Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does Great Falls Reston fit into all of this?
Is Great Falls going to replace SYC in the VA Union system (McLean + GFR = VA Union)?

Is GRF leaving NVA? Who will replace GFR in the Northern Virginia Alliance?

I was told that GFR would be leaving NVA and forming some kind of “partnership” with McLean. Whether that means replacing SYC in Union or something different, I don’t know. But with the recent hiring of Nadir Moumem to be the new GFR TD and his connections to McLean/Union, it’s not hard to imagine that being accurate. Time will tell.

VA Union will go back to McLean ECNL. no way they keep "VA Union" they hated changing their name in the first place and doubt they'd keep it along with the Green & Orange (SYC) colors of the logo.

The press release makes it seem like they’re keeping Virginia union.
“Three years ago, McLean Youth Soccer (MYS) established the Virginia Union as a collaborative platform centered on the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) travel program and partnered with Springfield Youth Soccer (SYC). Since the establishment of the VA Union, many ECNL clubs in the area have followed suit and developed elite-level alliances similar to the VA Union.

Today, MYS and SYC have mutually decided to part ways for the VA Union alliance at the end of the 2023-2024 ECNL season. MYS and the VA Union would like to thank SYC for their partnership over the last three years and wish them well.

This announcement is not the end for the VA Union. We still believe that partnerships with local clubs are critical to remaining competitive at the elite level of boys and girls soccer. We remain convinced that the Elite Clubs National League provides the best pathway for players to compete nationally at the elite level.

We believe the VA Union represents the best opportunity for players to develop at an elite level, both on the field and in the community. We continue to welcome any current or prospective player from the metropolitan area to try out and play for the VA Union.

The VA Union will continue to explore collaborative opportunities with like-minded clubs that share our core values. We aim to strengthen our collective commitment to sportsmanship, community engagement, and the development of talented athletes. “

“ Today, MYS and SYC have mutually decided to part ways for the VA Union alliance at the end of the 2023-2024 ECNL season. MYS and the VA Union would like to thank SYC for their partnership over the last three years and wish them well.”

Anonymous wrote:Just noticed SYC IG tags has GA.

@nationalacademyleague <> @girlsacademyleague

It's even more ridiculous when you see older teams travel hundreds of miles in showcases only to play teams that are based a few miles down the road from them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Less travel with GA - all easy drives.

ECNL has teams in North Carolina which required full weekends of hotel stay and sometimes flight to get there. ECNL with the north carolina clubs just adds more hotel stays and food which makes it too expensive to play in.

I don’t understand. Both leagues have regions that spread across several states. Parents are driving 4-5 hours to North Carolina or New Jersey. There may be reasons to choose ECNL over GA, or GA over ECNL, but I’m not sure the travel time is favorable with either league.

It isn't favorable. All ridiculous.

Anonymous wrote:Less travel with GA - all easy drives.

ECNL has teams in North Carolina which required full weekends of hotel stay and sometimes flight to get there. ECNL with the north carolina clubs just adds more hotel stays and food which makes it too expensive to play in.

I don’t understand. Both leagues have regions that spread across several states. Parents are driving 4-5 hours to North Carolina or New Jersey. There may be reasons to choose ECNL over GA, or GA over ECNL, but I’m not sure the travel time is favorable with either league.

Anonymous wrote:Less travel with GA - all easy drives.

ECNL has teams in North Carolina which required full weekends of hotel stay and sometimes flight to get there. ECNL with the north carolina clubs just adds more hotel stays and food which makes it too expensive to play in.

A flight to North Carolina? Good one, Este!

Just noticed SYC IG tags has GA.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does Great Falls Reston fit into all of this?
Is Great Falls going to replace SYC in the VA Union system (McLean + GFR = VA Union)?

Is GRF leaving NVA? Who will replace GFR in the Northern Virginia Alliance?

I was told that GFR would be leaving NVA and forming some kind of “partnership” with McLean. Whether that means replacing SYC in Union or something different, I don’t know. But with the recent hiring of Nadir Moumem to be the new GFR TD and his connections to McLean/Union, it’s not hard to imagine that being accurate. Time will tell.

VA Union will go back to McLean ECNL. no way they keep "VA Union" they hated changing their name in the first place and doubt they'd keep it along with the Green & Orange (SYC) colors of the logo.

Anonymous wrote:How does Great Falls Reston fit into all of this?
Is Great Falls going to replace SYC in the VA Union system (McLean + GFR = VA Union)?

Is GRF leaving NVA? Who will replace GFR in the Northern Virginia Alliance?

I was told that GFR would be leaving NVA and forming some kind of “partnership” with McLean. Whether that means replacing SYC in Union or something different, I don’t know. But with the recent hiring of Nadir Moumem to be the new GFR TD and his connections to McLean/Union, it’s not hard to imagine that being accurate. Time will tell.

How does Great Falls Reston fit into all of this?
Is Great Falls going to replace SYC in the VA Union system (McLean + GFR = VA Union)?

Is GRF leaving NVA? Who will replace GFR in the Northern Virginia Alliance?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are considering GA and ECNL clubs for my 2012G - SYC, Union, and Arlington. Would appreciate the insight of those already in these leagues but travel burden would seem a big strike against GA. Except for the two Baltimore clubs, every GA road game will be 100+ mile drive:

GA Clubs (miles from Northern VA)
Baltimore Armour (Baltimore, MD) 48
Baltimore Celtic (Baltimore, MD) 48
Skyline Elite SC (Charlottesville, VA) 110
Sporting AC (Wilmington, DE) 118
PA Classics (Manheim, PA) 133
SJEB FC (Pitman, NJ) 141
Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals (Philadelphia, PA) 150
Real Jersey FC (Medford, NJ) 161
Keystone FC (Mechanicsburg, PA) 180
Century United FC (Pittsburgh, PA) / Beadling SC (Bridgeville, PA) 274

ECNL is no picnic either with 3 trips to North Carolina, but they do 2 games per trip, and you get those 4 games in town:

Arlington Soccer ECNL G11
VA Union ECNL G11
Fairfax BRAVE SC ENCL G11
VDA ECNL G11
NVA ECNL G11

Richmond United ECNL G11 103
Beach FC (VA) ECNL G11 203
NC Fusion ECNL G11 / NCFC Youth ECNL G11 349
Wilmington Hammerheads ECNL G11 / NC Courage ECNL G11 359
Charlotte Independence ECNL G11 / Charlotte SA ECNL G11 395

FWIW, GA Mid-Atlantic is split into a north and a south division. The south currently is FCV, Skyline, Celtic, Armour, Sporting DE, and Keystone. Those clubs each play each other twice and they play the north division clubs each once for league play. A total of 16 matches for the league season.

Makes sense to add SYC and possibly others to increase the south division. Possibly other clubs being added in MD.

GA is more likely to fold than for any new clubs to be added in MD, GA at SYC makes sense, to replace Metro in the area.

GA has 90-something clubs, ECNL 120.

You're right. The size of the league assures the league's continuation and success.

Speaking of continuation and unfettered success remind us how many of those 90 clubs were in the DA?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are considering GA and ECNL clubs for my 2012G - SYC, Union, and Arlington. Would appreciate the insight of those already in these leagues but travel burden would seem a big strike against GA. Except for the two Baltimore clubs, every GA road game will be 100+ mile drive:

GA Clubs (miles from Northern VA)
Baltimore Armour (Baltimore, MD) 48
Baltimore Celtic (Baltimore, MD) 48
Skyline Elite SC (Charlottesville, VA) 110
Sporting AC (Wilmington, DE) 118
PA Classics (Manheim, PA) 133
SJEB FC (Pitman, NJ) 141
Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals (Philadelphia, PA) 150
Real Jersey FC (Medford, NJ) 161
Keystone FC (Mechanicsburg, PA) 180
Century United FC (Pittsburgh, PA) / Beadling SC (Bridgeville, PA) 274

ECNL is no picnic either with 3 trips to North Carolina, but they do 2 games per trip, and you get those 4 games in town:

Arlington Soccer ECNL G11
VA Union ECNL G11
Fairfax BRAVE SC ENCL G11
VDA ECNL G11
NVA ECNL G11

Richmond United ECNL G11 103
Beach FC (VA) ECNL G11 203
NC Fusion ECNL G11 / NCFC Youth ECNL G11 349
Wilmington Hammerheads ECNL G11 / NC Courage ECNL G11 359
Charlotte Independence ECNL G11 / Charlotte SA ECNL G11 395

FWIW, GA Mid-Atlantic is split into a north and a south division. The south currently is FCV, Skyline, Celtic, Armour, Sporting DE, and Keystone. Those clubs each play each other twice and they play the north division clubs each once for league play. A total of 16 matches for the league season.

Makes sense to add SYC and possibly others to increase the south division. Possibly other clubs being added in MD.

GA is more likely to fold than for any new clubs to be added in MD, GA at SYC makes sense, to replace Metro in the area.

GA has 90-something clubs, ECNL 120.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
why would FCV leave GA? They are not getting ECNL.

Where will they practice/play?

Loisdale Park, South Run Rec, Hayfield HS, West Springfield HS

Less travel with GA - all easy drives.

ECNL has teams in North Carolina which required full weekends of hotel stay and sometimes flight to get there. ECNL with the north carolina clubs just adds more hotel stays and food which makes it too expensive to play in.