Rec soccer U8 in Rockville/Olney?

[Anonymous]

Hi does anyone have any experience trying to find decent coaching for a rec league? I would be very happy to pay for a professional coach but don’t want the pressure of a travel/intense team at this age.

We have been doing some through City of Rockville and it’s a lovely social experience but there is literally no coaching and practices and games get canceled for no apparent reason all the time.

I was looking into switching to MSI for this fall but my interactions with them have been incredibly off putting and it sounds like there won’t be an opportunity for my kid join on the team from our school until someone quits (and who knows when that will be) so I’m interested in something different.

I’ve heard of OBGC but don’t know any specifics about it and the coaching. Any other ideas? Have contemplated adding on some skills clinics or something if there are any suggestions for those at this age.

[Anonymous]

We did OBGC rec for 4 years and loved it. It’s obviously coach dependent but we were happy. We actually only just switched to their travel program.
I’d give it a try.

[Anonymous]

I doubt they are canceling things for no good reason. You are probably new to soccer and don't understand. I would suggest you look at top rank soccer or go to a team at the soccerplex.

[Anonymous]

You could also have a parent take the grassroots soccer course. I believe that it's a short course that is online for a few hours and one day in person.

[Anonymous]

Find a coach on the coach app and ask if they’re willing to coach a rec team. Or a high school junior or senior. We hire the older sibling of DCs teammate who plays d1 to coach their off season tournament teams

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I doubt they are canceling things for no good reason. You are probably new to soccer and don't understand. I would suggest you look at top rank soccer or go to a team at the soccerplex.

OP here and I think we maybe had 5 practices this spring. Some were canceled with incredibly short notice and there were never any make ups. City of Rockville also closes their fields for basically any rain or the fields being a little wet. I understand it’s a very chill volunteer led organization it was just a very disappointing spring. We had better seasons in the past.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I doubt they are canceling things for no good reason. You are probably new to soccer and don't understand. I would suggest you look at top rank soccer or go to a team at the soccerplex.

OP here and I think we maybe had 5 practices this spring. Some were canceled with incredibly short notice and there were never any make ups. City of Rockville also closes their fields for basically any rain or the fields being a little wet. I understand it’s a very chill volunteer led organization it was just a very disappointing spring. We had better seasons in the past.

We all experience this, whether our kids play recreational or travel soccer. That's why many clubs want to practice on turf. Most rec programs though, practice on grass. SAM soccer does have game on turf.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I doubt they are canceling things for no good reason. You are probably new to soccer and don't understand. I would suggest you look at top rank soccer or go to a team at the soccerplex.

OP here and I think we maybe had 5 practices this spring. Some were canceled with incredibly short notice and there were never any make ups. City of Rockville also closes their fields for basically any rain or the fields being a little wet. I understand it’s a very chill volunteer led organization it was just a very disappointing spring. We had better seasons in the past.

We all experience this, whether our kids play recreational or travel soccer. That's why many clubs want to practice on turf. Most rec programs though, practice on grass. SAM soccer does have game on turf.

Do you think that’s typical? Only have about half scheduled practices and never try to make the rained out ones up? I have experience parent coaching another sport and we were able to have all practices though I understand the logistics were different. I will say even for soccer, we have friends who play on my competitive teams (slight older) and on days our game was cancelled they would still play. And they seemed to manage to have practice most of the time.

For rec soccer you just assume you won’t have a really large number of practices?

[Anonymous]

Really hard to get fields for makeups in Montgomery County.

[Anonymous]

OBGC had a solid rec program. If you are concerned about coaching quality, volunteer as a head or asst coach. My husband did it for years and still does for another rec sport over there.

I think U8 is still on pug goals so it’s really pretty basic kick the ball and try to score. Third grade they move to 1/2 fields with goalies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I doubt they are canceling things for no good reason. You are probably new to soccer and don't understand. I would suggest you look at top rank soccer or go to a team at the soccerplex.

OP here and I think we maybe had 5 practices this spring. Some were canceled with incredibly short notice and there were never any make ups. City of Rockville also closes their fields for basically any rain or the fields being a little wet. I understand it’s a very chill volunteer led organization it was just a very disappointing spring. We had better seasons in the past.

We all experience this, whether our kids play recreational or travel soccer. That's why many clubs want to practice on turf. Most rec programs though, practice on grass. SAM soccer does have game on turf.

Do you think that’s typical? Only have about half scheduled practices and never try to make the rained out ones up? I have experience parent coaching another sport and we were able to have all practices though I understand the logistics were different. I will say even for soccer, we have friends who play on my competitive teams (slight older) and on days our game was cancelled they would still play. And they seemed to manage to have practice most of the time.

For rec soccer you just assume you won’t have a really large number of practices?

Some of that is typical. Rain will get practices canceled, and limited field space will always make make-ups tough. Plus, at that age there may not even get many attendees at a make-up practice. However, it sounds like your experience went beyond that, and the coach was also cancelling for other reasons. In nearly 20 years of "combined soccer years" across my kids, I've never experienced a 5-practice season. Anywhere you go (even a different team in the same league) will very likely be a different experience. I think that OBGC is a great choice for that age at rec.

[Anonymous]

I don't know how much time (or funds) you have for soccer, but you can also sign up for travel with one of the local clubs... the cost for most of them is much less at U8 and the travel is also mostly soccerplex. I know people who are quite happy with MSI rec, but if that's not an option - my exp with both Potomac and BSC at the u8 level was perfectly acceptable.