How to choose a soccer club?! 6th grade boy NW DC

[Anonymous]

We're getting ready to move to NW DC and our son wants to play for one of the clubs in the area. He's been playing travel/club for 3 years (midwest, mid-sized city), and played rec for multiple years before that. He loves soccer and is good at it, but I'd like him to still love the game and find it fun. And, he's very competitive and wants to continue to get better. I've read through these posts and can't figure out how to choose (and assess fit) clubs for him to try out for in the Spring. I've seen PPA, DC Soccer mentioned, and other clubs in MD and VA, but what are the options you've looked at if you live in NW DC? Please help!

[Anonymous]

OP, Traffic would make it extremely difficult to consider clubs that are not within a certain radius of your home address. That would normally exclude the clubs in VA.

[Anonymous]

If he is from a mid-grade club and you are moving to NW, just do DC Soccer Club-- they have several teams at all age groups so he will find which is right for him. One cautionary tale, most of the RL (Top) teams are over rostered so not every boys gets to play in each game.

[Anonymous]

City Sporting Club and if really serious, Achilles FC. Google takoma clubs as well if you’re in that part of Nw.

But yes, traffic is an issue so choose wisely. I agree that VA teams and MD teams that practice in Montgomery is not the smartest idea of ur familiar with beltway rush hour and evening traffic.

[Anonymous]

NW Parent here. It will all depend on what you want. The best club in the city for the combination of technical development and enjoyment of the game is DC XI. They practice east of Rock Creek park so you are not going to hear about them on this forum.

PPA is a good option as they have some quality coaches but their practice schedule may land you in Mongomery County so you will have to dig deeper. DC Soccer’s current 2014’s are one of the best in the area but an anomaly within the club. They are the big behemoth club but run more poorly than PPA and DC XI. If they were run better, you would not have to ask this question. Those are the best three local options from NW. You also have WCU and DC Way on Capitol Hill if you are courageous enough to fight that traffic.

From lower NW, Arlington is easily accessible if you are Glover Park or below. Achilles, Potomac and Bethesda are accessible if you are west of the park and at Tenleytown and above. All of those clubs have DC kids playing and families that carpool from NWZ. I would only choose these clubs if you are looking for high level.

Please, please, please factor in traffic to your decision. It is a factor.

Welcome to DC! I hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

PPA mostly trains in the NW. Virginia has several good clubs but crossing the bridge with the rush hour traffic would be a PITA. You could also consider Potomac or Bethesda, but again traffic might be an issue but probably less so compared to Virginia.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, all! This is so helpful.

[Anonymous]

Check the win/loss record than try out for the team that wins more. That’s what most rents do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he is from a mid-grade club and you are moving to NW, just do DC Soccer Club-- they have several teams at all age groups so he will find which is right for him. One cautionary tale, most of the RL (Top) teams are over rostered so not every boys gets to play in each game.

+1. Additionally, I know a lot of the coaches and most of them are really good.

[Anonymous]

We live in Upper NW DC and McLean is very manageable. They are MLS Next which is where he'll probably want to play when he gets older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in Upper NW DC and McLean is very manageable. They are MLS Next which is where he'll probably want to play when he gets older.

McLean is MLSNext II. Maybe they’ll get MLSNext I in the future. But no one should be battling traffic to play on an MLSNext II team. Plenty of similar level options that are closer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check the win/loss record than try out for the team that wins more. That’s what most rents do.

If you do this, your kid will going against the kids in tryouts from the small clubs that lose like WTF. Biggest mistake people make is looking at wins and losses pre-puberty.