Anonymous
Post 12/05/2018 09:00     Subject: How good does a kid have to be to make travel
Anonymous wrote:This discussion has become unproductive because people are making points that are outside of the scope of the original argument. Let be explain again so that you can follow:

There are strong classic/select teams that provide a better environment for making it to the A/B team of a club than C/D teams at the same clubs and are cheaper and less intrusive (don't require the travel commitment).

If your mission is the line the pockets of Bethesda, McLean, Bryce or Loundoun by spending $3,000/year to play in CCLII, NCSL (Below Div II) or EDP Premier III and IV with the 3rd and 4th string coach while spending 3+ hours in a car to play against weak competition then feel free to do so. What I am saying is that there are classic /select coaches that are strong coaches that will work with your kid and that will play the C/D team in tournaments and beat them.

If you have been around, you will recognize that stars from strong classic/select teams make the B and sometimes A teams every Spring at the U12-U14 ages and beat out players from the C and D teams. Based on my experience, I concluded early on that there is not a need to rush to travel at U10 if your kid is not on the A team and even if they are ready, the rubber does not hit the road until U12 at the earliest. Why burn out yourself or your at such an early age just so that you can brag that your kid is playing travel soccer.


I agree with you. My DD was the star on her U10 Classic Team scoring on average of 2-3 goals per game. It wasn’t competitive enough for her. We are now on a travel team and she’s no longer a star on her team. She’s still the top 4-5 players but not the star. She now realizes that she needs more practice to keep up with the speed and technical skills of travel. But I think U11 is better as waiting to U12 is a little late due to the individual skills, speed and physicality.
Anonymous
Post 12/05/2018 08:59     Subject: How good does a kid have to be to make travel
Anonymous wrote:This discussion has become unproductive because people are making points that are outside of the scope of the original argument. Let be explain again so that you can follow:

There are strong classic/select teams that provide a better environment for making it to the A/B team of a club than C/D teams at the same clubs and are cheaper and less intrusive (don't require the travel commitment).

If your mission is the line the pockets of Bethesda, McLean, Bryce or Loundoun by spending $3,000/year to play in CCLII, NCSL (Below Div II) or EDP Premier III and IV with the 3rd and 4th string coach while spending 3+ hours in a car to play against weak competition then feel free to do so. What I am saying is that there are classic /select coaches that are strong coaches that will work with your kid and that will play the C/D team in tournaments and beat them.

If you have been around, you will recognize that stars from strong classic/select teams make the B and sometimes A teams every Spring at the U12-U14 ages and beat out players from the C and D teams. Based on my experience, I concluded early on that there is not a need to rush to travel at U10 if your kid is not on the A team and even if they are ready, the rubber does not hit the road until U12 at the earliest. Why burn out yourself or your at such an early age just so that you can brag that your kid is playing travel soccer.


“There are strong classic/select teams that provide a better environment for making it to the A/B team of a club than C/D teams at the same clubs and are cheaper and less intrusive (don't require the travel commitment).”

How does a successful NCSL 3rd Division former Classic team prove this? They beat clubs 3rd and 4th teams. Exactly how does that translate into any of these kids making a clubs A/B team? Once they joined NCSL they became a travel team and 3rd division in a second tier league is exactly where a top Classic team can ever hope to end up by 13 years old. Any higher than that is a stretch for all but the Unicorn of the group.
Anonymous
Post 12/05/2018 08:45     Subject: How good does a kid have to be to make travel
http://www.massclubsoccer.com/are-club-soccer-teams-worth-the-money/

"there is a thought that belonging to a premier soccer club is not worth the money at all, especially at the lower or entry level.

Many soccer clubs, it is believed, focus on the elite or premier teams and pay little attention to all others in the club; players on the non-elite teams subsidize the premier teams; in many cases these players pay less."
Anonymous
Post 12/05/2018 08:45     Subject: How good does a kid have to be to make travel
This discussion has become unproductive because people are making points that are outside of the scope of the original argument. Let be explain again so that you can follow:

There are strong classic/select teams that provide a better environment for making it to the A/B team of a club than C/D teams at the same clubs and are cheaper and less intrusive (don't require the travel commitment).

If your mission is the line the pockets of Bethesda, McLean, Bryce or Loundoun by spending $3,000/year to play in CCLII, NCSL (Below Div II) or EDP Premier III and IV with the 3rd and 4th string coach while spending 3+ hours in a car to play against weak competition then feel free to do so. What I am saying is that there are classic /select coaches that are strong coaches that will work with your kid and that will play the C/D team in tournaments and beat them.

If you have been around, you will recognize that stars from strong classic/select teams make the B and sometimes A teams every Spring at the U12-U14 ages and beat out players from the C and D teams. Based on my experience, I concluded early on that there is not a need to rush to travel at U10 if your kid is not on the A team and even if they are ready, the rubber does not hit the road until U12 at the earliest. Why burn out yourself or your at such an early age just so that you can brag that your kid is playing travel soccer.
Anonymous
Post 12/05/2018 08:19     Subject: How good does a kid have to be to make travel
And to the poster who said “there are plenty of Alex Morgan’s out there” where the heck are they?? I’ve watched a lot of soccer with several daughters over at years, Classic and travel level, and I don’t think I’ve seen one. I’ve seen a few half decent players come from classic environments and I’ve seen a lot of awful classic soccer matches too. I haven’t personally seen a single superstar come from classic and take travel by storm.
Anonymous
Post 12/05/2018 08:16     Subject: How good does a kid have to be to make travel
I’d use community colleges in the analogy, but otherwise a decent analogy.
Anonymous
Post 12/05/2018 08:11     Subject: How good does a kid have to be to make travel
Comparing Classic to Travel is like comparing a State College to an Ivy League School academically. Are there some better professors at State Colleges? Yes. Are there some smarter students at State Colleges? Yes

Yes, there are some smart kids that doesn’t attend an Ivy League school due to the high cost of tuition. Does it make a State College better than an Ivy League? No.
Anonymous
Post 12/05/2018 06:36     Subject: How good does a kid have to be to make travel
The entire point is that what you say is false. A good select/classic team experience is better than a C or D travel team experience.I can give you plenty of examples that prove you wrong. Check out the former MSI Classic team that just dominated NCSL Division 3 after moving from Classic. The right team and right coach can provide a better environment for some players than playing for a C or D team. Too many parents are sold on the false narrative that you need to do travel at present u14. It is worthwhile if you have the right situation.
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2018 20:40     Subject: How good does a kid have to be to make travel
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:^^^I made the comment about a select/classic player being able to make it to ECNL/DA eventually if they begin travel soccer at u13/u14. A player can be a stand out in select/classic but to make the jump from that level of play to ECNL/DA at u13/u14 is difficult. The speed of play, technical ability and physical play is much different than NCSL, EDP lower divisions, CCL and classic/select, A strong select/classic player can make certain elite teams and move up to ECNL/DA within a seaosn or two. It takes that long to get use to the level of play.

Again, this goes back to the idea that you don;t need to play travekl at u9/u10 but can make an elite travel team if you begin travel at u13/u14.


It's really an empirical question as to how different these teams are at U9, U10, U11, and U12. I'd love to see a tournament (maybe there is one?) where the top classic/select teams play A and B travel teams to see the point at which travel is much different from Classic.


That point at its most generous is U11. But pretty much by U10 the typical select player/team is just to far behind the A/B travel team player. And the reality for a select program is many kids in the program are there not by choice. They are there because they did not make travel at U9. So depending on the club, at least in the clubs eyes these are kids 50-80 already.

Now, yes, there are the unicorns that choose Select because they don't see the value in travel. And these may very well be quality players, but beating up on select level players twice a week in practice will do little for their development. There is an ongoing discussion about promotion relegation and the goal differentials in leagues is astounding. So when a travel team in any particular league, or any particular division is allowing 30-40+ goals a season while scoring 1-3 goals? I'm sorry but a select team is just not going to be competitive into a U10 season with any average travel team.


At U10 or U11? I don't know any child who is playing select because they didn't make a travel team. All play multiple sports and did not want to commit to driving hours on the weekend for games. Several of these players are better than kids I know how play McLean or Loudon soccer.


But by U12 they will no longer be better if they remain in Select.
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2018 20:05     Subject: How good does a kid have to be to make travel
Now that I think about it many of the McLean and Loudon soccer players I know started at U9. By U11 they look very different, less good as players.
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2018 20:04     Subject: How good does a kid have to be to make travel
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:^^^I made the comment about a select/classic player being able to make it to ECNL/DA eventually if they begin travel soccer at u13/u14. A player can be a stand out in select/classic but to make the jump from that level of play to ECNL/DA at u13/u14 is difficult. The speed of play, technical ability and physical play is much different than NCSL, EDP lower divisions, CCL and classic/select, A strong select/classic player can make certain elite teams and move up to ECNL/DA within a seaosn or two. It takes that long to get use to the level of play.

Again, this goes back to the idea that you don;t need to play travekl at u9/u10 but can make an elite travel team if you begin travel at u13/u14.


It's really an empirical question as to how different these teams are at U9, U10, U11, and U12. I'd love to see a tournament (maybe there is one?) where the top classic/select teams play A and B travel teams to see the point at which travel is much different from Classic.


That point at its most generous is U11. But pretty much by U10 the typical select player/team is just to far behind the A/B travel team player. And the reality for a select program is many kids in the program are there not by choice. They are there because they did not make travel at U9. So depending on the club, at least in the clubs eyes these are kids 50-80 already.

Now, yes, there are the unicorns that choose Select because they don't see the value in travel. And these may very well be quality players, but beating up on select level players twice a week in practice will do little for their development. There is an ongoing discussion about promotion relegation and the goal differentials in leagues is astounding. So when a travel team in any particular league, or any particular division is allowing 30-40+ goals a season while scoring 1-3 goals? I'm sorry but a select team is just not going to be competitive into a U10 season with any average travel team.


At U10 or U11? I don't know any child who is playing select because they didn't make a travel team. All play multiple sports and did not want to commit to driving hours on the weekend for games. Several of these players are better than kids I know how play McLean or Loudon soccer.
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2018 15:23     Subject: How good does a kid have to be to make travel
I’m the PP and agree with you completely.

It’s not easy to find a good Classic Team with a good coach though. Back when my DD was in Rec, I didn’t know where to start. Hence, I had to pursuade one of a parent to start a Classic Team.

My DD is currently on a travel team now and there are a few players that came directly from Rec. They are probably better suited to join a good Classic Team instead first.
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2018 15:10     Subject: Re:How good does a kid have to be to make travel
Very fair. Again, my point is that playing on a C or D team is no guarantee that your kid will developed into a player capable of making the A team. I have met quality coaches at the classic/select level who will spend quality time working with players. Just ask around and you can find these teams. Check for the most competitive teams in the top divisions and you will find them. Go watch practice with them. You will find teams where half the team is capable of playing travel but don't want to waste time traveling the universe. I can think of five such coaches/teams when my kids were in classic. Check out Toca Juniors or MD Fusion, Brit-Am or Lions Soccer. Some of the clubs will play in the lower brackets in some tournaments like Columbia Thanksgiving, Mid-Atlantic Cup, etc.
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2018 12:23     Subject: How good does a kid have to be to make travel
Based on percentages, I’m sure there are more qualified coaches on a travel team than that of a Select/Classic team.

The trick is to find a Classic team that has a good coach that fits your child and has an opening. BritAm has a Classic team that is coached by certified coaches, but our non-certified coached team in which the coach never played soccer routinely beats them. Not bashing BritAm, but a team is only as good as the players they have.

Either way, don’t expect personal development in either travel or select team. Skills development is done individually. Coaches spend time teaching tactics, etc. as a team. The only benefit of a travel team is that you might be able to play against better and/or more competitive teams.
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2018 10:33     Subject: How good does a kid have to be to make travel
The question is not whether a select/classic team can beat a the A/B team of the largest clubs (Bethesda, McLean, Pipeline, FCV), the question is whether the experience on a C/D team at u10-u13 is so much more superior than select/classic to justify the price. I argue that it is not and that a player on a select/classic team will get a far better experience under the right situation than the C/D player. I have seen far to many players come over from a classic or select team and make the B team at u13/u14 over the C/D players. There are solid coaches in classic who have coached travel but stopped for a host of reasons. If you find a good travel/select coach who puts the team in travel tournaments, your classic/player will be challenged. Supplemented that experience with a trainer and you are not missing out on the C/D experience.

There are plenty of Alex Morgans out there.