Advice - Moving to Bethesda

[Anonymous]

Hello. My 9 year old girl loves soccer and is a top player with a DC Way travel team currently. We are moving to Bethesda by next spring. From what I can tell, soccer is more competitive in that area if she wants to really focus on soccer and work to be on top teams. Any advice on how I can help her transition over? What we can do now to ensure that she has a good shot at making a team over there? I haven't brought this up with her so as not to stress her out or anything...I just thought a bit of a plan wouldn't hurt... Thanks

[Anonymous]

She can definitely make a team. That is not the issue. What level is a different story.

BSC is the most competitive club in that area. I don't know about the girls but the boys are very competitive and at that age many do side training to stay on top. She may get placed on a lower team at bsc but a higher team at club like potomac which is not quite as competitive but also seems to be very well liked.

If you do not want to spend that money or sacrifice, you can look at MSI classic which is moderately competitive and well liked.

I would go ahead and tryout during winter and get on a team for spring for any of the above. I would not wait until spring tryouts (in may) as there will be much more competition and she will already have her foot in the door.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello. My 9 year old girl loves soccer and is a top player with a DC Way travel team currently. We are moving to Bethesda by next spring. From what I can tell, soccer is more competitive in that area if she wants to really focus on soccer and work to be on top teams. Any advice on how I can help her transition over? What we can do now to ensure that she has a good shot at making a team over there? I haven't brought this up with her so as not to stress her out or anything...I just thought a bit of a plan wouldn't hurt... Thanks

Email the club and the age group director which should be available with a bit of research on the BSC website. Ask to attend a practice. They will likely give you feedback.
If you're moving now, get her into the winter futsal so that you can get to know more people in the club.

Overall, Bethesda is a great club for very skilled players. If your daughter is not on one of the top two teams or at that level yet, consider other clubs. With the lower level teams (and they have alot of teams), they're just taking your money. With the top 1 or 2 teams, there are opportunities abound. Really, at 9 years old, the coach's commitment and team dynamic is just as important as anything. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

If not top team at Bethesda after tryouts next Spring, go to FCGB. Much better development for younger ages and if your daughter excels there, move her to Bethesda at the U13 age.

[Anonymous]

2012 or 2011?

[Anonymous]

2012

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2012

Top team is very good one of the top three in the DC metro area.

[Anonymous]

The best thing you could do is move out of Maryland. Such a horrible place in and around DC and B-more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If not top team at Bethesda after tryouts next Spring, go to FCGB. Much better development for younger ages and if your daughter excels there, move her to Bethesda at the U13 age.

I’ve heard very good things about FCGB for girls. Great coaching from what I hear.

[Anonymous]

DO NOT GO TO BSC. This was the worst decision we ever made. No level of elite soccer is worth the abuse your daughter will suffer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DO NOT GO TO BSC. This was the worst decision we ever made. No level of elite soccer is worth the abuse your daughter will suffer.

Your opinion. We deal with the tough coaching just fine. Best soccer experience we have had yet. ECNL Family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2012

Top team is very good one of the top three in the DC metro area.

2nd team is fairly strong too. You may have seen them last weekend in Alexandria tourney if you are DC Way. Next year rosters get bigger with 9 v. 9, so there will be movement with both teams and spots.

As for other local options, PPA is not strong right now 2012 but they do have three teams and some potential. Potomac can barely field a team 2012 and it isn't competitive at all. So there is a lot more opportunity to come in at one of those for top team, but also a different level of play.

MSI Classic first starts at u10 and the quality varies widely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DO NOT GO TO BSC. This was the worst decision we ever made. No level of elite soccer is worth the abuse your daughter will suffer.

The younger girls coaches are not abusive at all, with arguably one exception. And there's been countless arguments on here about DG and KL with no need to rehash. But, yeah, that's currently what you get from u12 onwards if you're on ECNL1.

[Anonymous]

I've seen 2 little coaches from bsc in action. 2011 girls and 2013 girls. They were awful to the girls. Kids Seemed so incredibly stressed out. Would not put my daughter there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've seen 2 little coaches from bsc in action. 2011 girls and 2013 girls. They were awful to the girls. Kids Seemed so incredibly stressed out. Would not put my daughter there.

The 2013 one was my arguable exception, assuming same person. I have seen it but I also know people happy with him as their coach, so the style works for some.