Is there any inter-academy communication between like Charlotte and Nova? And I’m curious what one is a DA but the others are not. Is there a good FCB “historian” in the house?

What I find interesting is the drift of players from big clubs to Barca. I wonder where it will head.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My team started in ODSL, worked our way up through NCSL and I’d say they play some of the best soccer in the state (I’m biased of course). There’s no shame in it, some people just can’t afford to play in the other leagues. There’s also nothing wrong with starting in EDP if they think they can cut it. Best of luck, I’m rooting for FCB to do well due to the style of play they adhere to.

It's funny. Many of the toughest teams my kid's teams have encountered over the years aren't the big names in the fancy leagues. Leagues and counties work against the little guy. You need to start at the very, very bottom and scrap for field space.

That is often the case. Then when the smaller club has developed the kid into something, the big club swoops in to try and recruit the player.

Anonymous wrote:My team started in ODSL, worked our way up through NCSL and I’d say they play some of the best soccer in the state (I’m biased of course). There’s no shame in it, some people just can’t afford to play in the other leagues. There’s also nothing wrong with starting in EDP if they think they can cut it. Best of luck, I’m rooting for FCB to do well due to the style of play they adhere to.

It's funny. Many of the toughest teams my kid's teams have encountered over the years aren't the big names in the fancy leagues. Leagues and counties work against the little guy. You need to start at the very, very bottom and scrap for field space.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After 2 weeks with the program, my kid loves it. Just like any other club, skill levels vary but none of the kids are penalized or given an advantage based on level of play. I love sitting and watching practice without all the gossip from other parents. I don't know you and you don't know me, i'm good with that. I'm not here to party with parents or looking for white rocks in your yard.

Coaches are all legit, no arrogant pricks like with other clubs. I don't talk to them, but a friendly wave or handshake is what I get and all I need. Onto the pitch, they teach the kids...let me repeat...teach. No yelling for motivation, they simply teach. We have had a different coach for each practice and they have all been solid. I have no idea how we would do against an outside team, but my child is having fun learning soccer again, enough said.

I know I got in trouble for saying it before, but this really does sound so much like PAC. Surely more ambitious, though, if they're entering teams in EDP.

Take it for what it's worth, but the word that the owner of the company that brought FCB into the partnership claimed that there was resistance to FCB teams entering local leagues from other clubs....assumption was NCSL and/or VPL, but I don't remember a league named. This was at a club meeting where he said he wanted to "unleash soccer" on the area. So, yeah, there is a lot of "ambition" involved.

Some of the top teams in the age groups are starting in the top Division of EDP, alongside #1 ranked VA and #1 MD teams. These are the teams that had success in several competitive tournaments. Again, just the older teams are entering EDP until Spring. It's still very early--but they haven't veered from using the games for development purposes vs wins. Kids play equal amounts, in different positions and they don't veer off methodology. They were worried about entering competition too early and have kids slide into old bad habits. These teams are very new and going up against many that have been playing together for years and with a style they are just getting comfortable with for the most part--so if nothing, it will be interesting. I think most of the people in it care more about the weekly training sessions than sheer results at this point.

And, yes, there wasn't a very warm welcome for them. And, there was active resistance in some cases to prevent them from entering leagues and I think that was the context--and that statement was said partly in jest. But, of course, they do ultimately want to be successful over time. Development takes time and it's been fun to watch the progression.

I agree and think it will be good for them to get into league play. I think NCSL or ODSL would have been a good choice as a starting point, especially for the young teams. Not sure why there would be so much resistance from those clubs.

Some of the teams that were placed in EDP have already beaten and shown to be competitive against top teams, so starting them in ODSL would be ridiculous. They have many different levels at the Academy. And most leagues have different tiers so it should sort itself out.

Sure, maybe a team or two would be out of place in ODSL, but a majority of the teams, especially younger would make a nice fit there, or in a lower division of NCSL, based on last years scrimmages and tournament play.

Why do you see that as a negative or threatening? I personally want my DC to play at an appropriate speed, especially considering Barcelona's more complicated style. It's easier to learn it when the kid has time vs. against fast, quick, strong, big players that give them no time to think.

Different poster here. Barca's technical staff knows what they are doing in terms of development and I am sure they carefully evaluated what league would be most appropriate for their teams. This is not a slight to ODSL, NCSL, CCL, ECNL, VPL or any other possible league, where they did not place their teams.

I don't think anyone indicated the staff didn't know what they were doing. I had the same observation that ODSL or the lower divisions of NCSL seemed appropriate for the teams I saw and the level of play in those leagues. I don't think there should be a stigma associated with that and I hope it doesn't strike any nerves. It shouldn't.

No stigma/nerves struck. But you realize, these broad statements are akin to going and watching a big Club's Gold teams and judging the entire Club by those few teams. Additionally, some of those fcb teams you watched had never played a game prior to one tournament and were mixed with many younger players. The posters have no idea which level team they were watching. I'm guessing from the response it wasn't one of the top ones as spectators had the opposite reaction at many of the tournaments we were at with parents from other teams/states coming up to find out more about the academy they were so impressed by what they saw on the field.

So they do have several top teams in some of the age Groups that certainly belong in these tougher leagues/divisions. These teams have beaten top local teams and top teams in other parts of the Country. Some of these teams never lost a game since they started competing, much less let in a goal. Since there is pro/rel if they aren't quite there they can move out of the first division. But, it is because of the teams they have beaten and the tournaments they won that they were ranked accordingly.

And, certain fcb teams might fit better in different leagues than the ones they are placing their top teams in just like any other Club. That remains to be seen if they will do just that as many teams won't start league play this Fall.

Anonymous wrote:

RantingSoccerDad wrote:With a no-cut policy, it would make sense that they'd have teams in multiple leagues.

I'm sorry to hear there's friction with the local leagues. Shouldn't be that way.

So many other clubs in the area think they're "above" NCSL. They're not.

NCSL isn't what it used to be which is too bad.

I love the pro/rel format and how deep with divisions it can get. My biggest problem with NCSL is the officiating. Big clubs often get favored with calls.

Anonymous wrote:

RantingSoccerDad wrote:With a no-cut policy, it would make sense that they'd have teams in multiple leagues.

I'm sorry to hear there's friction with the local leagues. Shouldn't be that way.

So many other clubs in the area think they're "above" NCSL. They're not.

NCSL isn't what it used to be which is too bad.

Usually the teams in the top half of D1-D2 are fairly strong.

RantingSoccerDad wrote:With a no-cut policy, it would make sense that they'd have teams in multiple leagues.

I'm sorry to hear there's friction with the local leagues. Shouldn't be that way.

So many other clubs in the area think they're "above" NCSL. They're not.

NCSL isn't what it used to be which is too bad.

My team started in ODSL, worked our way up through NCSL and I’d say they play some of the best soccer in the state (I’m biased of course). There’s no shame in it, some people just can’t afford to play in the other leagues. There’s also nothing wrong with starting in EDP if they think they can cut it. Best of luck, I’m rooting for FCB to do well due to the style of play they adhere to.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After 2 weeks with the program, my kid loves it. Just like any other club, skill levels vary but none of the kids are penalized or given an advantage based on level of play. I love sitting and watching practice without all the gossip from other parents. I don't know you and you don't know me, i'm good with that. I'm not here to party with parents or looking for white rocks in your yard.

Coaches are all legit, no arrogant pricks like with other clubs. I don't talk to them, but a friendly wave or handshake is what I get and all I need. Onto the pitch, they teach the kids...let me repeat...teach. No yelling for motivation, they simply teach. We have had a different coach for each practice and they have all been solid. I have no idea how we would do against an outside team, but my child is having fun learning soccer again, enough said.

I know I got in trouble for saying it before, but this really does sound so much like PAC. Surely more ambitious, though, if they're entering teams in EDP.

Take it for what it's worth, but the word that the owner of the company that brought FCB into the partnership claimed that there was resistance to FCB teams entering local leagues from other clubs....assumption was NCSL and/or VPL, but I don't remember a league named. This was at a club meeting where he said he wanted to "unleash soccer" on the area. So, yeah, there is a lot of "ambition" involved.

Some of the top teams in the age groups are starting in the top Division of EDP, alongside #1 ranked VA and #1 MD teams. These are the teams that had success in several competitive tournaments. Again, just the older teams are entering EDP until Spring. It's still very early--but they haven't veered from using the games for development purposes vs wins. Kids play equal amounts, in different positions and they don't veer off methodology. They were worried about entering competition too early and have kids slide into old bad habits. These teams are very new and going up against many that have been playing together for years and with a style they are just getting comfortable with for the most part--so if nothing, it will be interesting. I think most of the people in it care more about the weekly training sessions than sheer results at this point.

And, yes, there wasn't a very warm welcome for them. And, there was active resistance in some cases to prevent them from entering leagues and I think that was the context--and that statement was said partly in jest. But, of course, they do ultimately want to be successful over time. Development takes time and it's been fun to watch the progression.

I agree and think it will be good for them to get into league play. I think NCSL or ODSL would have been a good choice as a starting point, especially for the young teams. Not sure why there would be so much resistance from those clubs.

Some of the teams that were placed in EDP have already beaten and shown to be competitive against top teams, so starting them in ODSL would be ridiculous. They have many different levels at the Academy. And most leagues have different tiers so it should sort itself out.

Sure, maybe a team or two would be out of place in ODSL, but a majority of the teams, especially younger would make a nice fit there, or in a lower division of NCSL, based on last years scrimmages and tournament play.

Why do you see that as a negative or threatening? I personally want my DC to play at an appropriate speed, especially considering Barcelona's more complicated style. It's easier to learn it when the kid has time vs. against fast, quick, strong, big players that give them no time to think.

Different poster here. Barca's technical staff knows what they are doing in terms of development and I am sure they carefully evaluated what league would be most appropriate for their teams. This is not a slight to ODSL, NCSL, CCL, ECNL, VPL or any other possible league, where they did not place their teams.

I don't think anyone indicated the staff didn't know what they were doing. I had the same observation that ODSL or the lower divisions of NCSL seemed appropriate for the teams I saw and the level of play in those leagues. I don't think there should be a stigma associated with that and I hope it doesn't strike any nerves. It shouldn't.

No nerves were struck. The coaching staff probably evaluated the teams differently than you did. You may have also seen the teams at an earlier point in time. I know that one girls team played a game against Annandale and lost by a big score, by mid season they played the same team and tied them, by the end of the season they played the same team for the third time and won by a big score.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After 2 weeks with the program, my kid loves it. Just like any other club, skill levels vary but none of the kids are penalized or given an advantage based on level of play. I love sitting and watching practice without all the gossip from other parents. I don't know you and you don't know me, i'm good with that. I'm not here to party with parents or looking for white rocks in your yard.

Coaches are all legit, no arrogant pricks like with other clubs. I don't talk to them, but a friendly wave or handshake is what I get and all I need. Onto the pitch, they teach the kids...let me repeat...teach. No yelling for motivation, they simply teach. We have had a different coach for each practice and they have all been solid. I have no idea how we would do against an outside team, but my child is having fun learning soccer again, enough said.

I know I got in trouble for saying it before, but this really does sound so much like PAC. Surely more ambitious, though, if they're entering teams in EDP.

Take it for what it's worth, but the word that the owner of the company that brought FCB into the partnership claimed that there was resistance to FCB teams entering local leagues from other clubs....assumption was NCSL and/or VPL, but I don't remember a league named. This was at a club meeting where he said he wanted to "unleash soccer" on the area. So, yeah, there is a lot of "ambition" involved.

Some of the top teams in the age groups are starting in the top Division of EDP, alongside #1 ranked VA and #1 MD teams. These are the teams that had success in several competitive tournaments. Again, just the older teams are entering EDP until Spring. It's still very early--but they haven't veered from using the games for development purposes vs wins. Kids play equal amounts, in different positions and they don't veer off methodology. They were worried about entering competition too early and have kids slide into old bad habits. These teams are very new and going up against many that have been playing together for years and with a style they are just getting comfortable with for the most part--so if nothing, it will be interesting. I think most of the people in it care more about the weekly training sessions than sheer results at this point.

And, yes, there wasn't a very warm welcome for them. And, there was active resistance in some cases to prevent them from entering leagues and I think that was the context--and that statement was said partly in jest. But, of course, they do ultimately want to be successful over time. Development takes time and it's been fun to watch the progression.

I agree and think it will be good for them to get into league play. I think NCSL or ODSL would have been a good choice as a starting point, especially for the young teams. Not sure why there would be so much resistance from those clubs.

Some of the teams that were placed in EDP have already beaten and shown to be competitive against top teams, so starting them in ODSL would be ridiculous. They have many different levels at the Academy. And most leagues have different tiers so it should sort itself out.

Sure, maybe a team or two would be out of place in ODSL, but a majority of the teams, especially younger would make a nice fit there, or in a lower division of NCSL, based on last years scrimmages and tournament play.

Why do you see that as a negative or threatening? I personally want my DC to play at an appropriate speed, especially considering Barcelona's more complicated style. It's easier to learn it when the kid has time vs. against fast, quick, strong, big players that give them no time to think.

Different poster here. Barca's technical staff knows what they are doing in terms of development and I am sure they carefully evaluated what league would be most appropriate for their teams. This is not a slight to ODSL, NCSL, CCL, ECNL, VPL or any other possible league, where they did not place their teams.

I don't think anyone indicated the staff didn't know what they were doing. I had the same observation that ODSL or the lower divisions of NCSL seemed appropriate for the teams I saw and the level of play in those leagues. I don't think there should be a stigma associated with that and I hope it doesn't strike any nerves. It shouldn't.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is there still a team calling itself Barcelona USAs MD? Isn’t this that fraud club using the name without any affiliation?

There should be no fraud concerns unless they claim affiliation. Using a name of the favorite club in the name of an amateur club is a common practice. There are plenty of Arsenals, Reals, Chelseas, Uniteds, Barcelonas, Espanyols, Bayerns, Citys in the United States, which have no affiliation to the European clubs. I think there's even an Everton Club in the top Chilean league, which was named after an English club when formed many years ago.

They wear the FCB jerseys. People even confuse them with actual academies. It's fraud.

When they open an Escola in MD. They’ll be given 2 options. They can either keep being FCB by joining the Escola, or they can change their club’s name just like Doradus had to.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is there still a team calling itself Barcelona USAs MD? Isn’t this that fraud club using the name without any affiliation?

There should be no fraud concerns unless they claim affiliation. Using a name of the favorite club in the name of an amateur club is a common practice. There are plenty of Arsenals, Reals, Chelseas, Uniteds, Barcelonas, Espanyols, Bayerns, Citys in the United States, which have no affiliation to the European clubs. I think there's even an Everton Club in the top Chilean league, which was named after an English club when formed many years ago.

They wear the FCB jerseys. People even confuse them with actual academies. It's fraud.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After 2 weeks with the program, my kid loves it. Just like any other club, skill levels vary but none of the kids are penalized or given an advantage based on level of play. I love sitting and watching practice without all the gossip from other parents. I don't know you and you don't know me, i'm good with that. I'm not here to party with parents or looking for white rocks in your yard.

Coaches are all legit, no arrogant pricks like with other clubs. I don't talk to them, but a friendly wave or handshake is what I get and all I need. Onto the pitch, they teach the kids...let me repeat...teach. No yelling for motivation, they simply teach. We have had a different coach for each practice and they have all been solid. I have no idea how we would do against an outside team, but my child is having fun learning soccer again, enough said.

I know I got in trouble for saying it before, but this really does sound so much like PAC. Surely more ambitious, though, if they're entering teams in EDP.

Take it for what it's worth, but the word that the owner of the company that brought FCB into the partnership claimed that there was resistance to FCB teams entering local leagues from other clubs....assumption was NCSL and/or VPL, but I don't remember a league named. This was at a club meeting where he said he wanted to "unleash soccer" on the area. So, yeah, there is a lot of "ambition" involved.

Some of the top teams in the age groups are starting in the top Division of EDP, alongside #1 ranked VA and #1 MD teams. These are the teams that had success in several competitive tournaments. Again, just the older teams are entering EDP until Spring. It's still very early--but they haven't veered from using the games for development purposes vs wins. Kids play equal amounts, in different positions and they don't veer off methodology. They were worried about entering competition too early and have kids slide into old bad habits. These teams are very new and going up against many that have been playing together for years and with a style they are just getting comfortable with for the most part--so if nothing, it will be interesting. I think most of the people in it care more about the weekly training sessions than sheer results at this point.

And, yes, there wasn't a very warm welcome for them. And, there was active resistance in some cases to prevent them from entering leagues and I think that was the context--and that statement was said partly in jest. But, of course, they do ultimately want to be successful over time. Development takes time and it's been fun to watch the progression.

I agree and think it will be good for them to get into league play. I think NCSL or ODSL would have been a good choice as a starting point, especially for the young teams. Not sure why there would be so much resistance from those clubs.

Some of the teams that were placed in EDP have already beaten and shown to be competitive against top teams, so starting them in ODSL would be ridiculous. They have many different levels at the Academy. And most leagues have different tiers so it should sort itself out.

Sure, maybe a team or two would be out of place in ODSL, but a majority of the teams, especially younger would make a nice fit there, or in a lower division of NCSL, based on last years scrimmages and tournament play.

Why do you see that as a negative or threatening? I personally want my DC to play at an appropriate speed, especially considering Barcelona's more complicated style. It's easier to learn it when the kid has time vs. against fast, quick, strong, big players that give them no time to think.

Different poster here. Barca's technical staff knows what they are doing in terms of development and I am sure they carefully evaluated what league would be most appropriate for their teams. This is not a slight to ODSL, NCSL, CCL, ECNL, VPL or any other possible league, where they did not place their teams.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After 2 weeks with the program, my kid loves it. Just like any other club, skill levels vary but none of the kids are penalized or given an advantage based on level of play. I love sitting and watching practice without all the gossip from other parents. I don't know you and you don't know me, i'm good with that. I'm not here to party with parents or looking for white rocks in your yard.

Coaches are all legit, no arrogant pricks like with other clubs. I don't talk to them, but a friendly wave or handshake is what I get and all I need. Onto the pitch, they teach the kids...let me repeat...teach. No yelling for motivation, they simply teach. We have had a different coach for each practice and they have all been solid. I have no idea how we would do against an outside team, but my child is having fun learning soccer again, enough said.

I know I got in trouble for saying it before, but this really does sound so much like PAC. Surely more ambitious, though, if they're entering teams in EDP.

Take it for what it's worth, but the word that the owner of the company that brought FCB into the partnership claimed that there was resistance to FCB teams entering local leagues from other clubs....assumption was NCSL and/or VPL, but I don't remember a league named. This was at a club meeting where he said he wanted to "unleash soccer" on the area. So, yeah, there is a lot of "ambition" involved.

Some of the top teams in the age groups are starting in the top Division of EDP, alongside #1 ranked VA and #1 MD teams. These are the teams that had success in several competitive tournaments. Again, just the older teams are entering EDP until Spring. It's still very early--but they haven't veered from using the games for development purposes vs wins. Kids play equal amounts, in different positions and they don't veer off methodology. They were worried about entering competition too early and have kids slide into old bad habits. These teams are very new and going up against many that have been playing together for years and with a style they are just getting comfortable with for the most part--so if nothing, it will be interesting. I think most of the people in it care more about the weekly training sessions than sheer results at this point.

And, yes, there wasn't a very warm welcome for them. And, there was active resistance in some cases to prevent them from entering leagues and I think that was the context--and that statement was said partly in jest. But, of course, they do ultimately want to be successful over time. Development takes time and it's been fun to watch the progression.

I agree and think it will be good for them to get into league play. I think NCSL or ODSL would have been a good choice as a starting point, especially for the young teams. Not sure why there would be so much resistance from those clubs.

Some of the teams that were placed in EDP have already beaten and shown to be competitive against top teams, so starting them in ODSL would be ridiculous. They have many different levels at the Academy. And most leagues have different tiers so it should sort itself out.

Sure, maybe a team or two would be out of place in ODSL, but a majority of the teams, especially younger would make a nice fit there, or in a lower division of NCSL, based on last years scrimmages and tournament play.

Why do you see that as a negative or threatening? I personally want my DC to play at an appropriate speed, especially considering Barcelona's more complicated style. It's easier to learn it when the kid has time vs. against fast, quick, strong, big players that give them no time to think.