Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Within a group, how do they list the teams? Its not alphabetical and doesn't seem in order of skill. Random?

I always thought they listed them based on who they thought would win the bracket.

I think they try and balance it out within a bracket on the “A” side and “B” side. Then, once that is done, I think the teams are listed alphabetically by state (so the Maryland teams will be listed before the Virginia teams). That’s the way it seems to look for my kid’s bracket, it seems.

I get that they try to balance out the two groups in a division (although in some cases, it looks like the top two teams are on the same side), but I'm not seeing alphabetically by state. If that were the case, VA teams would always be listed last, but that is not the case. I'm seeing sometimes VA teams are above NY teams, sometimes below for example.

Why don't you... let them figure it out on the field?

They will. Just trying to figure out the rhyme and reason for listing of teams. You would think it would be alphabetical if they didn't want to order it, but its not alphabetical.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Within a group, how do they list the teams? Its not alphabetical and doesn't seem in order of skill. Random?

I always thought they listed them based on who they thought would win the bracket.

I think they try and balance it out within a bracket on the “A” side and “B” side. Then, once that is done, I think the teams are listed alphabetically by state (so the Maryland teams will be listed before the Virginia teams). That’s the way it seems to look for my kid’s bracket, it seems.

I get that they try to balance out the two groups in a division (although in some cases, it looks like the top two teams are on the same side), but I'm not seeing alphabetically by state. If that were the case, VA teams would always be listed last, but that is not the case. I'm seeing sometimes VA teams are above NY teams, sometimes below for example.

Maybe in the order the application was complete? Who knows? Damn some of you people are way too caught up in this. I never would have even come up with this thought to ponder. I briefly looked to see if my kids' team was listed so I could book a nice hotel vs one of the crap ones available. That's the level of thought I put into it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Within a group, how do they list the teams? Its not alphabetical and doesn't seem in order of skill. Random?

I always thought they listed them based on who they thought would win the bracket.

I think they try and balance it out within a bracket on the “A” side and “B” side. Then, once that is done, I think the teams are listed alphabetically by state (so the Maryland teams will be listed before the Virginia teams). That’s the way it seems to look for my kid’s bracket, it seems.

I get that they try to balance out the two groups in a division (although in some cases, it looks like the top two teams are on the same side), but I'm not seeing alphabetically by state. If that were the case, VA teams would always be listed last, but that is not the case. I'm seeing sometimes VA teams are above NY teams, sometimes below for example.

Why don't you... let them figure it out on the field?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Within a group, how do they list the teams? Its not alphabetical and doesn't seem in order of skill. Random?

I always thought they listed them based on who they thought would win the bracket.

I think they try and balance it out within a bracket on the “A” side and “B” side. Then, once that is done, I think the teams are listed alphabetically by state (so the Maryland teams will be listed before the Virginia teams). That’s the way it seems to look for my kid’s bracket, it seems.

I get that they try to balance out the two groups in a division (although in some cases, it looks like the top two teams are on the same side), but I'm not seeing alphabetically by state. If that were the case, VA teams would always be listed last, but that is not the case. I'm seeing sometimes VA teams are above NY teams, sometimes below for example.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Within a group, how do they list the teams? Its not alphabetical and doesn't seem in order of skill. Random?

I always thought they listed them based on who they thought would win the bracket.

I think they try and balance it out within a bracket on the “A” side and “B” side. Then, once that is done, I think the teams are listed alphabetically by state (so the Maryland teams will be listed before the Virginia teams). That’s the way it seems to look for my kid’s bracket, it seems.

Anonymous wrote:Within a group, how do they list the teams? Its not alphabetical and doesn't seem in order of skill. Random?

I always thought they listed them based on who they thought would win the bracket.

Anonymous wrote:Within a group, how do they list the teams? Its not alphabetical and doesn't seem in order of skill. Random?

Random it seems

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting that the U12 (2010) boys weekend doesn't have a single local club in the top bracket (Baltimore and Richmond are the closest). Is it a down year for that group in the immediate DMV area?

Good question but I don’t think the best boys clubs in the dc area at older ages are going, either because they are mls next or because they have plenty of other things to do and have competed successfully and recently in large tournaments (Arlington). Certainly doesn’t mean pre-MLS Next should not go.

This! Why travel to Richmond and have a $1k weekend per player when there is a load of talented local competition within a 20 minute drive. Great way to make little kids hate soccer is spend the weekends driving all over the east coast. Only reason for all that travel at younger age groups is to feed some egos into thinking they’ve got the biggest baddest team in all the land.

It’s also really fun to spend time with your child, watch they play with their friends, break bread together, and parents pound beer. Sounds like heaven.

Within a group, how do they list the teams? Its not alphabetical and doesn't seem in order of skill. Random?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting that the U12 (2010) boys weekend doesn't have a single local club in the top bracket (Baltimore and Richmond are the closest). Is it a down year for that group in the immediate DMV area?

Good question but I don’t think the best boys clubs in the dc area at older ages are going, either because they are mls next or because they have plenty of other things to do and have competed successfully and recently in large tournaments (Arlington). Certainly doesn’t mean pre-MLS Next should not go.

This! Why travel to Richmond and have a $1k weekend per player when there is a load of talented local competition within a 20 minute drive. Great way to make little kids hate soccer is spend the weekends driving all over the east coast. Only reason for all that travel at younger age groups is to feed some egos into thinking they’ve got the biggest baddest team in all the land.

If your kid isn't excited to go to Jefferson Cup, play in a tournament, hang in a hotel with his teammates, etc. even though it's a 90 minute drive, then maybe he should play on a lower level team and stay home. I'm not trying to be a D here. Trying to give you something to think about. This is what motivated my kid, not made my kid hate soccer.

DP please after doing this year after year it is not exciting. Most of the players get stressed out and worry about how they play. You must be one of the clueless parents kissing up to the coach.

You couldn't be further from the truth. My kid loves to play. Playing doesn't stress him out. What the hell would kissing up to the coach have to do with how your kid stresses over tournaments? I think you are just a clueless parent. In addition, going year after year hasn't affected my kid at all. It has burned us out a bit. Sometimes wife takes him. Some times dad takes him. Sometimes a teammate parent takes him. But he loves going. He loves going to NC for a single game. Loves this stuff....and so do all of his friends and teammates. I've never even heard another parent parent say that their kid gets stressed out going to tournaments. Good luck.

Boys younger weekend is up: https://www.gotsport.com/asp/directors/tournament/vieweventteamscleanb.asp?EventID=83986&Group=Boys_11

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting that the U12 (2010) boys weekend doesn't have a single local club in the top bracket (Baltimore and Richmond are the closest). Is it a down year for that group in the immediate DMV area?

Good question but I don’t think the best boys clubs in the dc area at older ages are going, either because they are mls next or because they have plenty of other things to do and have competed successfully and recently in large tournaments (Arlington). Certainly doesn’t mean pre-MLS Next should not go.

This! Why travel to Richmond and have a $1k weekend per player when there is a load of talented local competition within a 20 minute drive. Great way to make little kids hate soccer is spend the weekends driving all over the east coast. Only reason for all that travel at younger age groups is to feed some egos into thinking they’ve got the biggest baddest team in all the land.

I think this misses the point in two ways. First, the question was whether there actually is "a load of talented local competition within a 20 minute drive." The top 2010 boys teams DID all play each other in the EDP/ADL and I was wondering if maybe they aren't that good compared to their counterparts in other regions. Jefferson cup is a great way to find that out. As other posters have stated, it's relatively close, attracts great talent, and is fun for the kids. My son loves travelling for soccer and bonding with teammates.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting that the U12 (2010) boys weekend doesn't have a single local club in the top bracket (Baltimore and Richmond are the closest). Is it a down year for that group in the immediate DMV area?

Good question but I don’t think the best boys clubs in the dc area at older ages are going, either because they are mls next or because they have plenty of other things to do and have competed successfully and recently in large tournaments (Arlington). Certainly doesn’t mean pre-MLS Next should not go.

This! Why travel to Richmond and have a $1k weekend per player when there is a load of talented local competition within a 20 minute drive. Great way to make little kids hate soccer is spend the weekends driving all over the east coast. Only reason for all that travel at younger age groups is to feed some egos into thinking they’ve got the biggest baddest team in all the land.

If your kid isn't excited to go to Jefferson Cup, play in a tournament, hang in a hotel with his teammates, etc. even though it's a 90 minute drive, then maybe he should play on a lower level team and stay home. I'm not trying to be a D here. Trying to give you something to think about. This is what motivated my kid, not made my kid hate soccer.

DP please after doing this year after year it is not exciting. Most of the players get stressed out and worry about how they play. You must be one of the clueless parents kissing up to the coach.

NP. I think the poster who's kid gets stressed out and doesn't have fun for a tournament is in the minority. I think most kids really enjoy traveling for a tournament, staying in a hotel, hanging out with teammates, etc.

My DD loves tournaments. Sure, the games. But she loves hanging out with her friends, swimming in the hotel pool, team dinners, roaming the hotel, even more. I also like how much time we get to spend together in the car and between games. So many good memories.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting that the U12 (2010) boys weekend doesn't have a single local club in the top bracket (Baltimore and Richmond are the closest). Is it a down year for that group in the immediate DMV area?

Good question but I don’t think the best boys clubs in the dc area at older ages are going, either because they are mls next or because they have plenty of other things to do and have competed successfully and recently in large tournaments (Arlington). Certainly doesn’t mean pre-MLS Next should not go.

This! Why travel to Richmond and have a $1k weekend per player when there is a load of talented local competition within a 20 minute drive. Great way to make little kids hate soccer is spend the weekends driving all over the east coast. Only reason for all that travel at younger age groups is to feed some egos into thinking they’ve got the biggest baddest team in all the land.

If you are freaking out over a tournament that is a hour drive away then travel soccer is simply not for you. It is one of the best tournaments in the nation and is in our own back yard. Put your kid in Rec next year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting that the U12 (2010) boys weekend doesn't have a single local club in the top bracket (Baltimore and Richmond are the closest). Is it a down year for that group in the immediate DMV area?

Good question but I don’t think the best boys clubs in the dc area at older ages are going, either because they are mls next or because they have plenty of other things to do and have competed successfully and recently in large tournaments (Arlington). Certainly doesn’t mean pre-MLS Next should not go.

This! Why travel to Richmond and have a $1k weekend per player when there is a load of talented local competition within a 20 minute drive. Great way to make little kids hate soccer is spend the weekends driving all over the east coast. Only reason for all that travel at younger age groups is to feed some egos into thinking they’ve got the biggest baddest team in all the land.

If your kid isn't excited to go to Jefferson Cup, play in a tournament, hang in a hotel with his teammates, etc. even though it's a 90 minute drive, then maybe he should play on a lower level team and stay home. I'm not trying to be a D here. Trying to give you something to think about. This is what motivated my kid, not made my kid hate soccer.

DP please after doing this year after year it is not exciting. Most of the players get stressed out and worry about how they play. You must be one of the clueless parents kissing up to the coach.

NP. I think the poster who's kid gets stressed out and doesn't have fun for a tournament is in the minority. I think most kids really enjoy traveling for a tournament, staying in a hotel, hanging out with teammates, etc.