DC Soccer (Stoddert)

[Anonymous]

My DD has had 3 coaches in the last 2-3 years and now it looks like she will have a fourth.

Each of the coaches have left the club. Is this a typical situation at other clubs? If it’s not normal, why is this happening at Stoddert?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD has had 3 coaches in the last 2-3 years and now it looks like she will have a fourth.

Each of the coaches have left the club. Is this a typical situation at other clubs? If it’s not normal, why is this happening at Stoddert?

Midyear changes are never good but it is not uncommon to have a new coach every year. That said, many clubs will have a single coach stay with a team for a 2-3 years when possible.

[Anonymous]

My daughter has had two coaches total and she is now U18. She started with this club at U13.

I would say your experience is not acceptable though it might be common given turnover, parent complaints of coaches and so on

[Anonymous]

It’s stoddert. It’s a bad club. If your DD is still in the u littles go to another club. Seriously there a lot of good clubs near DC. If she is older or just wants to continue to play there are a bunch of smaller clubs around.

DC Soccer should just merger with McLean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s stoddert. It’s a bad club. If your DD is still in the u littles go to another club. Seriously there a lot of good clubs near DC. If she is older or just wants to continue to play there are a bunch of smaller clubs around.

DC Soccer should just merger with McLean.

That makes as much sense as McLean merging with SYC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s stoddert. It’s a bad club. If your DD is still in the u littles go to another club. Seriously there a lot of good clubs near DC. If she is older or just wants to continue to play there are a bunch of smaller clubs around.

DC Soccer should just merger with McLean.

Why do you say that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s stoddert. It’s a bad club. If your DD is still in the u littles go to another club. Seriously there a lot of good clubs near DC. If she is older or just wants to continue to play there are a bunch of smaller clubs around.

DC Soccer should just merger with McLean.

Why do you say that?

Look this is not knocking the kids or parents. Most people start travel soccer not knowing a thing about it.

Stoddert is one of the more expensive clubs in the area, coaches and TD are not the best as seen by the technical skills of their players. This is not the fault of the players they are just not taught things and it is easily seen. They have had a lot of TD’s over the past few years with one trying to take over the board.

The better or more serious players from DC leave for BSC, McLean or Arlington. If a player stays too long at DC Stoddert(whatever they call it), they are way behind the other players at the bigger clubs. You see it when they come to a practice. I have heard the staff of DC stoddert refer to the club as a club of convenience- ie the parents are deciding on the club because it is convenient not for the club’s reputation. It is not thought of as a serious club by the surrounding clubs’ coaching staff or the private schools soccer coaches in DC. McLean refers to it as McLean east because they get so many kids from DC.

Now the rec side is one of the largest rec programs in the area. It would be comparable to Arlington or Loudoun. With that many rec players the travel side should be competitive with Arlington and Loudoun. Also the travel side is NW club very little east of the river.

This past season parent managers were coaching their teams in tournaments. Maybe it was a covid thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s stoddert. It’s a bad club. If your DD is still in the u littles go to another club. Seriously there a lot of good clubs near DC. If she is older or just wants to continue to play there are a bunch of smaller clubs around.

DC Soccer should just merger with McLean.

Why do you say that?

Look this is not knocking the kids or parents. Most people start travel soccer not knowing a thing about it.

Stoddert is one of the more expensive clubs in the area, coaches and TD are not the best as seen by the technical skills of their players. This is not the fault of the players they are just not taught things and it is easily seen. They have had a lot of TD’s over the past few years with one trying to take over the board.

The better or more serious players from DC leave for BSC, McLean or Arlington. If a player stays too long at DC Stoddert(whatever they call it), they are way behind the other players at the bigger clubs. You see it when they come to a practice. I have heard the staff of DC stoddert refer to the club as a club of convenience- ie the parents are deciding on the club because it is convenient not for the club’s reputation. It is not thought of as a serious club by the surrounding clubs’ coaching staff or the private schools soccer coaches in DC. McLean refers to it as McLean east because they get so many kids from DC.

Now the rec side is one of the largest rec programs in the area. It would be comparable to Arlington or Loudoun. With that many rec players the travel side should be competitive with Arlington and Loudoun. Also the travel side is NW club very little east of the river.

This past season parent managers were coaching their teams in tournaments. Maybe it was a covid thing.

Thanks for information. The constant changing of staff is hurting the kids

[Anonymous]

Stoddert is a rec club that has travel teams. That’s it. If you are serious about soccer, find another club before it’s too late.

The Executive Director at Stoddert has shown that she doesn’t believe in the staff. Her DD is at Arlington. Maybe it’s time you follow the EDs lead and take your DD/DS elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s stoddert. It’s a bad club. If your DD is still in the u littles go to another club. Seriously there a lot of good clubs near DC. If she is older or just wants to continue to play there are a bunch of smaller clubs around.

DC Soccer should just merger with McLean.

Why do you say that?

Look this is not knocking the kids or parents. Most people start travel soccer not knowing a thing about it.

Stoddert is one of the more expensive clubs in the area, coaches and TD are not the best as seen by the technical skills of their players. This is not the fault of the players they are just not taught things and it is easily seen. They have had a lot of TD’s over the past few years with one trying to take over the board.

The better or more serious players from DC leave for BSC, McLean or Arlington. If a player stays too long at DC Stoddert(whatever they call it), they are way behind the other players at the bigger clubs. You see it when they come to a practice. I have heard the staff of DC stoddert refer to the club as a club of convenience- ie the parents are deciding on the club because it is convenient not for the club’s reputation. It is not thought of as a serious club by the surrounding clubs’ coaching staff or the private schools soccer coaches in DC. McLean refers to it as McLean east because they get so many kids from DC.

Now the rec side is one of the largest rec programs in the area. It would be comparable to Arlington or Loudoun. With that many rec players the travel side should be competitive with Arlington and Loudoun. Also the travel side is NW club very little east of the river.

This past season parent managers were coaching their teams in tournaments. Maybe it was a covid thing.

Did your kids ever play for DC Soccer? Your summary above sounds like you received your information from your neighbor's cousin's sister--in-law.

Please explain how an at-will employee (the TD) takes over a governing board? No TD (or staff member) wields that kind of power.

DC Soccer is not a perfect club, but based on the forum's opinions and responses, no club is. Many clubs have had changes in coaches and other staff (see Arlington, BSC, FCV, among others).

What tournaments and age groups had parents coaching? Can you provide detail? In my year's assisting as a team manager, I have not seen this nor heard about it.

My DD and DS have played for DCSC over the years on rec and travel teams. They have both enjoyed the experience and the coaching. Again, there is room for improvement, but based on "what I've heard" from friends, the same can be said about BSC, McLean, Arlington, and others.

[Anonymous]

Sunday, November 14th at 13:00 in Haymarket had our team manager coaching.

Why? Our head coach had a conflict with his other team at a different location. The coach notified the club of the conflict but the club failed to provide a staff coach for the game. It is even more discomforting to learn that the TD was available but chose to watch a U9 game with their coach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s stoddert. It’s a bad club. If your DD is still in the u littles go to another club. Seriously there a lot of good clubs near DC. If she is older or just wants to continue to play there are a bunch of smaller clubs around.

DC Soccer should just merger with McLean.

Why do you say that?

Look this is not knocking the kids or parents. Most people start travel soccer not knowing a thing about it.

Stoddert is one of the more expensive clubs in the area, coaches and TD are not the best as seen by the technical skills of their players. This is not the fault of the players they are just not taught things and it is easily seen. They have had a lot of TD’s over the past few years with one trying to take over the board.

The better or more serious players from DC leave for BSC, McLean or Arlington. If a player stays too long at DC Stoddert(whatever they call it), they are way behind the other players at the bigger clubs. You see it when they come to a practice. I have heard the staff of DC stoddert refer to the club as a club of convenience- ie the parents are deciding on the club because it is convenient not for the club’s reputation. It is not thought of as a serious club by the surrounding clubs’ coaching staff or the private schools soccer coaches in DC. McLean refers to it as McLean east because they get so many kids from DC.

Now the rec side is one of the largest rec programs in the area. It would be comparable to Arlington or Loudoun. With that many rec players the travel side should be competitive with Arlington and Loudoun. Also the travel side is NW club very little east of the river.

This past season parent managers were coaching their teams in tournaments. Maybe it was a covid thing.

Did your kids ever play for DC Soccer? Your summary above sounds like you received your information from your neighbor's cousin's sister--in-law.

Please explain how an at-will employee (the TD) takes over a governing board? No TD (or staff member) wields that kind of power.

DC Soccer is not a perfect club, but based on the forum's opinions and responses, no club is. Many clubs have had changes in coaches and other staff (see Arlington, BSC, FCV, among others).

What tournaments and age groups had parents coaching? Can you provide detail? In my year's assisting as a team manager, I have not seen this nor heard about it.

My DD and DS have played for DCSC over the years on rec and travel teams. They have both enjoyed the experience and the coaching. Again, there is room for improvement, but based on "what I've heard" from friends, the same can be said about BSC, McLean, Arlington, and others.

Guess you were not at the emergency meeting where board members where begging parents to come(what two years ago?). Ask around and maybe someone will explain what was going on. The vote was very close. Do you remember why the last TD left? Sounds likes you are a very involved parent at the club! FYI it was the girls parents who showed up and gave support to the board.

It’s funny how you go after the credibility of a poster when you seem to not know anything about the club. Yes DCsoccer is on the same level with BSC, McLean, Arlington and others

[Anonymous]

DS is in DC Soccer Club. The in between league called ADP. Not rec but not full on travel. For us, it has been great. DS gets to play at a bit elevated level and have an actual coach (verses just a parent volunteer) but we don’t have the full commitment of travel. I am sure there are better programs out there. But we have to balance location of school (where we pick up DS on weeknights); home (where we are returning to or doing the weekend driving with); other children and their activities, our own work schedules, etc. So as someone said, the convenience factor of DC Soccer Club is huge. I don’t expect DS to be a pro or even play in college. It is purely a fun activity that gets him moving. So we are satisfied customers. I think that many of the other players on his team are similar. They want a bigger challenge than rec, are avoiding full travel for awhile, and need the convenience of the location.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s stoddert. It’s a bad club. If your DD is still in the u littles go to another club. Seriously there a lot of good clubs near DC. If she is older or just wants to continue to play there are a bunch of smaller clubs around.

DC Soccer should just merger with McLean.

Why do you say that?

Look this is not knocking the kids or parents. Most people start travel soccer not knowing a thing about it.

Stoddert is one of the more expensive clubs in the area, coaches and TD are not the best as seen by the technical skills of their players. This is not the fault of the players they are just not taught things and it is easily seen. They have had a lot of TD’s over the past few years with one trying to take over the board.

The better or more serious players from DC leave for BSC, McLean or Arlington. If a player stays too long at DC Stoddert(whatever they call it), they are way behind the other players at the bigger clubs. You see it when they come to a practice. I have heard the staff of DC stoddert refer to the club as a club of convenience- ie the parents are deciding on the club because it is convenient not for the club’s reputation. It is not thought of as a serious club by the surrounding clubs’ coaching staff or the private schools soccer coaches in DC. McLean refers to it as McLean east because they get so many kids from DC.

Now the rec side is one of the largest rec programs in the area. It would be comparable to Arlington or Loudoun. With that many rec players the travel side should be competitive with Arlington and Loudoun. Also the travel side is NW club very little east of the river.

This past season parent managers were coaching their teams in tournaments. Maybe it was a covid thing.

Did your kids ever play for DC Soccer? Your summary above sounds like you received your information from your neighbor's cousin's sister--in-law.

Please explain how an at-will employee (the TD) takes over a governing board? No TD (or staff member) wields that kind of power.

DC Soccer is not a perfect club, but based on the forum's opinions and responses, no club is. Many clubs have had changes in coaches and other staff (see Arlington, BSC, FCV, among others).

What tournaments and age groups had parents coaching? Can you provide detail? In my year's assisting as a team manager, I have not seen this nor heard about it.

My DD and DS have played for DCSC over the years on rec and travel teams. They have both enjoyed the experience and the coaching. Again, there is room for improvement, but based on "what I've heard" from friends, the same can be said about BSC, McLean, Arlington, and others.

Guess you were not at the emergency meeting where board members where begging parents to come(what two years ago?). Ask around and maybe someone will explain what was going on. The vote was very close. Do you remember why the last TD left? Sounds likes you are a very involved parent at the club! FYI it was the girls parents who showed up and gave support to the board.

It’s funny how you go after the credibility of a poster when you seem to not know anything about the club. Yes DCsoccer is on the same level with BSC, McLean, Arlington and others

Was not at this Board Meeting have heard all about how KH, the current TD, was encouraging families to vote for the removal of the former TD. So much as standing outside the meeting to have ensure people voted the way he wanted. If true, what a $h!t way to have your role in the club & a perfect example of a person with no class, dignity or integrity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s stoddert. It’s a bad club. If your DD is still in the u littles go to another club. Seriously there a lot of good clubs near DC. If she is older or just wants to continue to play there are a bunch of smaller clubs around.

DC Soccer should just merger with McLean.

Why do you say that?

Look this is not knocking the kids or parents. Most people start travel soccer not knowing a thing about it.

Stoddert is one of the more expensive clubs in the area, coaches and TD are not the best as seen by the technical skills of their players. This is not the fault of the players they are just not taught things and it is easily seen. They have had a lot of TD’s over the past few years with one trying to take over the board.

The better or more serious players from DC leave for BSC, McLean or Arlington. If a player stays too long at DC Stoddert(whatever they call it), they are way behind the other players at the bigger clubs. You see it when they come to a practice. I have heard the staff of DC stoddert refer to the club as a club of convenience- ie the parents are deciding on the club because it is convenient not for the club’s reputation. It is not thought of as a serious club by the surrounding clubs’ coaching staff or the private schools soccer coaches in DC. McLean refers to it as McLean east because they get so many kids from DC.

Now the rec side is one of the largest rec programs in the area. It would be comparable to Arlington or Loudoun. With that many rec players the travel side should be competitive with Arlington and Loudoun. Also the travel side is NW club very little east of the river.

This past season parent managers were coaching their teams in tournaments. Maybe it was a covid thing.

Did your kids ever play for DC Soccer? Your summary above sounds like you received your information from your neighbor's cousin's sister--in-law.

Please explain how an at-will employee (the TD) takes over a governing board? No TD (or staff member) wields that kind of power.

DC Soccer is not a perfect club, but based on the forum's opinions and responses, no club is. Many clubs have had changes in coaches and other staff (see Arlington, BSC, FCV, among others).

What tournaments and age groups had parents coaching? Can you provide detail? In my year's assisting as a team manager, I have not seen this nor heard about it.

My DD and DS have played for DCSC over the years on rec and travel teams. They have both enjoyed the experience and the coaching. Again, there is room for improvement, but based on "what I've heard" from friends, the same can be said about BSC, McLean, Arlington, and others.

I'm sure DC Soccer is a perfectly fine club but DC Stoddert has problems.