I just think the vast majority of the people talking conspiracies have not actually been to Evergreen to see for themselves how they operate. The club, players, and coaches themselves could not care less about the club politics and hierarchies.

RantingSoccerDad wrote:For the record, and without quoting all the previous posts -- I don't consider one or two people a reflection of FCB as a whole, no more so than the handful of overbearing BRYC or Vienna parents reflect those clubs.

I do find it strange McLean is so rarely discussed here. Do they have a super-secret message board of their own? (Probably a subject for another thread. Or not.)

My guess is McLean parents are to busy being Doctors, Lawyers and Captains of Industry to be to bothered to post here. Perhaps they should make it a requirement of their Au Pair's to do so in the future.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?

One is a DA because they bought an existing DA club. The local Escola/Academy will likely never apply for DA status or ECNL. The area is simply to saturated with ECNL and DA clubs right now.

Barca NOVA won't be in DA this year, but it they continue doing what they are currently doing, I can see them getting DA boys status in a couple of years with probably one of the local non-MLS clubs losing their DA status. Their U18 boys team already got good results against some DA teams in friendlies. And there were quite a few players that left DAs to join Barca boys program at the older age groups. I don't think Barca is interested in joining ECNL on the boys side. They are still developing their girls program so ECNL might be an option down the road for the girls.

That's what I'm wondering too. If they outgrow where they are playing, it would make sense to move up in competition. And there's no question the program is attracting players from all over hungry for something more.

See, this is the kind of comment I don't get.

The best posts in this thread have detailed the club's approach, which is certainly unique in many ways. But it also seems like the sort of club that isn't designed to be a megaclub like Loudoun or Arlington. FCB's stock and trade is individual attention for whatever level, whether it's kids ready to play at high-EDP level or kids drawn by the "we're not going to cut kids who are already in the system" policy.

So it's a bit confusing. Is FCB designed to come in and beat the existing DA and ECNL operations in the DMV at their own games, attracting hundreds of players to build up layers of travel programs over a giant rec league? Or is it here to offer something different, less cookie-cutter and more individualized at a wide range of competition levels? Because the two really aren't compatible.

I don't mind saying I'm rooting for the latter. I don't really care whether it's DA or ECNL or whatever because I'm pretty firmly on the record that such leagues shouldn't be exclusive, and if FCB or SYA or FC Dulles or Real World FC puts together a team that can hang with the big guns, let them play.

RSD, I don't think that Barca would have to dramatically alter its approach even if their top teams joined DA at some point. Their teams could play in multiple leagues depending on the level of each team, which I think was the approach that you advocated on these boards earlier. That being said, they only do EDP now and have not announced any plans to join another league. Whatever they do in the future will be based on what is best for player development, including finding an appropriate level of competition. With due respect to local soccer clubs, I just don't see Barca seeking to imitate their model.

I should clarify my comments -- I don't mean to say FCB shouldn't play DA or ECNL. I'd rather the system changed to it would all be more fluid, and they can play at whatever level is sustainable, moving up and down as needed. The system probably isn't going to change in the next couple of years, so they'll have to adapt to it, and if that means going DA or ECNL for the top teams, I fully understand that.

My surprise here is when people get on here and trash-talk the rest of Northern Virginia, as if every half-decent player in an area of a couple million people will abandon Loudoun, Arlington, Braddock Road, VDA and everywhere else to go to a club that would then have to scale up in a way I'm not sure they would ever intend.

Why are you surprised? Trash all other options, check. Paint an idyllic picture of the perfect environment, check. In numbers, attack those who disagree with you on both fronts, double check. This person or small group of parents maneuvers just like a political operation, and not just in this thread. The anonymity is the perfect cover. Quite sick, in my opinion.

RSD, a you can see the trash talk and negative comments do not originate with Barca, as you can see from the response above. As for the player movement, the top players move among the clubs all the time. Nobody is suggesting that the clubs you've mentioned will go out of business simply because some of their top teams lost players to Barca. Barca has played friendlies with DCU, Bethesda, Arlington and others. I think they are on good terms with quite a few clubs in the area.

Actually, nothing was said to trash Barca in that post. Just the parents posting here. Read this complete thread and other threads and there are a number of examples to back up the post you responded to.

I guess the truth hurts, and feels like an attack.

Wtf is “the truth”, exactly? Kind of ironic the way you word your post as if there’s some tin foil hat conspiracy, then post it anonymously.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?

One is a DA because they bought an existing DA club. The local Escola/Academy will likely never apply for DA status or ECNL. The area is simply to saturated with ECNL and DA clubs right now.

Barca NOVA won't be in DA this year, but it they continue doing what they are currently doing, I can see them getting DA boys status in a couple of years with probably one of the local non-MLS clubs losing their DA status. Their U18 boys team already got good results against some DA teams in friendlies. And there were quite a few players that left DAs to join Barca boys program at the older age groups. I don't think Barca is interested in joining ECNL on the boys side. They are still developing their girls program so ECNL might be an option down the road for the girls.

That's what I'm wondering too. If they outgrow where they are playing, it would make sense to move up in competition. And there's no question the program is attracting players from all over hungry for something more.

See, this is the kind of comment I don't get.

The best posts in this thread have detailed the club's approach, which is certainly unique in many ways. But it also seems like the sort of club that isn't designed to be a megaclub like Loudoun or Arlington. FCB's stock and trade is individual attention for whatever level, whether it's kids ready to play at high-EDP level or kids drawn by the "we're not going to cut kids who are already in the system" policy.

So it's a bit confusing. Is FCB designed to come in and beat the existing DA and ECNL operations in the DMV at their own games, attracting hundreds of players to build up layers of travel programs over a giant rec league? Or is it here to offer something different, less cookie-cutter and more individualized at a wide range of competition levels? Because the two really aren't compatible.

I don't mind saying I'm rooting for the latter. I don't really care whether it's DA or ECNL or whatever because I'm pretty firmly on the record that such leagues shouldn't be exclusive, and if FCB or SYA or FC Dulles or Real World FC puts together a team that can hang with the big guns, let them play.

RSD, I don't think that Barca would have to dramatically alter its approach even if their top teams joined DA at some point. Their teams could play in multiple leagues depending on the level of each team, which I think was the approach that you advocated on these boards earlier. That being said, they only do EDP now and have not announced any plans to join another league. Whatever they do in the future will be based on what is best for player development, including finding an appropriate level of competition. With due respect to local soccer clubs, I just don't see Barca seeking to imitate their model.

I should clarify my comments -- I don't mean to say FCB shouldn't play DA or ECNL. I'd rather the system changed to it would all be more fluid, and they can play at whatever level is sustainable, moving up and down as needed. The system probably isn't going to change in the next couple of years, so they'll have to adapt to it, and if that means going DA or ECNL for the top teams, I fully understand that.

My surprise here is when people get on here and trash-talk the rest of Northern Virginia, as if every half-decent player in an area of a couple million people will abandon Loudoun, Arlington, Braddock Road, VDA and everywhere else to go to a club that would then have to scale up in a way I'm not sure they would ever intend.

Why are you surprised? Trash all other options, check. Paint an idyllic picture of the perfect environment, check. In numbers, attack those who disagree with you on both fronts, double check. This person or small group of parents maneuvers just like a political operation, and not just in this thread. The anonymity is the perfect cover. Quite sick, in my opinion.

RSD, a you can see the trash talk and negative comments do not originate with Barca, as you can see from the response above. As for the player movement, the top players move among the clubs all the time. Nobody is suggesting that the clubs you've mentioned will go out of business simply because some of their top teams lost players to Barca. Barca has played friendlies with DCU, Bethesda, Arlington and others. I think they are on good terms with quite a few clubs in the area.

Actually, nothing was said to trash Barca in that post. Just the parents posting here. Read this complete thread and other threads and there are a number of examples to back up the post you responded to.

I guess the truth hurts, and feels like an attack.

Oh, well, good luck policing the parents and anonymous posters.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?

One is a DA because they bought an existing DA club. The local Escola/Academy will likely never apply for DA status or ECNL. The area is simply to saturated with ECNL and DA clubs right now.

Barca NOVA won't be in DA this year, but it they continue doing what they are currently doing, I can see them getting DA boys status in a couple of years with probably one of the local non-MLS clubs losing their DA status. Their U18 boys team already got good results against some DA teams in friendlies. And there were quite a few players that left DAs to join Barca boys program at the older age groups. I don't think Barca is interested in joining ECNL on the boys side. They are still developing their girls program so ECNL might be an option down the road for the girls.

That's what I'm wondering too. If they outgrow where they are playing, it would make sense to move up in competition. And there's no question the program is attracting players from all over hungry for something more.

See, this is the kind of comment I don't get.

The best posts in this thread have detailed the club's approach, which is certainly unique in many ways. But it also seems like the sort of club that isn't designed to be a megaclub like Loudoun or Arlington. FCB's stock and trade is individual attention for whatever level, whether it's kids ready to play at high-EDP level or kids drawn by the "we're not going to cut kids who are already in the system" policy.

So it's a bit confusing. Is FCB designed to come in and beat the existing DA and ECNL operations in the DMV at their own games, attracting hundreds of players to build up layers of travel programs over a giant rec league? Or is it here to offer something different, less cookie-cutter and more individualized at a wide range of competition levels? Because the two really aren't compatible.

I don't mind saying I'm rooting for the latter. I don't really care whether it's DA or ECNL or whatever because I'm pretty firmly on the record that such leagues shouldn't be exclusive, and if FCB or SYA or FC Dulles or Real World FC puts together a team that can hang with the big guns, let them play.

RSD, I don't think that Barca would have to dramatically alter its approach even if their top teams joined DA at some point. Their teams could play in multiple leagues depending on the level of each team, which I think was the approach that you advocated on these boards earlier. That being said, they only do EDP now and have not announced any plans to join another league. Whatever they do in the future will be based on what is best for player development, including finding an appropriate level of competition. With due respect to local soccer clubs, I just don't see Barca seeking to imitate their model.

I should clarify my comments -- I don't mean to say FCB shouldn't play DA or ECNL. I'd rather the system changed to it would all be more fluid, and they can play at whatever level is sustainable, moving up and down as needed. The system probably isn't going to change in the next couple of years, so they'll have to adapt to it, and if that means going DA or ECNL for the top teams, I fully understand that.

My surprise here is when people get on here and trash-talk the rest of Northern Virginia, as if every half-decent player in an area of a couple million people will abandon Loudoun, Arlington, Braddock Road, VDA and everywhere else to go to a club that would then have to scale up in a way I'm not sure they would ever intend.

Why are you surprised? Trash all other options, check. Paint an idyllic picture of the perfect environment, check. In numbers, attack those who disagree with you on both fronts, double check. This person or small group of parents maneuvers just like a political operation, and not just in this thread. The anonymity is the perfect cover. Quite sick, in my opinion.

RSD, a you can see the trash talk and negative comments do not originate with Barca, as you can see from the response above. As for the player movement, the top players move among the clubs all the time. Nobody is suggesting that the clubs you've mentioned will go out of business simply because some of their top teams lost players to Barca. Barca has played friendlies with DCU, Bethesda, Arlington and others. I think they are on good terms with quite a few clubs in the area.

Actually, nothing was said to trash Barca in that post. Just the parents posting here. Read this complete thread and other threads and there are a number of examples to back up the post you responded to.

I guess the truth hurts, and feels like an attack.

Anonymous wrote:

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?

One is a DA because they bought an existing DA club. The local Escola/Academy will likely never apply for DA status or ECNL. The area is simply to saturated with ECNL and DA clubs right now.

Barca NOVA won't be in DA this year, but it they continue doing what they are currently doing, I can see them getting DA boys status in a couple of years with probably one of the local non-MLS clubs losing their DA status. Their U18 boys team already got good results against some DA teams in friendlies. And there were quite a few players that left DAs to join Barca boys program at the older age groups. I don't think Barca is interested in joining ECNL on the boys side. They are still developing their girls program so ECNL might be an option down the road for the girls.

That's what I'm wondering too. If they outgrow where they are playing, it would make sense to move up in competition. And there's no question the program is attracting players from all over hungry for something more.

See, this is the kind of comment I don't get.

The best posts in this thread have detailed the club's approach, which is certainly unique in many ways. But it also seems like the sort of club that isn't designed to be a megaclub like Loudoun or Arlington. FCB's stock and trade is individual attention for whatever level, whether it's kids ready to play at high-EDP level or kids drawn by the "we're not going to cut kids who are already in the system" policy.

So it's a bit confusing. Is FCB designed to come in and beat the existing DA and ECNL operations in the DMV at their own games, attracting hundreds of players to build up layers of travel programs over a giant rec league? Or is it here to offer something different, less cookie-cutter and more individualized at a wide range of competition levels? Because the two really aren't compatible.

I don't mind saying I'm rooting for the latter. I don't really care whether it's DA or ECNL or whatever because I'm pretty firmly on the record that such leagues shouldn't be exclusive, and if FCB or SYA or FC Dulles or Real World FC puts together a team that can hang with the big guns, let them play.

RSD, I don't think that Barca would have to dramatically alter its approach even if their top teams joined DA at some point. Their teams could play in multiple leagues depending on the level of each team, which I think was the approach that you advocated on these boards earlier. That being said, they only do EDP now and have not announced any plans to join another league. Whatever they do in the future will be based on what is best for player development, including finding an appropriate level of competition. With due respect to local soccer clubs, I just don't see Barca seeking to imitate their model.

I should clarify my comments -- I don't mean to say FCB shouldn't play DA or ECNL. I'd rather the system changed to it would all be more fluid, and they can play at whatever level is sustainable, moving up and down as needed. The system probably isn't going to change in the next couple of years, so they'll have to adapt to it, and if that means going DA or ECNL for the top teams, I fully understand that.

My surprise here is when people get on here and trash-talk the rest of Northern Virginia, as if every half-decent player in an area of a couple million people will abandon Loudoun, Arlington, Braddock Road, VDA and everywhere else to go to a club that would then have to scale up in a way I'm not sure they would ever intend.

Why are you surprised? Trash all other options, check. Paint an idyllic picture of the perfect environment, check. In numbers, attack those who disagree with you on both fronts, double check. This person or small group of parents maneuvers just like a political operation, and not just in this thread. The anonymity is the perfect cover. Quite sick, in my opinion.

RSD, a you can see the trash talk and negative comments do not originate with Barca, as you can see from the response above. As for the player movement, the top players move among the clubs all the time. Nobody is suggesting that the clubs you've mentioned will go out of business simply because some of their top teams lost players to Barca. Barca has played friendlies with DCU, Bethesda, Arlington and others. I think they are on good terms with quite a few clubs in the area.

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?

One is a DA because they bought an existing DA club. The local Escola/Academy will likely never apply for DA status or ECNL. The area is simply to saturated with ECNL and DA clubs right now.

Barca NOVA won't be in DA this year, but it they continue doing what they are currently doing, I can see them getting DA boys status in a couple of years with probably one of the local non-MLS clubs losing their DA status. Their U18 boys team already got good results against some DA teams in friendlies. And there were quite a few players that left DAs to join Barca boys program at the older age groups. I don't think Barca is interested in joining ECNL on the boys side. They are still developing their girls program so ECNL might be an option down the road for the girls.

That's what I'm wondering too. If they outgrow where they are playing, it would make sense to move up in competition. And there's no question the program is attracting players from all over hungry for something more.

See, this is the kind of comment I don't get.

The best posts in this thread have detailed the club's approach, which is certainly unique in many ways. But it also seems like the sort of club that isn't designed to be a megaclub like Loudoun or Arlington. FCB's stock and trade is individual attention for whatever level, whether it's kids ready to play at high-EDP level or kids drawn by the "we're not going to cut kids who are already in the system" policy.

So it's a bit confusing. Is FCB designed to come in and beat the existing DA and ECNL operations in the DMV at their own games, attracting hundreds of players to build up layers of travel programs over a giant rec league? Or is it here to offer something different, less cookie-cutter and more individualized at a wide range of competition levels? Because the two really aren't compatible.

I don't mind saying I'm rooting for the latter. I don't really care whether it's DA or ECNL or whatever because I'm pretty firmly on the record that such leagues shouldn't be exclusive, and if FCB or SYA or FC Dulles or Real World FC puts together a team that can hang with the big guns, let them play.

RSD, I don't think that Barca would have to dramatically alter its approach even if their top teams joined DA at some point. Their teams could play in multiple leagues depending on the level of each team, which I think was the approach that you advocated on these boards earlier. That being said, they only do EDP now and have not announced any plans to join another league. Whatever they do in the future will be based on what is best for player development, including finding an appropriate level of competition. With due respect to local soccer clubs, I just don't see Barca seeking to imitate their model.

I should clarify my comments -- I don't mean to say FCB shouldn't play DA or ECNL. I'd rather the system changed to it would all be more fluid, and they can play at whatever level is sustainable, moving up and down as needed. The system probably isn't going to change in the next couple of years, so they'll have to adapt to it, and if that means going DA or ECNL for the top teams, I fully understand that.

My surprise here is when people get on here and trash-talk the rest of Northern Virginia, as if every half-decent player in an area of a couple million people will abandon Loudoun, Arlington, Braddock Road, VDA and everywhere else to go to a club that would then have to scale up in a way I'm not sure they would ever intend.

Why are you surprised? Trash all other options, check. Paint an idyllic picture of the perfect environment, check. In numbers, attack those who disagree with you on both fronts, double check. This person or small group of parents maneuvers just like a political operation, and not just in this thread. The anonymity is the perfect cover. Quite sick, in my opinion.

The Barca style is based on Total Football. It has proven to be successful for some teams, but it isn't the only way to be successful. This sums it up pretty well.

a player who moves out of his position is replaced by another from his team, thus retaining the team's intended organisational structure. In this fluid system, no outfield player is fixed in a predetermined role; anyone can successively play as an attacker, a midfielder and a defender. The only player who must stay in a specified position is the goalkeeper. Total Football's tactical success depends largely on the adaptability of each footballer within the team, in particular the ability to quickly switch positions depending on the on-field situation. The theory requires players to be comfortable in multiple positions; hence, it requires very intelligent and technically diverse players.

After a year in FCB two things stand out to me related to this technique. First, it is a lot of FUN for the kids. Being trained and encouraged to play all roles at the same time depending on the situation of the game, kids at every position are engaged and active, and no one player or position is any more important. Players are moved frequently across teams with the goal being all players on the team at roughly the same development level, so there isn't a situation where one kid dominates. As soon as that happens, they will be moved to play with more developed players to keep them challenged.

Second, and related, is from a parents perspective the team vs individual approach is a diversion from our typical travel club experiences, and I think why some parents here have been such forceful advocates. When we say there is no favoritism or politics, I think we as parents get a 'something is different' feeling because team over individual is baked into the system of how they play on the field, how they train, and it trickles down into how the club is organized and managed. It's not saying "we treat all players equal" but then when the game's on the line it comes down to a few key players making the plays. Barca teams are taught to stick with the system no matter what, even if it means losing, or losing badly. Success is following the system not a score. It sounds corny but when the players and parents see this commitment to team on and off the field, in how the club is run, it makes it fun for everyone. It's religion to Barca that if the teams train and play this way they will be successful on and off the field. It permeates into every aspect of the club not just style of play on the field.

Anonymous wrote:I really hate the whole model and brand BS. Teach kids to be all around technically sound. and coach teams to their strengths. the whole FCB model will change dramatically as the personell changes . once Messi retires. The style you play is based on the talent you have. to sell it t the world as a brand is cheap and not genuine. Coach what you have not what you want... if Messi would have played for Liverpool everyone would say thats they style I want my kid learning . Blah blah blah ..

WHAT!!! Wait, my kid won't be Messi? That BS, they said that if we joined my child would be the next Messi!!! Is this a Real Madrid fan?

Anonymous wrote:I really hate the whole model and brand BS. Teach kids to be all around technically sound. and coach teams to their strengths. the whole FCB model will change dramatically as the personell changes . once Messi retires. The style you play is based on the talent you have. to sell it t the world as a brand is cheap and not genuine. Coach what you have not what you want... if Messi would have played for Liverpool everyone would say thats they style I want my kid learning . Blah blah blah ..

Their style and ethos has remained pretty much the same for 30 years. Your ignorance is astounding.

Anonymous wrote:I really hate the whole model and brand BS. Teach kids to be all around technically sound. and coach teams to their strengths. the whole FCB model will change dramatically as the personell changes . once Messi retires. The style you play is based on the talent you have. to sell it t the world as a brand is cheap and not genuine. Coach what you have not what you want... if Messi would have played for Liverpool everyone would say thats they style I want my kid learning . Blah blah blah ..

Your history is quite wrong. The style was introduced by Cruyff when he became manager in 1988. Messi wasn’t on the first team until 2004.

The players are technically sound because the method allows for the maximum number of touches on the ball every training session. First touch has to be perfect.

From John Carlin:

“There is no Pele style, or Maradona style, or Messi style, or Di Stefano style to be found in the way the game is played today. But there is a Cruyff style. Or, as they say in Spain, a Cruyff ideology. Barcelona, the living expression of the Dutchman’s idea of how the game should be played. Cruyff’s spirit hovers around the Barcelona team, penetrating the thought processes of every player on the field.

Cruyff’s most ardent disciple, Pep Guardiola, was Barça’s architect, the manager under whom they won 14 out of 19 possible leagues and cups in four years, a feat unequalled in the history of the game. But one thing Guardiola has never failed to repeat is that the original design belongs to Cruyff, under whom the Catalan played and learned his craft in the early 1990s. “Cruyff made the Sistine Chapel,” Guardiola has said. “The job of those that have followed him at Barcelona has been to maintain it.”

What it meant was an end to the venerable and ancient notion that each player on a team had a fixed and immoveable role; what it required was for every player to be comfortable on the ball. Defenders attacked, attackers defended and possession was king.”

Messi is his own independent master. He could have played anywhere and make things happen.

Barca is NOT teaching kids to play like Messi, nor did the Club ever advertise such. There is only one Messi. Messi came after.

Pep brought the style to Bayern and now Man City and won championships. It’s not an “individual” dependent style. Total Futbol

You are correct that styles change, but learning game intelligence and getting the maximum number of touches is basic good training whether you depart from the style or not down the road.

Anonymous wrote:I really hate the whole model and brand BS. Teach kids to be all around technically sound. and coach teams to their strengths. the whole FCB model will change dramatically as the personell changes . once Messi retires. The style you play is based on the talent you have. to sell it t the world as a brand is cheap and not genuine. Coach what you have not what you want... if Messi would have played for Liverpool everyone would say thats they style I want my kid learning . Blah blah blah ..

You don't know the first thing of soccer. I quite frankly dont know where to begin to dispute your completely ignorant comment. Have you even heard of Inesta or Xavi... not to mention the influence that Cryuff had on the Barcelona club.

Wow...

I really hate the whole model and brand BS. Teach kids to be all around technically sound. and coach teams to their strengths. the whole FCB model will change dramatically as the personell changes . once Messi retires. The style you play is based on the talent you have. to sell it t the world as a brand is cheap and not genuine. Coach what you have not what you want... if Messi would have played for Liverpool everyone would say thats they style I want my kid learning . Blah blah blah ..

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?

One is a DA because they bought an existing DA club. The local Escola/Academy will likely never apply for DA status or ECNL. The area is simply to saturated with ECNL and DA clubs right now.

Barca NOVA won't be in DA this year, but it they continue doing what they are currently doing, I can see them getting DA boys status in a couple of years with probably one of the local non-MLS clubs losing their DA status. Their U18 boys team already got good results against some DA teams in friendlies. And there were quite a few players that left DAs to join Barca boys program at the older age groups. I don't think Barca is interested in joining ECNL on the boys side. They are still developing their girls program so ECNL might be an option down the road for the girls.

That's what I'm wondering too. If they outgrow where they are playing, it would make sense to move up in competition. And there's no question the program is attracting players from all over hungry for something more.

See, this is the kind of comment I don't get.

The best posts in this thread have detailed the club's approach, which is certainly unique in many ways. But it also seems like the sort of club that isn't designed to be a megaclub like Loudoun or Arlington. FCB's stock and trade is individual attention for whatever level, whether it's kids ready to play at high-EDP level or kids drawn by the "we're not going to cut kids who are already in the system" policy.

So it's a bit confusing. Is FCB designed to come in and beat the existing DA and ECNL operations in the DMV at their own games, attracting hundreds of players to build up layers of travel programs over a giant rec league? Or is it here to offer something different, less cookie-cutter and more individualized at a wide range of competition levels? Because the two really aren't compatible.

I don't mind saying I'm rooting for the latter. I don't really care whether it's DA or ECNL or whatever because I'm pretty firmly on the record that such leagues shouldn't be exclusive, and if FCB or SYA or FC Dulles or Real World FC puts together a team that can hang with the big guns, let them play.

I think most of what you said is kind of irrelevant to the FCB model. They have their model and brand of development. Then, if they find that the league their top teams are playing in no longer provide adequate competition, they will do what any club should and move to a league with greater competition. It's the natural progression of things.

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?

One is a DA because they bought an existing DA club. The local Escola/Academy will likely never apply for DA status or ECNL. The area is simply to saturated with ECNL and DA clubs right now.

Barca NOVA won't be in DA this year, but it they continue doing what they are currently doing, I can see them getting DA boys status in a couple of years with probably one of the local non-MLS clubs losing their DA status. Their U18 boys team already got good results against some DA teams in friendlies. And there were quite a few players that left DAs to join Barca boys program at the older age groups. I don't think Barca is interested in joining ECNL on the boys side. They are still developing their girls program so ECNL might be an option down the road for the girls.

That's what I'm wondering too. If they outgrow where they are playing, it would make sense to move up in competition. And there's no question the program is attracting players from all over hungry for something more.

See, this is the kind of comment I don't get.

The best posts in this thread have detailed the club's approach, which is certainly unique in many ways. But it also seems like the sort of club that isn't designed to be a megaclub like Loudoun or Arlington. FCB's stock and trade is individual attention for whatever level, whether it's kids ready to play at high-EDP level or kids drawn by the "we're not going to cut kids who are already in the system" policy.

So it's a bit confusing. Is FCB designed to come in and beat the existing DA and ECNL operations in the DMV at their own games, attracting hundreds of players to build up layers of travel programs over a giant rec league? Or is it here to offer something different, less cookie-cutter and more individualized at a wide range of competition levels? Because the two really aren't compatible.

I don't mind saying I'm rooting for the latter. I don't really care whether it's DA or ECNL or whatever because I'm pretty firmly on the record that such leagues shouldn't be exclusive, and if FCB or SYA or FC Dulles or Real World FC puts together a team that can hang with the big guns, let them play.

RSD, I don't think that Barca would have to dramatically alter its approach even if their top teams joined DA at some point. Their teams could play in multiple leagues depending on the level of each team, which I think was the approach that you advocated on these boards earlier. That being said, they only do EDP now and have not announced any plans to join another league. Whatever they do in the future will be based on what is best for player development, including finding an appropriate level of competition. With due respect to local soccer clubs, I just don't see Barca seeking to imitate their model.