Fairfax County General :
Fairfax Underground
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
WAGS and the Elite Clubs National League
Posted by:
Soccer Ghost
()
Date: April 24, 2015 05:09PM
Just read an interesting column:
http://www.soccerwire.com/blog-posts/hummer-club-centric-is-more-than-a-buzzword-and-the-proof-is-on-the-field/?loc=psw
"Amid the game’s decades of explosive growth here, plenty of youth leagues (and tournaments) have actually had it pretty easy, especially on the girls’ side. They had everything they needed. Strong, ambitious teams waiting in line to get in; and all the top coaches fighting to get to the top, win state cups, willingly encourage their top players to tryout for ODP, and then help them find a college opportunity."
In case you missed it, he's talking about WAGS. To drive it home:
"archaic rules, bureaucratic decision processes for simple solutions, and very few people who ever actually played – or even coached beyond their own kids’ recreational teams back in the ‘80s – making all the important decisions about the competitive environment without really understanding what player development was all about.
These mostly volunteer bureaucrats, did then, and many still do now, focus too much on the financial side of their organizations as the primary measure of success and operational efficiency. Their organizations resemble many old, lumbering industries that never had to fight for customers or provide much real service."
But is the solution ECNL? Only a few clubs in Northern Virginia play in it. What does the future hold for girls soccer?
http://www.soccerwire.com/blog-posts/hummer-club-centric-is-more-than-a-buzzword-and-the-proof-is-on-the-field/?loc=psw
"Amid the game’s decades of explosive growth here, plenty of youth leagues (and tournaments) have actually had it pretty easy, especially on the girls’ side. They had everything they needed. Strong, ambitious teams waiting in line to get in; and all the top coaches fighting to get to the top, win state cups, willingly encourage their top players to tryout for ODP, and then help them find a college opportunity."
In case you missed it, he's talking about WAGS. To drive it home:
"archaic rules, bureaucratic decision processes for simple solutions, and very few people who ever actually played – or even coached beyond their own kids’ recreational teams back in the ‘80s – making all the important decisions about the competitive environment without really understanding what player development was all about.
These mostly volunteer bureaucrats, did then, and many still do now, focus too much on the financial side of their organizations as the primary measure of success and operational efficiency. Their organizations resemble many old, lumbering industries that never had to fight for customers or provide much real service."
But is the solution ECNL? Only a few clubs in Northern Virginia play in it. What does the future hold for girls soccer?
Re: WAGS and the Elite Clubs National League
Posted by:
Derfx
()
Date: April 25, 2015 11:08AM
I still don't know why soccer at the high school level isn't really looked at by college or professional recruiters.
Re: WAGS and the Elite Clubs National League
Posted by:
Derflx
()
Date: April 25, 2015 11:37AM
Derfx Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I still don't know why soccer at the high school
> level isn't really looked at by college or
> professional recruiters.
Recruiters have very little time and money to scout. The players with the best potential have online resumes that speak for themselves. the best place to see these players in a high-level competition is the 8-10 major tournaments each year.
-------------------------------------------------------
> I still don't know why soccer at the high school
> level isn't really looked at by college or
> professional recruiters.
Recruiters have very little time and money to scout. The players with the best potential have online resumes that speak for themselves. the best place to see these players in a high-level competition is the 8-10 major tournaments each year.
Re: WAGS and the Elite Clubs National League
Posted by:
ECNL?
()
Date: April 25, 2015 11:42AM
ECNL has like what, two or three participating clubs in Northern Virginia? Which basically means it's a program for parents who have thousands of dollars to throw at it each year.
CCL is a better choice. Club-centric program with high-level local and regional competition.
And yes, WAGS is a dying league. They tried to be everything for all girls and failed. Now WAGS is even losing teams to rec leagues and ODSL.
They even gave up the WAGS tournament on Columbus Day weekend to a contractor and just collect a part of the proceeds.
CCL is a better choice. Club-centric program with high-level local and regional competition.
And yes, WAGS is a dying league. They tried to be everything for all girls and failed. Now WAGS is even losing teams to rec leagues and ODSL.
They even gave up the WAGS tournament on Columbus Day weekend to a contractor and just collect a part of the proceeds.
Re: WAGS and the Elite Clubs National League
Posted by:
yG73k
()
Date: April 26, 2015 01:48PM
Clubs and leagues pay Soccer Wire to write positive news about them. With only two Northern Virginia clubs participating (FC Virginia and Mclean Youth Soccer) ECNL is an afterthought in these parts.
Re: WAGS and the Elite Clubs National League
Posted by:
fed up..
()
Date: April 26, 2015 07:27PM
Soccer Ghost Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> "archaic rules, bureaucratic decision processes
> for simple solutions, and very few people who ever
> actually played – or even coached beyond their
> own kids’ recreational teams back in the ‘80s
> – making all the important decisions about the
> competitive environment without really
> understanding what player development was all
> about.
Could easily describe NCSL, which is also imploding. Unfortunately, the replacements (yes, multiple replacements) have players going from very good competition locally in NCSL to widespread, spotty competition in EDP, CCL, and VPL. League games in Richmond, Virginia Beach, Philly - crazy! The grown ups should put an end to it, but I think the genie is out of the bottle and coaches now know they are get into leagues that have no parent filter on it, like every parent is just dying to drive to Hampton Roads area three times a season.
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> "archaic rules, bureaucratic decision processes
> for simple solutions, and very few people who ever
> actually played – or even coached beyond their
> own kids’ recreational teams back in the ‘80s
> – making all the important decisions about the
> competitive environment without really
> understanding what player development was all
> about.
Could easily describe NCSL, which is also imploding. Unfortunately, the replacements (yes, multiple replacements) have players going from very good competition locally in NCSL to widespread, spotty competition in EDP, CCL, and VPL. League games in Richmond, Virginia Beach, Philly - crazy! The grown ups should put an end to it, but I think the genie is out of the bottle and coaches now know they are get into leagues that have no parent filter on it, like every parent is just dying to drive to Hampton Roads area three times a season.