Anonymous wrote:Bruh, pros still do passing drills now and again. It’s called part of the warm ups.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. I have a question. My son is an 08 at Alexandria, and we are considering perhaps making a change for the following reason. I feel like there is not enough focus on athleticism in terms of requiring that the kids take efforts to be in shape (this is not a crack on anyone's weight, I hate it when people on this site do that). I mean, regardless of weight, I think kids should work on endurance and strength. Is there any more focus on that at Arlington, or would we just be consideirng making a change for no real reason?

There is some focus on it - in that one of the weekly training sessions is called a "performance session" and run by coaches with more a of a fitness focus. It's still mostly ball work, but with slightly more emphasis on fitness and a few times a year they measure fitness (sprints, runs, jumps etc.). I don't know how much difference it really makes though.

I suspect this is designed to motivate players to do this outside sessions, which is exactly where it should be done. I have zero interest in soccer coaches serving as personal trainers. That stuff should be entirely outside of practice in my view, along with juggling,
passing drills and shooting exercises, which can and should all be done outside practice by players on top teams. Use practice to do things you can only do with teammates.

He bruh, most players pass to teammates.
If the coach doesn’t do some passing and shooting drills it could mean players are enabling bad habits of their technique etc is wrong.
Why don’t you step up and coach then, bruh?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. I have a question. My son is an 08 at Alexandria, and we are considering perhaps making a change for the following reason. I feel like there is not enough focus on athleticism in terms of requiring that the kids take efforts to be in shape (this is not a crack on anyone's weight, I hate it when people on this site do that). I mean, regardless of weight, I think kids should work on endurance and strength. Is there any more focus on that at Arlington, or would we just be consideirng making a change for no real reason?

There is some focus on it - in that one of the weekly training sessions is called a "performance session" and run by coaches with more a of a fitness focus. It's still mostly ball work, but with slightly more emphasis on fitness and a few times a year they measure fitness (sprints, runs, jumps etc.). I don't know how much difference it really makes though.

I suspect this is designed to motivate players to do this outside sessions, which is exactly where it should be done. I have zero interest in soccer coaches serving as personal trainers. That stuff should be entirely outside of practice in my view, along with juggling,
passing drills and shooting exercises, which can and should all be done outside practice by players on top teams. Use practice to do things you can only do with teammates.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. I have a question. My son is an 08 at Alexandria, and we are considering perhaps making a change for the following reason. I feel like there is not enough focus on athleticism in terms of requiring that the kids take efforts to be in shape (this is not a crack on anyone's weight, I hate it when people on this site do that). I mean, regardless of weight, I think kids should work on endurance and strength. Is there any more focus on that at Arlington, or would we just be consideirng making a change for no real reason?

There is some focus on it - in that one of the weekly training sessions is called a "performance session" and run by coaches with more a of a fitness focus. It's still mostly ball work, but with slightly more emphasis on fitness and a few times a year they measure fitness (sprints, runs, jumps etc.). I don't know how much difference it really makes though.

I suspect this is designed to motivate players to do this outside sessions, which is exactly where it should be done. I have zero interest in soccer coaches serving as personal trainers. That stuff should be entirely outside of practice in my view, along with juggling,
passing drills and shooting exercises, which can and should all be done outside practice by players on top teams. Use practice to do things you can only do with teammates.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. I have a question. My son is an 08 at Alexandria, and we are considering perhaps making a change for the following reason. I feel like there is not enough focus on athleticism in terms of requiring that the kids take efforts to be in shape (this is not a crack on anyone's weight, I hate it when people on this site do that). I mean, regardless of weight, I think kids should work on endurance and strength. Is there any more focus on that at Arlington, or would we just be consideirng making a change for no real reason?

There is some focus on it - in that one of the weekly training sessions is called a "performance session" and run by coaches with more a of a fitness focus. It's still mostly ball work, but with slightly more emphasis on fitness and a few times a year they measure fitness (sprints, runs, jumps etc.). I don't know how much difference it really makes though.

Anonymous wrote:NP. I have a question. My son is an 08 at Alexandria, and we are considering perhaps making a change for the following reason. I feel like there is not enough focus on athleticism in terms of requiring that the kids take efforts to be in shape (this is not a crack on anyone's weight, I hate it when people on this site do that). I mean, regardless of weight, I think kids should work on endurance and strength. Is there any more focus on that at Arlington, or would we just be consideirng making a change for no real reason?

Anonymous wrote:

FYI, If you are planning on Alexandria for U13, the MLSNext tryouts (5/10,517) are different dates then the Academy tryout dates (5/28,6/2,6/4). Need to register

Thank you. My son refuses to do the MLS Next tryouts. He doesn't think he has a good chance, because he was not on the red team last time he played for Alexandria. I'm not sure that is reasonable, but I don't think it would be productive to force the issue.

FYI, If you are planning on Alexandria for U13, the MLSNext tryouts (5/10,517) are different dates then the Academy tryout dates (5/28,6/2,6/4). Need to register

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FYI, If you are planning on Alexandria for U13, the MLSNext tryouts (5/10,517) are different dates then the Academy tryout dates (5/28,6/2,6/4). Need to register

Why so late? Until 10pm for 12 years olds is crazy.

Anonymous wrote:FYI, If you are planning on Alexandria for U13, the MLSNext tryouts (5/10,517) are different dates then the Academy tryout dates (5/28,6/2,6/4). Need to register

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. I have a question. My son is an 08 at Alexandria, and we are considering perhaps making a change for the following reason. I feel like there is not enough focus on athleticism in terms of requiring that the kids take efforts to be in shape (this is not a crack on anyone's weight, I hate it when people on this site do that). I mean, regardless of weight, I think kids should work on endurance and strength. Is there any more focus on that at Arlington, or would we just be consideirng making a change for no real reason?

That's interesting to me because I have seen the focus on the top 08 team in Alexandria recruiting size. They used to be a small technical team, but it recent years they have brought in a few huge players and seem to be veering off course. I think, perhaps, it was needed to stay competitive in the puberty years on the big field. It seems to be the same for some of the older age groups. Some of the style play is no longer the same.

In a perfect world, coaches would be noticing technicality and soccer IQ (movement off the ball, making runs and good decisions) and take into account that many kids are late growers. So many Clubs miss out on these kids that leave because they have been marginalized and then you seem at age 17 and it's 'wow'.

I will say both Clubs have very talented players and good coaching and this issue is everywhere in the DMV. I also get it. I honestly do. We are at a different club and the recruitment of two big backs has been the major difference in our winning season.

Though I sometimes see these outmatched giants at tryouts in the DMV and the Clubs immediately gravitate to them. I laugh with my spouse because it's like picking fish. You have a kid that looks like he's 18 playing with kids that look like they are 10 at U13 a lot of the time...and with that difference in physicality those giants should really be performing even better than they are with that much difference in size. (disclaimer-some of those kids are talented with the size--but many it's the size making the difference).

Anonymous wrote:NP. I have a question. My son is an 08 at Alexandria, and we are considering perhaps making a change for the following reason. I feel like there is not enough focus on athleticism in terms of requiring that the kids take efforts to be in shape (this is not a crack on anyone's weight, I hate it when people on this site do that). I mean, regardless of weight, I think kids should work on endurance and strength. Is there any more focus on that at Arlington, or would we just be consideirng making a change for no real reason?

NP. I have a question. My son is an 08 at Alexandria, and we are considering perhaps making a change for the following reason. I feel like there is not enough focus on athleticism in terms of requiring that the kids take efforts to be in shape (this is not a crack on anyone's weight, I hate it when people on this site do that). I mean, regardless of weight, I think kids should work on endurance and strength. Is there any more focus on that at Arlington, or would we just be considering making a change for no real reason?


At 08 kids are in the middle of puberty. You're going to see all sorts of fitness levels as kids go through this. Stamina levels differ between those who have been through puberty and those who haven't. If it is your experience just this year then maybe you should stick it out for another year if that is the only concern.