Anonymous
02/23/2026 22:36
Subject: Club density in the DMV
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Hold on.. I can think of at least 8 DC clubs. There's obviously demand for this many clubs. Tell me why these clubs are traveling 1 hour away to play a game in MD eastern shore or WV or Lorton...
with so many teams in DC, why isn't there a DC league? Ok for the the top level teams (ECNL or whatever) maybe those can travel for better comp. but the A/B/C teams traveling an hour to play a game is crazy.
why isn't there a DC league?
Because each club wants a "pathway" to sell and the league directors need to feel their kids too. On the girls side in the DMV we have teams in ECNL, ECNL-RL, GA, GA Aspire, NL, EDP, and NCSL (and probably others). Ideally you would want one truly elite league (ECNL/GA) where teams travel to play the best competition and then put all of the other teams in the same pool with promotion/relegation, but this would require combining 5 leagues into 1.
There isn’t enough talent in DC to have a DC league. That’s pretty clear.
That's false. We have more than enough talent pre-U14. After then, allow them to travel after the separations occur.
+1 The DC talent is just fragmented. If you combined all the DC clubs into 2 and just kept players in the district they'd be competitive with any of the burbs clubs. It's the same old issue. Field space and traffic patterns.
Anonymous
02/23/2026 21:40
Subject: Club density in the DMV
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Hold on.. I can think of at least 8 DC clubs. There's obviously demand for this many clubs. Tell me why these clubs are traveling 1 hour away to play a game in MD eastern shore or WV or Lorton...
with so many teams in DC, why isn't there a DC league? Ok for the the top level teams (ECNL or whatever) maybe those can travel for better comp. but the A/B/C teams traveling an hour to play a game is crazy.
why isn't there a DC league?
Because each club wants a "pathway" to sell and the league directors need to feel their kids too. On the girls side in the DMV we have teams in ECNL, ECNL-RL, GA, GA Aspire, NL, EDP, and NCSL (and probably others). Ideally you would want one truly elite league (ECNL/GA) where teams travel to play the best competition and then put all of the other teams in the same pool with promotion/relegation, but this would require combining 5 leagues into 1.
There isn’t enough talent in DC to have a DC league. That’s pretty clear.
That's false. We have more than enough talent pre-U14. After then, allow them to travel after the separations occur.
Anonymous
02/23/2026 20:50
Subject: Club density in the DMV
What is the purpose of FVU fielding U12 and U13 USL Y summer teams? To make it easier to build and solidify their U13 ECNL rosters? Who will coach the teams and where will they practice?
Anonymous
02/23/2026 09:22
Subject: Club density in the DMV
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Hold on.. I can think of at least 8 DC clubs. There's obviously demand for this many clubs. Tell me why these clubs are traveling 1 hour away to play a game in MD eastern shore or WV or Lorton...
with so many teams in DC, why isn't there a DC league? Ok for the the top level teams (ECNL or whatever) maybe those can travel for better comp. but the A/B/C teams traveling an hour to play a game is crazy.
why isn't there a DC league?
Because each club wants a "pathway" to sell and the league directors need to feel their kids too. On the girls side in the DMV we have teams in ECNL, ECNL-RL, GA, GA Aspire, NL, EDP, and NCSL (and probably others). Ideally you would want one truly elite league (ECNL/GA) where teams travel to play the best competition and then put all of the other teams in the same pool with promotion/relegation, but this would require combining 5 leagues into 1.
There isn’t enough talent in DC to have a DC league. That’s pretty clear.
Anonymous
02/18/2026 09:59
Subject: Club density in the DMV
Anonymous wrote:Hold on.. I can think of at least 8 DC clubs. There's obviously demand for this many clubs. Tell me why these clubs are traveling 1 hour away to play a game in MD eastern shore or WV or Lorton...
with so many teams in DC, why isn't there a DC league? Ok for the the top level teams (ECNL or whatever) maybe those can travel for better comp. but the A/B/C teams traveling an hour to play a game is crazy.
why isn't there a DC league?
Because each club wants a "pathway" to sell and the league directors need to feel their kids too. On the girls side in the DMV we have teams in ECNL, ECNL-RL, GA, GA Aspire, NL, EDP, and NCSL (and probably others). Ideally you would want one truly elite league (ECNL/GA) where teams travel to play the best competition and then put all of the other teams in the same pool with promotion/relegation, but this would require combining 5 leagues into 1.
Anonymous
02/17/2026 15:18
Subject: Club density in the DMV
There is no DC league because people want to qualify and compete for a national championship each year. A DC league cannot provide that and if you are not in MLS or ECNl than you will not be placed competitively in any tournaments that you enter.
Anonymous
02/17/2026 12:51
Subject: Club density in the DMV
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Hold on.. I can think of at least 8 DC clubs. There's obviously demand for this many clubs. Tell me why these clubs are traveling 1 hour away to play a game in MD eastern shore or WV or Lorton...
with so many teams in DC, why isn't there a DC league? Ok for the the top level teams (ECNL or whatever) maybe those can travel for better comp. but the A/B/C teams traveling an hour to play a game is crazy.
why isn't there a DC league?
The AGs you are talking about come into play. One major reason is the different high school season for MD/VA.
HS subpar soccer affecting high level club soccer for a region is asinine
I agree but the VA folks don't, especially the ECNL crowd. Ask the Arlington parents. They are there because their kids want to play high school soccer. As an American, I respect their choice. Being on the MD side, it sucks because we lose them and have to drive to NJ to make it work. There are worse problems though.
Anonymous
02/17/2026 12:42
Subject: Club density in the DMV
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Hold on.. I can think of at least 8 DC clubs. There's obviously demand for this many clubs. Tell me why these clubs are traveling 1 hour away to play a game in MD eastern shore or WV or Lorton...
with so many teams in DC, why isn't there a DC league? Ok for the the top level teams (ECNL or whatever) maybe those can travel for better comp. but the A/B/C teams traveling an hour to play a game is crazy.
why isn't there a DC league?
The AGs you are talking about come into play. One major reason is the different high school season for MD/VA.
HS subpar soccer affecting high level club soccer for a region is asinine
Well ALL girls and most boys shut down for the high school season, so it's something you have to consider even if it's asinine.
Anonymous
02/17/2026 12:40
Subject: Club density in the DMV
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Hold on.. I can think of at least 8 DC clubs. There's obviously demand for this many clubs. Tell me why these clubs are traveling 1 hour away to play a game in MD eastern shore or WV or Lorton...
with so many teams in DC, why isn't there a DC league? Ok for the the top level teams (ECNL or whatever) maybe those can travel for better comp. but the A/B/C teams traveling an hour to play a game is crazy.
why isn't there a DC league?
The AGs you are talking about come into play. One major reason is the different high school season for MD/VA.
HS subpar soccer affecting high level club soccer for a region is asinine
Anonymous
02/17/2026 12:40
Subject: Club density in the DMV
Think it is more that in those areas (St Mary’s, Blue Ridge and the like) there are not enough clubs to form a league so they apply to the closest competitive league which in this case is NCSL. Trust me the parents from those clubs wish there was a better option. They have long drives for 4 or 5 games every season.