RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody is saying that it’s better than all, it just tries to do its own thing, and people scoff at it. You need to relax.

Agree. Sorry, I think the “shade” comment must have hit a nerve. Oops. I just found it weird people come on a club specific thread to atttack a program they know nothing about. And, keep coming back to put down kids in the program.

To RSD, just curious why you keep coming to this specific thread. I know you are against pay-to-play. Are you against the idea of any foreign Club training American kids? I know there are people that like to perpetuate the $ grab thing, but every travel club in the US is doing that. I’m not asking this to antagonize and I’m not referring to you when I mention putting children down. I’m truly curious of your motives. Maybe you are just curious. But, if so, why is it assumed people are lying if they give a response that they love it? And, why do you not answer the posts that go into detail about tactical differences, etc., but instead focus on the extraneous stuff?

The people are professionals and great with the kids. I have read many different posts that concur with my views and they certainly were not all written by me.

I can't remember why I got into this thread, though I think it was mainly curiosity. DC's team was supposed to play an FCB team in a spring tournament, but Mother Nature intervened.

"Against pay-to-play" is a little difficult to quantify. I often end up hearing from people who seem to think every single kid in Europe plays for free, when it's actually just the pro academy kids who have everything paid for. The biggest difference is that there's not much of a "travel" tier as we would know it. You're either in a pro academy or you're in an inexpensive grassroots program.

I'm not against the idea of foreign clubs training American kids. I'm just skeptical -- which is very different than being dismissive or cynical. We've seen some "partnerships" -- actually, not just with foreign clubs but with U.S. pro clubs -- that are just branding agreements. FCB seems different, and good for them.

So no, I don't think people who say they love it are lying. I do think some people in this thread have gone overboard. FCB isn't the only club in NoVa that mixes players together in training and has coaches who know every player in multiple age groups. It's not the only club that really lives up to the "development over winning" mantra. It's not the only club that tries to play possession soccer -- Alexandria is rather obsessive about it. (At least, they were -- I know they've had some turnover.)

But even if they haven't reinvented the wheel, they might be doing things very well. Nothing at all wrong with that.

As for tactics -- honestly, I've seen mostly U12 on down, where the tactics are either "pass it" or "boot it" or "panic." And as I said here, I missed out on my chance to see an FCB team play, and even then, it wouldn't have been one of their better teams. I find teams really have to be in the upper 20 percent or so of teams to be able to execute whatever they're trying to do tactically. (Well, I suppose "boot it" and "panic" aren't that hard. I've seen teams that are exceptionally good at those. Goalkeeper punts to the other goalkeeper while parents yell "Great kick!" Ugh.)

Thanks for answering, RSD. That is reasonable. Alexandria is one of the few Clubs that welcomed FCB last year and had many friendlies with them. It makes sense since they are a possession-style Club as well. Since you sound genuinely interested, I will provide my experience. We had multiple kids in the academy from the start.

As far as so many happy people, I think FCB really filled a niche of people tired with the travel system and inflexible rostered teams, set for a year. I think the reason you are reading that so many people are happy is because it is it's own thing. It's hard to convey over the Internet. But, my kids did not have to tryout again. We had no tryouts this spring since they were already in the academy. That's an absolute first for us.

If you watch the training from the Evergreen stands, it is meticulous. The different groups rotating through the drills which change and evolve in a way that is carefully planned to the 9th degree. The TD said that there won't be standing around at training. There isn't. The players arrive 10-15 min prior and line up in a designated area in the stands and when there session time is ready, coaches come line up the groups and walk them onto the pitch as a team. The prior groups are already lined up and filing out. They get started right on time and end right on time. You don't bring your own ball. The balls are lined up in row around the pitch before and after each session. Note: no running around looking for your kid's lost ball and they are all pumped, identical and good condition. They don't waste a single of the 90 minutes.

They have the kids responding and behavior issues are handled swiftly. My kid told me there is a '3 strikes' rule. I found at so many other places Coaches turned a blind eye if a player was good. They could get away with disrupting things and still start and play the entire game. My kids used to get very frustrated at disruptive players at practices. That doesn't happen here. Consequences. The team concept is a big deal. Behavior and respect for teammates, coaches, etc. No blaming teammates or arguing with them if they make a mistake, etc. No talking back to the ref or whining about a call. There is responsibility. If you aren't in full training kit, you don't practice (with reason right now as not everyone received their kits from soccer.com yet). You can't wear other gear and gear with another Club, team, on hats, etc. is a big no. The kids are moving the entire session, not standing in lines, and you don't see players trickling in and off the pitch.

No parents are involved. No parent managers. No parent jobs. One central email to direct questions and report absences. There is less of a chance for any politics as it's made clear any player discussions are made through that manager who schedules a meeting with the TD. And, that TD has watched all of the players the whole year---attends all the group training sessions and games of all the different teams (obviously not every team every weekend). You aren't talking to somebody who is only hearing about the player from one of the Coaches, but somebody who has seen them very often himself and has a team of 12 different coaches that watch them every training over the year. The coaches are taking notes every session. You will see coaches and the TD circulate watch and discuss. This really did it for us. So many sets of eyes noticing every little detail and charting development for each individual player--eyes long term.

But, the main reason I think why this is different is that the TD and coaches are full-time staff. When they aren't in training, they are plotting, reviewing, organizing and have constant reporting back to FCB each week. FCB has done visits to insure it's being run appropriately.

Lastly, they truly are flexible and understanding of family and school obligations. They made it clear kids won't be penalized and they walked that talk. It takes a lot of pressure and worry off of everyone. There is no worry about losing your 'color' team spot because of an obligation. It's put that if you continually miss training, you won't develop as quickly, but it's about performance, in training and games overall. You don't feel a player is disposable and once the kid is in, the player is in for as long as they want to stay. They strive for a family-life balance and family is important to them.

And, yes, the above will not be right for everyone. I wouldn't expect everyone to like it here. Some kids will not like that level of discipline. Some parents will want to have more direct involvement. Some will want direct access to their Coach. Some people won't even like the possession-style. Some may feel they should cull the heard each spring. Some kids will prefer one designated Coach. Some may be die-hard Real Madrid fans. There are many different reasons to love it or hate it. I also don't claim to be an expert on all of the programs in the DMV, or the US. I know very little about DA or ECNL etc., for instance. What I posted is not meant to detract or diminish any other program. I have no idea if the above is being done by anyone else. I have posted my personal experience once before earlier in this thread and I'm sure that poster will come out of the woodwork to label this from 'one or two of the crazy fcb posters'. Whatever. I don't like the divisiveness of soccer programs and leagues in this area. There is no need for it and it works against the bigger picture. You sound like one of the reasonable ones. I'm happy to answer any other questions you have and with the realization that my personal experience is not indicative of any other parent with kids in the academy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello,

Quick confirmation question to FCB parents: what is the home and away kit? Just to be sure.

Thank you.

This is the kit you will need for the games: maroon shorts, socks and jersey and blue jersey. I believe maroon jersey is for the home games and blue jersey is for the away games. The shorts and socks stay the same.

Great, thank you all!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love that Barca made an effort to reschedule EDP games for Saturdays. When the schedule came out the games were scheduled for Sundays, but most of my son's games have been rescheduled for Saturdays. Hats off to Maryland clubs that agreed to rescheduling.

I can't see the schedule. What age group? can you post the schedule?

I was talking about U16 team (2003s), South Fall Div I. All schedules are here:

https://www.edpsoccer.com/page/show/4377891-2018-fall-schedules

Just find your team's division, click on the team's name in the division table and it will take you to the team specific schedule. Hope it helps.

That was super helpful - although for my son's team, unfortunately he still has all Sunday games. Maybe Barca hasn't gotten to his team yet...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello,

Quick confirmation question to FCB parents: what is the home and away kit? Just to be sure.

Thank you.

This is the kit you will need for the games: maroon shorts, socks and jersey and blue jersey. I believe maroon jersey is for the home games and blue jersey is for the away games. The shorts and socks stay the same.

Yes. This is correct. The shorts and socks are the same for home and away --maroon. 1 Maroon jersey (home) and 1 Navy jersey (away). So---all maroon when home. Navy jersey, maroon shorts and maroon socks when away.

Anonymous wrote:Hello,

Quick confirmation question to FCB parents: what is the home and away kit? Just to be sure.

Thank you.

This is the kit you will need for the games: maroon shorts, socks and jersey and blue jersey. I believe maroon jersey is for the home games and blue jersey is for the away games. The shorts and socks stay the same.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love that Barca made an effort to reschedule EDP games for Saturdays. When the schedule came out the games were scheduled for Sundays, but most of my son's games have been rescheduled for Saturdays. Hats off to Maryland clubs that agreed to rescheduling.

I can't see the schedule. What age group? can you post the schedule?

I was talking about U16 team (2003s), South Fall Div I. All schedules are here:

https://www.edpsoccer.com/page/show/4377891-2018-fall-schedules

Just find your team's division, click on the team's name in the division table and it will take you to the team specific schedule. Hope it helps.

Anonymous wrote:I love that Barca made an effort to reschedule EDP games for Saturdays. When the schedule came out the games were scheduled for Sundays, but most of my son's games have been rescheduled for Saturdays. Hats off to Maryland clubs that agreed to rescheduling.

I can't see the schedule. What age group? can you post the schedule?

Hello,

Quick confirmation question to FCB parents: what is the home and away kit? Just to be sure.

Thank you.

I love that Barca made an effort to reschedule EDP games for Saturdays. When the schedule came out the games were scheduled for Sundays, but most of my son's games have been rescheduled for Saturdays. Hats off to Maryland clubs that agreed to rescheduling.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That one guy (the one that isn’t part of FCB and never has been) that posts continually on this thread is never wrong. Let him and his conspiracy theories go unanswered. He’s the same guy on many different threads that insists on being right even when proven wrong, e.g., none of that negates what I stated. I posted once today, yet there have many different posts on this thread that sound just like something I could have written.

Conspiracy theorists abound on all of the forums because they are reading with blinders and think everything stated is about them. The “we have come to the conclusion”. Who is exactly “we”? A bunch of travel soccer coaches in an Office? Or, is “we” used so it gives more importance. And, why is “we” not affiliated with FCB so intent on policing this FCB thread?

Crazy stuff. Let him blabber. There are other intentions at play. Nobody needs to defend a choice about kid’s soccer.

Yeah, the dude is either a troll, who has nothing better to do, or a disgruntled coach from another club who may have lost his best players once the families figured out there are better options.

LOL--not only are these one or two FCB parents crazy, they are also delusional

His high majesty has declared delusion.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That one guy (the one that isn’t part of FCB and never has been) that posts continually on this thread is never wrong. Let him and his conspiracy theories go unanswered. He’s the same guy on many different threads that insists on being right even when proven wrong, e.g., none of that negates what I stated. I posted once today, yet there have many different posts on this thread that sound just like something I could have written.

Conspiracy theorists abound on all of the forums because they are reading with blinders and think everything stated is about them. The “we have come to the conclusion”. Who is exactly “we”? A bunch of travel soccer coaches in an Office? Or, is “we” used so it gives more importance. And, why is “we” not affiliated with FCB so intent on policing this FCB thread?

Crazy stuff. Let him blabber. There are other intentions at play. Nobody needs to defend a choice about kid’s soccer.

Yeah, the dude is either a troll, who has nothing better to do, or a disgruntled coach from another club who may have lost his best players once the families figured out there are better options.

LOL--not only are these one or two FCB parents crazy, they are also delusional

Anonymous wrote:That one guy (the one that isn’t part of FCB and never has been) that posts continually on this thread is never wrong. Let him and his conspiracy theories go unanswered. He’s the same guy on many different threads that insists on being right even when proven wrong, e.g., none of that negates what I stated. I posted once today, yet there have many different posts on this thread that sound just like something I could have written.

Conspiracy theorists abound on all of the forums because they are reading with blinders and think everything stated is about them. The “we have come to the conclusion”. Who is exactly “we”? A bunch of travel soccer coaches in an Office? Or, is “we” used so it gives more importance. And, why is “we” not affiliated with FCB so intent on policing this FCB thread?

Crazy stuff. Let him blabber. There are other intentions at play. Nobody needs to defend a choice about kid’s soccer.

Yeah, the dude is either a troll, who has nothing better to do, or a disgruntled coach from another club who may have lost his best players once the families figured out there are better options.

Anonymous wrote:That one guy (the one that isn’t part of FCB and never has been) that posts continually on this thread is never wrong. Let him and his conspiracy theories go unanswered. He’s the same guy on many different threads that insists on being right even when proven wrong, e.g., none of that negates what I stated. I posted once today, yet there have many different posts on this thread that sound just like something I could have written.

Conspiracy theorists abound on all of the forums because they are reading with blinders and think everything stated is about them. The “we have come to the conclusion”. Who is exactly “we”? A bunch of travel soccer coaches in an Office? Or, is “we” used so it gives more importance. And, why is “we” not affiliated with FCB so intent on policing this FCB thread?

Crazy stuff. Let him blabber. There are other intentions at play. Nobody needs to defend a choice about kid’s soccer.

hahaha. Sounds like we have yet another conspiracy theory FCB freak right here. Or probably the same one who is responsible for most of this mess of a thread. Have it your way. I think most thinking people know there are negatives with any environment.

Keep flaming, my friends.

That one guy (the one that isn’t part of FCB and never has been) that posts continually on this thread is never wrong. Let him and his conspiracy theories go unanswered. He’s the same guy on many different threads that insists on being right even when proven wrong, e.g., none of that negates what I stated. I posted once today, yet there have many different posts on this thread that sound just like something I could have written.

Conspiracy theorists abound on all of the forums because they are reading with blinders and think everything stated is about them. The “we have come to the conclusion”. Who is exactly “we”? A bunch of travel soccer coaches in an Office? Or, is “we” used so it gives more importance. And, why is “we” not affiliated with FCB so intent on policing this FCB thread?

Crazy stuff. Let him blabber. There are other intentions at play. Nobody needs to defend a choice about kid’s soccer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since there is quite a bit of sensitivity here about “throwing shade” and any negative comments concerning the Escola, I think it would behoove the poster (or posters) here who are sensitive to it, and others who are trying to figure out the dysfunction of this board, to understand what may be happening.

We notice that the same type of poster, if not the same poster, who posts all of the glorious praise of this program, in this thread, also starts numerous attack threads with the “why US Soccer and any program in the US sucks” theme. By the way, it’s obvious--same opinions, same sentence construction, even the wording is the same. They even spin off individual posts within the attack threads to start new attack threads. They carefully craft numerous arguments to bolster whatever the specific opinion might be, for example US women’s soccer is in the tank (oh, please), then at some point in these attack threads a post is made to point out that, hey, the Escola isn’t like that at all, it’s SO much better.

In addition, anyone who has any opinion of the Escola that could be construed as slightly negative, including several posters in this and previous Escola threads who have said they have had DCs in the program, is rudely dismissed. Even posters who simply ask related questions or make comments on the dialogue are drawn through the mud.

The opinion of former/current Escola customers that don’t agree with yours are just as valid. Rather than starting wars over which training methods are “better” or making the absurd claim that, just because the programs you have had experience with haven’t been up to your standard/benefitted your DC, all programs in the US are awful, maybe you (whether you are a single individual or small group, whatever) could keep to posting just your positive opinions about the Escola in this thread. And if a thread comes up about a specific program that you actually had experience with, comment on the good and bad of that program. And to repeat, it’s absolutely absurd to think that you have deep knowledge of every program in the area and can definitively say that the Escola is better than all.

The main point is simple, no more flamethrower posts about the various local DA and ECNL programs, full of inaccurate/incomplete or out of context information, with constant begging the question of which exact group you were with (it’s obvious you weren’t to people who are with those groups). Fire begets fire on these anonymous boards, and if you don’t like “shade” thrown at you, don’t throw it. I’ll wager that if you keep to this thread with your Escola love and stop your battery of attacks on US soccer, things might get friendlier across the board.

Nobody is sensitive about criticism from people who have been in the program. It is the criticism that is volleyed from people who are not a part of the program at all who feel a sense of entitlement to tell people who are in at Barca that they are wrong for being happy with the product and feel that it is different than clubs they have previously been at.

The things that people who left Barca and were unhappy about were often the same things that others were happy about. So there is a common truth about the program, just a difference in opinion regarding satisfaction with the methods. But, I've been at a few clubs and no club in the area runs things the way Barca does. That does not mean it works for everybody.

If you want a "team" and a social environment Barca is NOT the place for your kid.
If you want or need the A or B team label for your kid, Barca is NOT the place for you.
If you want your kid to have one coach and one coach only, Barca is NOT the place for you.
If you need to win now, Barca is not the place for you.

All of the above can be flipped and be a breath a fresh air for many people and that is why the people who love Barca so far love it and those who did not love and even disliked it really disliked it.

But I think people have been honest with their experiences and the sensitivity comes from simply telling them that they in fact did not have that experience.

I think the last sentence here sums it up in both directions. We were there last year and I've seen the reviews, both positive and negative, written here. Like you said, I didn't see any blatant misrepresentations on either side. What I think it comes to is perception. The people who like the environment and had good interactions with the staff see it very positively. The people who saw things that concerned them and didn't have the same experience as the first group shared a different opinion. It's really not much different than the feedback I've read here on any club. What is strikingly different about this group is that the person or people who are members of the first group react very strongly about the opinions of the second group, invalidating their opinions and points of view.

An example is the communication. Some people complained about not having all the information last year/not getting emails/etc. Which is an understandable and very plausible concern, as there is human error involved with making and maintaining e-mail lists, if that's the main form of communication. The response was that this isn't true and the communication was awesome and everyone is aware of everything. All the while, there are people in this thread who didn't get emails on the uniforms a few weeks ago, so it's obviously an issue. Those people were given a hard time on here too. And I can say there were a few cases where I or a fellow parent didn't receive a communication last year, for whatever reason, which confirms that this happens. Yet, the one/few defenders here insists that it's just not happening. Now, this concern is hardly a damning problem that anyone would use as a primary reason to join or leave a club, but the reaction to sharing it here it is extreme.

On the rest of the original post, I wouldn't be surprised if one of the defenders here were responsible for the anti-US Soccer postings. Many parents were moderate people, but there were a several who shared with others their awful experiences at other clubs and held views like this about US Soccer and the "system" in general. I also agree with the idea that if people just shared their experiences instead of attacking other methods or clubs that dialogue here would be much more civil.

Nobody is perfect, but the context matters. I don't doubt that some of the parents may have been inadvertently omitted from the distribution lists, but I don't believe that anyone questioned that it may have happened to them. On the other hand, it seems that it is a little extreme to equate a couple of possible mistakes in the distribution lists in the first week with assertion make on these boards that Barca suffers from poor communication. Context matters. When compared to other clubs that my kids played for, the communication is excellent. How many clubs in Metro DC area have their technical directors meet with parents for every single team in the program to explain the training process, the principles of play, and what they are trying to achieve with the team, while illustrating his points by breaking down the game and training film? Barca did it last year with every single team.