Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is true. But found NextStar to be not very nice to those who aren’t already top players. Like they pick same kids to be captains every time and the kids pick their friends. When your kid is unknown, they are the last to be picked and no one will play them. My kid is ok but it was hard to watch for some. It’s very, very political.

We do not train with Next Star privately. My son does the $50 drop in sessions when available. I watched him in an uncomfortable Rondo with better players and he was being run to death. He leveled up and understood that there is a different level of players out there. Tough to watch as a parent. No tears, no complaints though. I do not like giving parenting advice but Next Star is not a babysitting service for your kids feelings. They are trying to find the “Next Star.”

Next Star is not orange slice University. My child is young so we are not in the MLS Next arena but the talent that my son goes up against challenges him and is making him better.

Lots of standard orange slice training available in the area. Please do not trash Next Star as those of us who have kids who are competitive and not concerned with being “included” would like for this business to survive. We know no one and are from a small club and my son loves the training. They are not perfect organizationally but I find the $50 sessions very economical.

They are doing nothing new under the son. My son does many of the other drills on his own. We are paying to play with/against better talent.

Paying to play with better talent is definitely a good thing. And they usually have a good collection of kids to train with and that is what a lot of families pay for...that collection of kids. No one wants to see them go under because that collection of kids is valuable and they do have some knowledge and experience to share.

But I think the issue is the cost to return on investment ratio. At a normal drop in, there are 15-20 kids, sometimes more. They are collectively making over 1000 bucks an hour on a normal basis to stand there and watch your kids scrimmage, run up hills and the track, and run through cones with minimal to no coaching involved. Just follow the leader. Literally that. Parents rationalize it, like you have, as it is just 50.bucks and we can afford that. But when you look at the business side of it all, they are literally killing the parents and doing pretty much nothing for that money. 200 bucks an hour for soccer training is absolutely absurd and borderline disrespectful. But again, combination of affluent area and parents who don't care or know any better, and they get away with it.

It is the audacity and brazen nature of the pricing model coupled with the actual product that is the problem. Lower pricing and I don't think many people would have an issue. We won't even talk about families that can't afford to pay these fees and that don't have the access. This is an prime example of what is wrong with football in this country. This much money needs to be spent to advance as a player. Sad.

PP, they don’t even always let that happen. Sometimes the unknown players are put out with the very little kids. I have seen it happen. And yes, I do see 7 and 8 year olds running long and steep hill repeats. Some teams have mile time requirements so I can see that I guess. But if you don’t get the higher level play, and are treated like no one, it’s not a very nice experience. I’m not going to hold back on that.

Anonymous wrote:This is true. But found NextStar to be not very nice to those who aren’t already top players. Like they pick same kids to be captains every time and the kids pick their friends. When your kid is unknown, they are the last to be picked and no one will play them. My kid is ok but it was hard to watch for some. It’s very, very political.

We do not train with Next Star privately. My son does the $50 drop in sessions when available. I watched him in an uncomfortable Rondo with better players and he was being run to death. He leveled up and understood that there is a different level of players out there. Tough to watch as a parent. No tears, no complaints though. I do not like giving parenting advice but Next Star is not a babysitting service for your kids feelings. They are trying to find the “Next Star.”

Next Star is not orange slice University. My child is young so we are not in the MLS Next arena but the talent that my son goes up against challenges him and is making him better.

Lots of standard orange slice training available in the area. Please do not trash Next Star as those of us who have kids who are competitive and not concerned with being “included” would like for this business to survive. We know no one and are from a small club and my son loves the training. They are not perfect organizationally but I find the $50 sessions very economical.

They are doing nothing new under the son. My son does many of the other drills on his own. We are paying to play with/against better talent.

Anonymous wrote:Old school training methodologies for a game that has substantially evolved. Those were training methods that were prominent 20-30 years ago. Imagine NFL teams training the same way they trained in the 80s and 90s. Pro academies in Europe don't run the kids around the track. They train stamina mostly with the ball. That is what people are paying for with these private trainers..old and dated thinking about football. And LOTS of money at that. But the parents don't know any better and they are vulnerable and are absolutely being taken advantage of on the pricing and the actual product they are getting for their money. But fair play to these guys, they get away with it in an affluent market. Take that training out of the DMV and people wouldn't pay 20 bucks an hour for it.

10 and 11 year olds running steep hills for soccer is pretty funny

Are they wearing Converse hi-tops?

Old school training methodologies for a game that has substantially evolved. Those were training methods that were prominent 20-30 years ago. Imagine NFL teams training the same way they trained in the 80s and 90s. Pro academies in Europe don't run the kids around the track. They train stamina mostly with the ball. That is what people are paying for with these private trainers..old and dated thinking about football. And LOTS of money at that. But the parents don't know any better and they are vulnerable and are absolutely being taken advantage of on the pricing and the actual product they are getting for their money. But fair play to these guys, they get away with it in an affluent market. Take that training out of the DMV and people wouldn't pay 20 bucks an hour for it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is true. But found NextStar to be not very nice to those who aren’t already top players. Like they pick same kids to be captains every time and the kids pick their friends. When your kid is unknown, they are the last to be picked and no one will play them. My kid is ok but it was hard to watch for some. It’s very, very political.

I can see this. They only want to train the best of the best. This makes their job easier since they are not in the business of developing players.

Point of the day and well said .."They are not in the business of developing players." That is a fact. They are in the business of extracting money from your pocket just like Bethesda. If some development happens, great, if it doesn't, no worries for them, they have your money and no accountability.

The prime example of watching kids run around the track and up hills and calling that football development. Kids can do that on their own. And at younger ages they don't need to be building power and stamina because their bodies are still growing. But they sell parents on being "fit". But parents don't understand that you can be super fit but if you can't control the ball you got nothing. At older ages, you need to be able to run. It's a running game. But watching 8 and 9 year olds running around the track and up steep hills to build power is just absolutely ridiculous. Especially since those workouts need to be cumulative over a period of time to be effective (which most spoiled rich kids in Bethesda aren't putting in).

It's not about politics, it's all about money. You pay them what some of those parents pay them (obscene, almost criminal, amounts for football training,) and you'll miraculously see your kid as captain one day.

Anonymous wrote:This is true. But found NextStar to be not very nice to those who aren’t already top players. Like they pick same kids to be captains every time and the kids pick their friends. When your kid is unknown, they are the last to be picked and no one will play them. My kid is ok but it was hard to watch for some. It’s very, very political.

I can see this. They only want to train the best of the best. This makes their job easier since they are not in the business of developing players.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You don’t know who Paul Torres is? He’s the guy who charges $200/hour to improve bethesda players so they can get the development they won’t get at bethesda worth every penny

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When did this become a thread about Sal?

Who is Sal? There is also a mention of Paul Torres in a later post. Are these folks trainers for a specific age group or levels? With a club or independant?

NO child develops in 3 practices a week. That is a D2-D3 player, irregardless of club.

Top SYC player train privately, Top Alexandria players train privately, Top Bethesda players train privately.

Paul hosts group drop-in sessions for $50 through Next Star. Great program.

Are all Next Star clients MLS Next and above players?

This is true. But found NextStar to be not very nice to those who aren’t already top players. Like they pick same kids to be captains every time and the kids pick their friends. When your kid is unknown, they are the last to be picked and no one will play them. My kid is ok but it was hard to watch for some. It’s very, very political.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You don’t know who Paul Torres is? He’s the guy who charges $200/hour to improve bethesda players so they can get the development they won’t get at bethesda worth every penny

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When did this become a thread about Sal?

Who is Sal? There is also a mention of Paul Torres in a later post. Are these folks trainers for a specific age group or levels? With a club or independant?

NO child develops in 3 practices a week. That is a D2-D3 player, irregardless of club.

Top SYC player train privately, Top Alexandria players train privately, Top Bethesda players train privately.

Paul hosts group drop-in sessions for $50 through Next Star. Great program.

Every top player playing at high level MLS Next is training with private trainers.

This. Anyone who claims otherwise is flat out lying.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You don’t know who Paul Torres is? He’s the guy who charges $200/hour to improve bethesda players so they can get the development they won’t get at bethesda worth every penny

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When did this become a thread about Sal?

Who is Sal? There is also a mention of Paul Torres in a later post. Are these folks trainers for a specific age group or levels? With a club or independant?

NO child develops in 3 practices a week. That is a D2-D3 player, irregardless of club.

Top SYC player train privately, Top Alexandria players train privately, Top Bethesda players train privately.

Paul hosts group drop-in sessions for $50 through Next Star. Great program.

Every top player playing at high level MLS Next is training with private trainers.

Anonymous wrote:You don’t know who Paul Torres is? He’s the guy who charges $200/hour to improve bethesda players so they can get the development they won’t get at bethesda worth every penny

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When did this become a thread about Sal?

Who is Sal? There is also a mention of Paul Torres in a later post. Are these folks trainers for a specific age group or levels? With a club or independant?

NO child develops in 3 practices a week. That is a D2-D3 player, irregardless of club.

Top SYC player train privately, Top Alexandria players train privately, Top Bethesda players train privately.

Paul hosts group drop-in sessions for $50 through Next Star. Great program.

You don’t know who Paul Torres is? He’s the guy who charges $200/hour to improve bethesda players so they can get the development they won’t get at bethesda worth every penny

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When did this become a thread about Sal?

Who is Sal? There is also a mention of Paul Torres in a later post. Are these folks trainers for a specific age group or levels? With a club or independant?

Anonymous wrote:Only the best know who these people are

The best at googling

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When did this become a thread about Sal?

Who is Sal? There is also a mention of Paul Torres in a later post. Are these folks trainers for a specific age group or levels? With a club or independant?

https://www.salsoccer.com
https://www.nextstarsoccer.com