Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That game is by no means typical of the U14 DA games I've seen. It makes no sense to look at one video in isolation and say that all claims about the DA as a whole are overblown, and the DA is just exactly like all the local non-DA programs. You have to dig a lot deeper than that if you want to have an intelligent assessment of what DA can potentially offer your kid.

But, you definitely can see the quality of players. And, yes, I understand that MLS DA can be very different. I think the point raised is that Travel Club DA isn't really different than your average travel team. In fact, they are just the A team rebranded.

I meant to say--the quality of players individually in that video is not high in terms of skill. One game at the beginning of the season for tactical issues, I'll give you that. But, you'd expect all players at that level to have good touch and skill.

I agree. I think it is helpful to provide a reference point of what a high level u14 game looks like. Here's an example from a U14 age group at MIC Cup in Spain. These teams/players are at entirely different level from the two teams in the earlier video, which are the feeder DAs for DC United.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUNymCBsuP0

The video you posted is from two top 10 programs in Spain. Those two U14 clubs are likely in the top 10 or 5 in the country. I don't think Loudoun and Arlington's 2005 boys teams are even sniffing the top 10 nationally. This comparison is not a good one for those facts alone. That conversation avoids the whole style of play differences, generally, between Spain and those being taught in DA. Play will not look the same even for more skilled US DA teams vs Spanish club teams.

You'd be very surprised if you started looking around at some of the smaller and independent Clubs in the area of the level of skill and the type of possession play. The problem is that everyone is so blinded by 'DA' that they insist this is the best talent and soccer in the area. I have seen US boys teams at U14 playing similar, and at least much better than what was in the video. There are teams outside of the DA that actually go play in the MIC tournament.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That game is by no means typical of the U14 DA games I've seen. It makes no sense to look at one video in isolation and say that all claims about the DA as a whole are overblown, and the DA is just exactly like all the local non-DA programs. You have to dig a lot deeper than that if you want to have an intelligent assessment of what DA can potentially offer your kid.

But, you definitely can see the quality of players. And, yes, I understand that MLS DA can be very different. I think the point raised is that Travel Club DA isn't really different than your average travel team. In fact, they are just the A team rebranded.

I meant to say--the quality of players individually in that video is not high in terms of skill. One game at the beginning of the season for tactical issues, I'll give you that. But, you'd expect all players at that level to have good touch and skill.

I agree. I think it is helpful to provide a reference point of what a high level u14 game looks like. Here's an example from a U14 age group at MIC Cup in Spain. These teams/players are at entirely different level from the two teams in the earlier video, which are the feeder DAs for DC United.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUNymCBsuP0

The video you posted is from two top 10 programs in Spain. Those two U14 clubs are likely in the top 10 or 5 in the country. I don't think Loudoun and Arlington's 2005 boys teams are even sniffing the top 10 nationally. This comparison is not a good one for those facts alone. That conversation avoids the whole style of play differences, generally, between Spain and those being taught in DA. Play will not look the same even for more skilled US DA teams vs Spanish club teams.

This is simply a reference point to show what a high level U14 teams look like. And, btw, RC Celta de Vigo is a club in a town with less than 300K in total population. If you look at the game footage of academy teams from Germany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, etc and you will see similarly high level of play. Feel free to post game videos of U14 DA programs that are at the top of the national rankings, if you think they play at a similar level.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That game is by no means typical of the U14 DA games I've seen. It makes no sense to look at one video in isolation and say that all claims about the DA as a whole are overblown, and the DA is just exactly like all the local non-DA programs. You have to dig a lot deeper than that if you want to have an intelligent assessment of what DA can potentially offer your kid.

But, you definitely can see the quality of players. And, yes, I understand that MLS DA can be very different. I think the point raised is that Travel Club DA isn't really different than your average travel team. In fact, they are just the A team rebranded.

I meant to say--the quality of players individually in that video is not high in terms of skill. One game at the beginning of the season for tactical issues, I'll give you that. But, you'd expect all players at that level to have good touch and skill.

I agree. I think it is helpful to provide a reference point of what a high level u14 game looks like. Here's an example from a U14 age group at MIC Cup in Spain. These teams/players are at entirely different level from the two teams in the earlier video, which are the feeder DAs for DC United.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUNymCBsuP0

The video you posted is from two top 10 programs in Spain. Those two U14 clubs are likely in the top 10 or 5 in the country. I don't think Loudoun and Arlington's 2005 boys teams are even sniffing the top 10 nationally. This comparison is not a good one for those facts alone. That conversation avoids the whole style of play differences, generally, between Spain and those being taught in DA. Play will not look the same even for more skilled US DA teams vs Spanish club teams.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That game is by no means typical of the U14 DA games I've seen. It makes no sense to look at one video in isolation and say that all claims about the DA as a whole are overblown, and the DA is just exactly like all the local non-DA programs. You have to dig a lot deeper than that if you want to have an intelligent assessment of what DA can potentially offer your kid.

But, you definitely can see the quality of players. And, yes, I understand that MLS DA can be very different. I think the point raised is that Travel Club DA isn't really different than your average travel team. In fact, they are just the A team rebranded.

I meant to say--the quality of players individually in that video is not high in terms of skill. One game at the beginning of the season for tactical issues, I'll give you that. But, you'd expect all players at that level to have good touch and skill.

I agree. I think it is helpful to provide a reference point of what a high level u14 game looks like. Here's an example from a U14 age group at MIC Cup in Spain. These teams/players are at entirely different level from the two teams in the earlier video, which are the feeder DAs for DC United.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUNymCBsuP0

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That game is by no means typical of the U14 DA games I've seen. It makes no sense to look at one video in isolation and say that all claims about the DA as a whole are overblown, and the DA is just exactly like all the local non-DA programs. You have to dig a lot deeper than that if you want to have an intelligent assessment of what DA can potentially offer your kid.

But, you definitely can see the quality of players. And, yes, I understand that MLS DA can be very different. I think the point raised is that Travel Club DA isn't really different than your average travel team. In fact, they are just the A team rebranded.

I meant to say--the quality of players individually in that video is not high in terms of skill. One game at the beginning of the season for tactical issues, I'll give you that. But, you'd expect all players at that level to have good touch and skill.

Anonymous wrote:That game is by no means typical of the U14 DA games I've seen. It makes no sense to look at one video in isolation and say that all claims about the DA as a whole are overblown, and the DA is just exactly like all the local non-DA programs. You have to dig a lot deeper than that if you want to have an intelligent assessment of what DA can potentially offer your kid.

But, you definitely can see the quality of players. And, yes, I understand that MLS DA can be very different. I think the point raised is that Travel Club DA isn't really different than your average travel team. In fact, they are just the A team rebranded.

That game is by no means typical of the U14 DA games I've seen. It makes no sense to look at one video in isolation and say that all claims about the DA as a whole are overblown, and the DA is just exactly like all the local non-DA programs. You have to dig a lot deeper than that if you want to have an intelligent assessment of what DA can potentially offer your kid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know the outcome of the '05 Loudoun DA vs. Arlington DA today?

Loudoun 1 - Arlington 2

Someone recorded this game and put it up on YouTube, if anyone is interested - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1BBGDvnqcI

Thanks for sharing this. Once the game settled down after the first 10-15 minutes or so, I thought both teams looked pretty good.

Pass string completion very low for the age and level. Movement off the ball--stagnant. Total possession, one/first touch not doing it for me. I never had the opportunity to get to a game in person so thanks for posting this. It's not doing it for me.

By the 2nd half Loudoun was possessing fairly well. Arlington was its typical 'kick, run' stuff. The game seems very slow to me. Not much speed in playing the ball or movement. It looked chaotic on both sides. Not the beautiful game, for sure.

Hopefully these teams will look a lot better at the end of the season.

Let's hope so. This game video was painful to watch. If this is DA average level, it's pretty bad.

Agree. People with kids in DA and clubs with DA like to say it's the cream of the crop. After watching that video, those claims don't hold up. The individual technical ball skill and the first touch of many of those players was subpar, even leaving out the ability not to know where to move off the ball. This travel Club DA is just the same old "A" teams. The ones that get selected at U9 and don't waiver greatly. Those are certainly not the best U14 players in the DMV, not even close.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know the outcome of the '05 Loudoun DA vs. Arlington DA today?

Loudoun 1 - Arlington 2

Someone recorded this game and put it up on YouTube, if anyone is interested - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1BBGDvnqcI

Thanks for sharing this. Once the game settled down after the first 10-15 minutes or so, I thought both teams looked pretty good.

Pass string completion very low for the age and level. Movement off the ball--stagnant. Total possession, one/first touch not doing it for me. I never had the opportunity to get to a game in person so thanks for posting this. It's not doing it for me.

By the 2nd half Loudoun was possessing fairly well. Arlington was its typical 'kick, run' stuff. The game seems very slow to me. Not much speed in playing the ball or movement. It looked chaotic on both sides. Not the beautiful game, for sure.

First game of the season under heavy rain, what do you expect?
In addition to "kick and run", you forgot to mention the "tall and athletic players" usually sent at these two teams...

The game was on turf so there's no need to reference rain as an excuse. You can put these teams indoors and it probably won't make any difference.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know the outcome of the '05 Loudoun DA vs. Arlington DA today?

Loudoun 1 - Arlington 2

Someone recorded this game and put it up on YouTube, if anyone is interested - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1BBGDvnqcI

Thanks for sharing this. Once the game settled down after the first 10-15 minutes or so, I thought both teams looked pretty good.

Pass string completion very low for the age and level. Movement off the ball--stagnant. Total possession, one/first touch not doing it for me. I never had the opportunity to get to a game in person so thanks for posting this. It's not doing it for me.

By the 2nd half Loudoun was possessing fairly well. Arlington was its typical 'kick, run' stuff. The game seems very slow to me. Not much speed in playing the ball or movement. It looked chaotic on both sides. Not the beautiful game, for sure.

First game of the season under heavy rain, what do you expect?
In addition to "kick and run", you forgot to mention the "tall and athletic players" usually sent at these two teams...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know the outcome of the '05 Loudoun DA vs. Arlington DA today?

Loudoun 1 - Arlington 2

Someone recorded this game and put it up on YouTube, if anyone is interested - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1BBGDvnqcI

Thanks for sharing this. Once the game settled down after the first 10-15 minutes or so, I thought both teams looked pretty good.

Pass string completion very low for the age and level. Movement off the ball--stagnant. Total possession, one/first touch not doing it for me. I never had the opportunity to get to a game in person so thanks for posting this. It's not doing it for me.

By the 2nd half Loudoun was possessing fairly well. Arlington was its typical 'kick, run' stuff. The game seems very slow to me. Not much speed in playing the ball or movement. It looked chaotic on both sides. Not the beautiful game, for sure.

Hopefully these teams will look a lot better at the end of the season.

Let's hope so. This game video was painful to watch. If this is DA average level, it's pretty bad.

I don't think that game should be taken as representative of DA level. If you go on youtube, you could probably turn up some other 05 DA games fairly easily.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know the outcome of the '05 Loudoun DA vs. Arlington DA today?

Loudoun 1 - Arlington 2

Someone recorded this game and put it up on YouTube, if anyone is interested - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1BBGDvnqcI

Thanks for sharing this. Once the game settled down after the first 10-15 minutes or so, I thought both teams looked pretty good.

Pass string completion very low for the age and level. Movement off the ball--stagnant. Total possession, one/first touch not doing it for me. I never had the opportunity to get to a game in person so thanks for posting this. It's not doing it for me.

By the 2nd half Loudoun was possessing fairly well. Arlington was its typical 'kick, run' stuff. The game seems very slow to me. Not much speed in playing the ball or movement. It looked chaotic on both sides. Not the beautiful game, for sure.

Hopefully these teams will look a lot better at the end of the season.

Let's hope so. This game video was painful to watch. If this is DA average level, it's pretty bad.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know the outcome of the '05 Loudoun DA vs. Arlington DA today?

Loudoun 1 - Arlington 2

Someone recorded this game and put it up on YouTube, if anyone is interested - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1BBGDvnqcI

Thanks for sharing this. Once the game settled down after the first 10-15 minutes or so, I thought both teams looked pretty good.

Pass string completion very low for the age and level. Movement off the ball--stagnant. Total possession, one/first touch not doing it for me. I never had the opportunity to get to a game in person so thanks for posting this. It's not doing it for me.

By the 2nd half Loudoun was possessing fairly well. Arlington was its typical 'kick, run' stuff. The game seems very slow to me. Not much speed in playing the ball or movement. It looked chaotic on both sides. Not the beautiful game, for sure.

Hopefully these teams will look a lot better at the end of the season.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know the outcome of the '05 Loudoun DA vs. Arlington DA today?

Loudoun 1 - Arlington 2

Someone recorded this game and put it up on YouTube, if anyone is interested - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1BBGDvnqcI

Thanks for sharing this. Once the game settled down after the first 10-15 minutes or so, I thought both teams looked pretty good.

Pass string completion very low for the age and level. Movement off the ball--stagnant. Total possession, one/first touch not doing it for me. I never had the opportunity to get to a game in person so thanks for posting this. It's not doing it for me.

By the 2nd half Loudoun was possessing fairly well. Arlington was its typical 'kick, run' stuff. The game seems very slow to me. Not much speed in playing the ball or movement. It looked chaotic on both sides. Not the beautiful game, for sure.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know the outcome of the '05 Loudoun DA vs. Arlington DA today?

Loudoun 1 - Arlington 2

Someone recorded this game and put it up on YouTube, if anyone is interested - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1BBGDvnqcI

Thanks for sharing this. Once the game settled down after the first 10-15 minutes or so, I thought both teams looked pretty good.

Pass string completion very low for the age and level. Movement off the ball--stagnant. Total possession, one/first touch not doing it for me. I never had the opportunity to get to a game in person so thanks for posting this. It's not doing it for me.