the current status for that team. Most teams will play in 2-4 tournaments in the US, plus the league play in EDP. My son, who is U16, loves the program. The coach for the top U16 and U18 teams is excellent. I believe they are adding quite a few new kids in the older age groups so it will be interesting to see how the new players will adapt to the style of play with the league play starting so soon.

Good for the market place. I'm so tired of this "A" Hole coaches at these top clubs treating kids and families as if we work for them. My child played her ass off, team had a winning record, and still got ripped every game as if they were the cleveland browns. For a young girl that loved soccer since U4 to come home and say soccer isn't fun anymore was gut wrenching.

As a parent screw it, then we leave and we give Barca a shot. Time will tell, but I'm tired of the whole BS claims of development. All of them want to win and they could care less about the player. My parting moment was calling out the coach at the end of year party where I asked him in front of a group of parents why he told people we left because my daughter didn't make the first team, when in actuality we got an offer for the first team and turned him down 3 times because he kept calling?

So for the new family in the area, there is no club loyalty. Pick a good coach and if they are good stick with them. Barca is a new concept in the area and I know for a fact that they gained some top area players this year. I know Loudoun lost a fair share of Reds (1st team) at multiple age groups to Barca. Loudoun better figure something out soon, because DCU is coming. I can't think of being in a worse situation, MLS team literally in your back yard and Barca in your front yard.

Did anyone travel with NOVA to Spain? what was that like? Do you guys do a lot of tournaments? I'd love to hear what parents think of the program, especially of older kids.

While the escolas may not be specifically about recruiting, I find it hard to imagine that it won't lead to a door being opened here or there for that special player.

Especially when they go to Spain periodically and have training and competitions there.

RantingSoccerDad wrote:OK then, what does "much longer track record around the World and other states" mean?

I don't think anyone's getting defensive. There are scores of clubs in the area. What's one more?

It means that as far as development in the States there is not much of any track record of development as the escolas are mostly less than two years old. They are not marketing D1 commitments or Pro contracts as a stated mission or as developmental achievement either.

As far as escolas around the world, the relative age of the escolas still applies and the Barcelona stated mission of the escolas still applies. The escolas are geared towards younger kids primarily.

While the escolas allow Barcelona to expand their scouting network it was never the intention to do so above spreading the barcelona brand through teaching soccer using Barcelona methods.

The escolas freely admit that they are about spreading the band and they make no promises regarding professional or collegiate success. That does not mean they are not aware of desire in the US market to cater to parental pressures for showcases and such but you'll be hard pressed to find references to scholarships in their promotional material.

When a new product is introduced and incumbents take this much notice, there is usually something disruptive and threatening at play. Maybe because Barca has deep pockets and organization that the local clubs, even the big ones, don’t think they can compete with so they are defensive. I hope this doesn’t mean more local club consolidation

Anonymous wrote:I think the NOVA school has older teams, like I thought they even have a U18 team.

As for competitiveness, it may partially be a function of talent pool, but given the thirst in NOVA for a better option, I wonder if that will help the Escola take off.

I don't know that the plan is to be a DA, but if it becomes good enough, it's hard for me to imagine they will hold the escola back from a natural evolution just because of the Arizona school.

With Loudoun DA, next door and with DC United arriving next door too I don't see DA in either the near or far future for Barcelona in this area. That would just be to many DA's within crazy close proximity.

Now, if Loudoun gives up or loses their DA I could see Barcelona possibly stepping in but they would be confronted with the same problems as Loudoun Soccer competing with DC United. Barca would have to demonstrate a truth pathway to Spain in order to compete with a neighboring MLS DA.

I think the NOVA school has older teams, like I thought they even have a U18 team.

As for competitiveness, it may partially be a function of talent pool, but given the thirst in NOVA for a better option, I wonder if that will help the Escola take off.

I don't know that the plan is to be a DA, but if it becomes good enough, it's hard for me to imagine they will hold the escola back from a natural evolution just because of the Arizona school.

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1 year in NoVA, much longer track record around the World and other states.

How many players has Barcelona developed in places other than Barcelona?

(Seriously, I don't know.)

Developed in terms of what?

Top-tier pros, I guess?

I'm just a little skeptical of clubs' satellite operations. But I'd be interested in seeing evidence that they work.

Other than the DA Residential Academy in Arizona I don't think it has been Barcelona's stated interest/mission that any of the escola's develop top tier talent or pros. If any of hte escolas around the world had the level of talent that the club was interested in developing professionally they would get those kids to Spain. But even in Barcelona, the escola program ends at U12. So even there, by the age of 12 you have either made it into La Masia or you just go to another club and possibly get in later.

Overall, it seems that the Escola model is aimed primarily at kids up to U12/U13.

Most of the Barca escolas in the states are less than two years old so the jury is certainly still out.

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1 year in NoVA, much longer track record around the World and other states.

How many players has Barcelona developed in places other than Barcelona?

(Seriously, I don't know.)

Developed in terms of what?

Top-tier pros, I guess?

I'm just a little skeptical of clubs' satellite operations. But I'd be interested in seeing evidence that they work.

Go watch one of their older teams play then...

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1 year in NoVA, much longer track record around the World and other states.

How many players has Barcelona developed in places other than Barcelona?

(Seriously, I don't know.)

Developed in terms of what?

1 year in NoVA, much longer track record around the World and other states.

Anonymous wrote:I just found this forum as we are moving to the area soon. This is the longest thread. Why so much sustained interest in this one club? Can’t figure out if that’s a good or bad sign

It’s an afront to Leagues/Travel Clubs. They don’t want any of these foreign academies to work. It takes $ from their pocket. So disparage and freeze out is what is best for business as usual. If it works, Clubs will have to start being accountable for the product/training they offer. Options makes that happen in any free market. If the US Youth soccer wanted to succeed there would be more than one path for youth American players. There currently isn’t. Most travel Clubs only want their players paying for in-house training and get upset if players want to branch out to hone their individual game. There is no scouting in the US it’s Club-to-Club referrals. So families feel the need to get on one set path at age 6 with the “most win” travel Clubs feeding directly to DA. No outside path available and misses a huge swath of the landscape.

I think that’s why posters have been onthe attack.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just found this forum as we are moving to the area soon. This is the longest thread. Why so much sustained interest in this one club? Can’t figure out if that’s a good or bad sign

it's a great sign if you like crazy. Lost of delusional folks in this thread. Or maybe just one with MPD. Hard to discern.

My 2 cents, i think there's so much interest only because it's a relatively new club (it's only been around 1 year), so folks are trying to sort out whether it's worth it to explore having their kids play there.