I know why. Last year, that team had one of Herndon's longest-there coaches and he got what he asked for. Both his teams had half a field all year to practice on, three times a week. He left, and now there's a new young coach, who JLC seems to be taking advantage of and assigning the smallest and worst amount of space (Friday night 630-800 practice on a quarter field for U18 boys?), counting on the coach not knowing any better or that he is supposed to get more space.

The black teams in the past were given a little more field space than the 2nd and 3rd teams. Not true this year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seasoned Herndon parent here … I can absolutely confirm that they make a lot of promises that fall flat. When you ask about said promises, there’s no response or it’s never mentioned again. Practices are a complete joke, a lot of us parents stay around and watch practices to make sure the kids stay safe. There has been times where the coach (and parents) asked random “players” to get off the field and there was push back & mouthing off. The older kids have 1/4 to 1/2 of the field to practice on, but on game days play on regular sized fields and the coach wonders why some of the players are gassed out running. The end of this season can’t come fast enough! Never again Herndon!!!

Which teams get half a field!? My son is on the oldest, RL team--the highest level team--and they should have been assigned the most field space. We only have 25% of the field each practice. I was told they had half a field all last year and no one knows they now they only have a quarter.

Mine is on the same team as yours. We are deeply unhappy. Did you see the tournament list? No showcases until Dec when it will be too late for most seniors.

Anonymous wrote:Seasoned Herndon parent here … I can absolutely confirm that they make a lot of promises that fall flat. When you ask about said promises, there’s no response or it’s never mentioned again. Practices are a complete joke, a lot of us parents stay around and watch practices to make sure the kids stay safe. There has been times where the coach (and parents) asked random “players” to get off the field and there was push back & mouthing off. The older kids have 1/4 to 1/2 of the field to practice on, but on game days play on regular sized fields and the coach wonders why some of the players are gassed out running. The end of this season can’t come fast enough! Never again Herndon!!!

Which teams get half a field!? My son is on the oldest, RL team--the highest level team--and they should have been assigned the most field space. We only have 25% of the field each practice. I was told they had half a field all last year and no one knows they now they only have a quarter.

Seasoned Herndon parent here … I can absolutely confirm that they make a lot of promises that fall flat. When you ask about said promises, there’s no response or it’s never mentioned again. Practices are a complete joke, a lot of us parents stay around and watch practices to make sure the kids stay safe. There has been times where the coach (and parents) asked random “players” to get off the field and there was push back & mouthing off. The older kids have 1/4 to 1/2 of the field to practice on, but on game days play on regular sized fields and the coach wonders why some of the players are gassed out running. The end of this season can’t come fast enough! Never again Herndon!!!

I'm sorry but this situation sounds completely insane bonkers to me.

A soccer field with four high school teams practicing on it, also with people teaching their kids to ride bikes on the field, and playing with tennis rackets on the field, and mobs of pick up players? You are paying $$ to the County for private use of that field.

Anonymous wrote:At Arrowbrook two weeks ago, there was a man trying to teach his kid how to ride a bike without training wheels in the middle of the field while four teams were practicing.

I SAW THAT! Thanks to whoever started this conversation. I have been fuming for weeks TBH. We always had half a field for practices at a much smaller club, and there was absolutely none of this absurdity.

Anonymous wrote:The Herndon admin who assigns the field space has two teams, guess what? both teams only practice at Bready, the only safe field.

of course!

At Arrowbrook two weeks ago, there was a man trying to teach his kid how to ride a bike without training wheels in the middle of the field while four teams were practicing.

Anonymous wrote:Attempted murder? what?

There was a shooting last spring during an adult league game at Hutchinson. For the rest of the spring, the Herndon admin made efforts to keep pickup players off the fields and the fields were actually useful for practices and not chaotic. Whatever they were doing last spring, they aren't doing this fall.

Just chiming in, our team has a brand new coach this year (high school boys team). We didn't have a manager until 2 days before our first tournament this weekend. We didn't know there were games this weekend or that our team had a tournament until midway last week! I don't even know if our coach knew.

Every practice is only a quarter field and it is NOT ENOUGH space. Arrowbrook situation is out of control and needs attention from the people in charge. There were people hitting a volleyball and people playing with tennis rackets in the middle of the field last week.

Neighborhood residents seem to consider this park their personal backyard and seem to have absolutely no clue that they aren't supposed to be out on the field when it is reserved. There is a side area right next to the field where literally hordes of teens and adult men play pickup soccer, shouting, cursing, their ball rolls onto the field every ten seconds. Whenever a team isn't using one of the main field goals for a few minutes, 10+ pickup players will swoop in and start kicking the ball around.

Our coach said he specifically asked not to be put at Arrowbrook due to the chaos and still got assigned a practice there.

When we show up, there are only two younger travel teams assigned to the whole field! Then we have four high school aged teams in our time slot. It makes no sense.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never heard of high school teams only getting a quarter field for practices. Maybe once a week if space is really tight, but everywhere we have been, the older teams get 1/3 or 1/2 a field.

You must have a coach who's in with the TD and gets what they ask. 75% or more get a 1/4 of a field if you're able to get the random people off the field and if you don't mind stopping practice every 5 minutes to remind them that we are using the space and only taking a quick water break.

Oh sorry, I meant in the DC soccer universe I have never heard of HS teams only getting that much space. We aren't A Herndon family.

The Herndon admin who assigns the field space has two teams, guess what? both teams only practice at Bready, the only safe field.

Anonymous wrote:I've never heard of high school teams only getting a quarter field for practices. Maybe once a week if space is really tight, but everywhere we have been, the older teams get 1/3 or 1/2 a field.

You must have a coach who's in with the TD and gets what they ask. 75% or more get a 1/4 of a field if you're able to get the random people off the field and if you don't mind stopping practice every 5 minutes to remind them that we are using the space and only taking a quick water break.

WELCOME TO HERNDON!!! Spent the last 4 years there and before the season kicks off, they tell you everything you want to hear and once the season starts. It's chaos. I'm sorry you're dealing with this, find your way out and don't believe all the promises, they'll do what they said for a week or 2 and it'll be back to the usual.