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Anonymous wrote:Don't really think MYS GA is going to be anything special for a 2-3 years...these things take time to grow. I'd imagine MYS expects RL players to basically make the GA teams up for at least the first two years and slowly improve

But do enough RL players want to make that leap? There are quite a few multi-sport athletes at that level that may not be looking for the travel and commitment required of GA.

They need outside players from GA/ECNL teams in order to be able to compete asap. Otherwise, if they rely on RL players, they will get stuck in the mud.

Per Rankings app, nearly all MYS RL teams are ranked 500++ nationally (2011s are 400+). Revolution's GA teams are generally ranked around 200 nationally, and they are mid-table teams. GA may not be ECNL, by RL is not GA. If MYS's plan is to build their GA program around RL players, they are headed to TSJ results.

Many of their FVU players, will return home.

If the coaching slate for FVU is going to be a bunch of Vienna and BRYC rec coaches then I agree many players will take a serious look at MYS GA.

Still, seems quite a backward leap for strong FVU ECNL players.
And confused why would it be rec coaches when there are ECNL coaches?

They have to fill in the coaching slate and the rumors of who’s filling in those slots is not good. Thus the equivalency of Rec coaching.

So you get to that equivalency based on rumors?! So valid!

Most of these rumors on dcum have turned out to be true. And since these clubs are setting up tryouts without a coaching slate it is kind of all parents have to go on until one of these clubs clears up the confusion with a coaching slate announcement.

The 2023-2024 VA Union 08B went to ECNL Nationals last June - and likely would have had more success if not for the merger bomb dropped at the end of February 2024.

Thank you, FVU board and coaching staff, you dismantled a developing team. You also fired a dedicated coach who was able to turn around a mediocre team in less than nine months by building chemistry through leadership, having the boys collectively decide on their season goals in August 2023, and then helping them learn/maintain the discipline needed to achieve their goals.

No, their record wasn’t perfect, but they had more success than any of the current FVU boys teams, including in life lessons learned. Yeah, losing teaches life lessons, but… seriously, what else has the FVU experience taught these boys?!?!

Shortly after the merger was announced, one of the VA Union 08 boys posted on Instagram a photo of himself with his teammates walking off the field after a game with the words “I was happy.” IMO, that feeling was priceless.

Considering most of these kids aren’t going to play competitive soccer beyond college, or even high school, it’s clear to me that the people making club decisions could care less about what’s in the best interest of the youth population they’re serving.

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Anonymous wrote:Don't really think MYS GA is going to be anything special for a 2-3 years...these things take time to grow. I'd imagine MYS expects RL players to basically make the GA teams up for at least the first two years and slowly improve

But do enough RL players want to make that leap? There are quite a few multi-sport athletes at that level that may not be looking for the travel and commitment required of GA.

They need outside players from GA/ECNL teams in order to be able to compete asap. Otherwise, if they rely on RL players, they will get stuck in the mud.

Per Rankings app, nearly all MYS RL teams are ranked 500++ nationally (2011s are 400+). Revolution's GA teams are generally ranked around 200 nationally, and they are mid-table teams. GA may not be ECNL, by RL is not GA. If MYS's plan is to build their GA program around RL players, they are headed to TSJ results.

Many of their FVU players, will return home.

If the coaching slate for FVU is going to be a bunch of Vienna and BRYC rec coaches then I agree many players will take a serious look at MYS GA.

Still, seems quite a backward leap for strong FVU ECNL players.
And confused why would it be rec coaches when there are ECNL coaches?

They have to fill in the coaching slate and the rumors of who’s filling in those slots is not good. Thus the equivalency of Rec coaching.

So you get to that equivalency based on rumors?! So valid!

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Anonymous wrote:Not a great sign for us all when no club feels confident enough in their coaching slates to take advantage of the environment and post it early.

Deals are still being made. Coaches who can bring a core group of players with them to a club are valuable right now. There are a lot of players up for grabs right now, more so than in most years, and clubs are pulling out the stops to get the best players.

Not at all clear that ECNL will let FVU keep the shield. So I think no one knows right now.

This is known. The FVU announcement a couple weeks ago indicated they are.

Facts. This area wants NL level play with NCSL level commitment.

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Anonymous wrote:Don't really think MYS GA is going to be anything special for a 2-3 years...these things take time to grow. I'd imagine MYS expects RL players to basically make the GA teams up for at least the first two years and slowly improve

But do enough RL players want to make that leap? There are quite a few multi-sport athletes at that level that may not be looking for the travel and commitment required of GA.

I hope the club makes the expected increase in commitment clear to any RL families who are offered spots on GA teams and evaluates their current commitment level before offering spots. RL commitment level for many players and families is part of the reason the RL teams aren't more successful. Hard to build team chemistry when only half the players are at many practices.

Really good points here.

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Anonymous wrote:Don't really think MYS GA is going to be anything special for a 2-3 years...these things take time to grow. I'd imagine MYS expects RL players to basically make the GA teams up for at least the first two years and slowly improve

But do enough RL players want to make that leap? There are quite a few multi-sport athletes at that level that may not be looking for the travel and commitment required of GA.

They need outside players from GA/ECNL teams in order to be able to compete asap. Otherwise, if they rely on RL players, they will get stuck in the mud.

Per Rankings app, nearly all MYS RL teams are ranked 500++ nationally (2011s are 400+). Revolution's GA teams are generally ranked around 200 nationally, and they are mid-table teams. GA may not be ECNL, by RL is not GA. If MYS's plan is to build their GA program around RL players, they are headed to TSJ results.

Many of their FVU players, will return home.

If the coaching slate for FVU is going to be a bunch of Vienna and BRYC rec coaches then I agree many players will take a serious look at MYS GA.

Still, seems quite a backward leap for strong FVU ECNL players.
And confused why would it be rec coaches when there are ECNL coaches?

They have to fill in the coaching slate and the rumors of who’s filling in those slots is not good. Thus the equivalency of Rec coaching.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a great sign for us all when no club feels confident enough in their coaching slates to take advantage of the environment and post it early.

Deals are still being made. Coaches who can bring a core group of players with them to a club are valuable right now. There are a lot of players up for grabs right now, more so than in most years, and clubs are pulling out the stops to get the best players.

Not at all clear that ECNL will let FVU keep the shield. So I think no one knows right now.

Anonymous wrote:Not a great sign for us all when no club feels confident enough in their coaching slates to take advantage of the environment and post it early.

Deals are still being made. Coaches who can bring a core group of players with them to a club are valuable right now. There are a lot of players up for grabs right now, more so than in most years, and clubs are pulling out the stops to get the best players.

BRAVE coaches on BRAVE fields supported by BRYC's legendary back office? And playing in ECNL-MA which might as well be called ECNL-NC? Sign me up!

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Anonymous wrote:Don't really think MYS GA is going to be anything special for a 2-3 years...these things take time to grow. I'd imagine MYS expects RL players to basically make the GA teams up for at least the first two years and slowly improve

But do enough RL players want to make that leap? There are quite a few multi-sport athletes at that level that may not be looking for the travel and commitment required of GA.

I hope the club makes the expected increase in commitment clear to any RL families who are offered spots on GA teams and evaluates their current commitment level before offering spots. RL commitment level for many players and families is part of the reason the RL teams aren't more successful. Hard to build team chemistry when only half the players are at many practices.

Agree. The problem I see with MYS is that they don't have a lot of depth - these part time players are still significantly more skilled than any possible replacements.

Not a great sign for us all when no club feels confident enough in their coaching slates to take advantage of the environment and post it early.

Anonymous wrote:How can McLean GA even have ID sessions without announcing its coaching slate? The “just trust us” attitude has gotten old.

This is business as usual for them. I think they are pulling straws to see who gets what

FWIW, CW is staying with FVU.

How can McLean GA even have ID sessions without announcing its coaching slate? The “just trust us” attitude has gotten old.