Anonymous
09/05/2025 05:11
Subject: Large Roster - Game Day Notification
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:In high school, its fun just being part of the team.
For club, you are paying for your kid's soccer
development. Totally different.
HS soccer is not free either. Cheaper than club since it’s not year round. But between the cost and time commitment, it’s a lot to just sit on the bench.
HS soccer is free. And I don’t always play anyone. I play to win. If u ain’t got it then u ain’t got it
Nah. Not at our private. I think it was like $400. Then the travel to the Midwest for a tournament and additional airfare fees.
Well, of course. You signed up for private school.
Anonymous
09/05/2025 00:50
Subject: Large Roster - Game Day Notification
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:This is what’s wrong with the development piece. It’s only about winning and who cares if they pass the ball. MLS Next is another program running down the rabbit hole.
DS is doing great on his MLSNext team. I think there are only a few clubs (3) that are attempting to develop players with varying success. Most in MLSNext will know which clubs these are.
I keep hearing this - no club in the DMV area, or pay to play, is developing kids. WHAT? Does your kid not have 4 practices a week where they do endless rondos, dribbling drills, passing drills, etc... Is this not developing kids? What are your kids doing at practice? Is your club just spending the whole practice time teaching the kids how to kick it over the top? Because that has not been my experience at any club in the area.
I think the issue is developing players that have soccer IQ and can use all their skills to move the ball and play any style. Teams want to win so the default is to play direct ball, or down the wings. Possession is sometimes there but it’s just routine passes - not actually moving the ball. There is no risk taking or creativity. Yes, there are a few players who do this well, usually the best players on the team. But everyone on the team should have that confidence.
I think this is most impt for U13-U15 ages.
While I agree I would like to see these IQ skills developed at earlier ages, this does not mean local clubs are not doing this. I think they are just doing at later ages. The early ages are all “fundamental” training and the soccer IQ is folded in at U14 and up, from what I have seen. But if you are not seeing coaching for this type of soccer IQ by U14, you are at the wrong club, because it is happening.
Anonymous
09/04/2025 23:53
Subject: Large Roster - Game Day Notification
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:In high school, its fun just being part of the team.
For club, you are paying for your kid's soccer
development. Totally different.
HS soccer is not free either. Cheaper than club since it’s not year round. But between the cost and time commitment, it’s a lot to just sit on the bench.
HS soccer is free. And I don’t always play anyone. I play to win. If u ain’t got it then u ain’t got it
Nah. Not at our private. I think it was like $400. Then the travel to the Midwest for a tournament and additional airfare fees.
Anonymous
09/04/2025 11:03
Subject: Large Roster - Game Day Notification
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:This is what’s wrong with the development piece. It’s only about winning and who cares if they pass the ball. MLS Next is another program running down the rabbit hole.
DS is doing great on his MLSNext team. I think there are only a few clubs (3) that are attempting to develop players with varying success. Most in MLSNext will know which clubs these are.
I keep hearing this - no club in the DMV area, or pay to play, is developing kids. WHAT? Does your kid not have 4 practices a week where they do endless rondos, dribbling drills, passing drills, etc... Is this not developing kids? What are your kids doing at practice? Is your club just spending the whole practice time teaching the kids how to kick it over the top? Because that has not been my experience at any club in the area.
I think the issue is developing players that have soccer IQ and can use all their skills to move the ball and play any style. Teams want to win so the default is to play direct ball, or down the wings. Possession is sometimes there but it’s just routine passes - not actually moving the ball. There is no risk taking or creativity. Yes, there are a few players who do this well, usually the best players on the team. But everyone on the team should have that confidence.
I think this is most impt for U13-U15 ages.
Anonymous
09/04/2025 10:44
Subject: Large Roster - Game Day Notification
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:This is what’s wrong with the development piece. It’s only about winning and who cares if they pass the ball. MLS Next is another program running down the rabbit hole.
DS is doing great on his MLSNext team. I think there are only a few clubs (3) that are attempting to develop players with varying success. Most in MLSNext will know which clubs these are.
I keep hearing this - no club in the DMV area, or pay to play, is developing kids. WHAT? Does your kid not have 4 practices a week where they do endless rondos, dribbling drills, passing drills, etc... Is this not developing kids? What are your kids doing at practice? Is your club just spending the whole practice time teaching the kids how to kick it over the top? Because that has not been my experience at any club in the area.
Anonymous
09/04/2025 10:36
Subject: Large Roster - Game Day Notification
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:For those of you on ECNL or MLSN teams with large rosters, is there a policy or norm of how far in advance a game day roster is announced? Is it always 18? Does the timing happen earlier for travel/away/overnight weekends or are you scrambling on Wednesday to make arrangements?
It is about the badge. Playtime does not matter. If you can go to insta and brag about being in a top league (although you are not playing in it) is all what matters to some.
People here are always saying bragging about being in a league is all that matters to some. But, I have yet to encounter anyone in real life like this. Where are these parents/players who are bragging about the league they are in? I'm not seeing it among the teams we've been on for years at multiple clubs and age groups. Nobody is doing this.
Agree completely. It screams sour grapes from someone who didn't make the top league.
+1 I’ve chatted with a few parents with kids new to DS MLSNext team and after a couple of weeks of practices and preseason games, no one is under the impression that their kid is going to get a starting spot or playing time (even those that will) and everyone is just managing expectations.