Do not sign your kid up for soccer practice with Kids Pro Soccer!!

[Anonymous]

Well, I sincerely hope your positive experiences with KPS continue b/c if the tide turns and you have any negative issue that you wish to discuss with the management, good luck to you in getting a rational, non-abusive response.

[Anonymous]

We also just had a very bad experience with KPS in Arlingont. These people have not obtained the necessary permits from the county to run their program in public parks and are basically taking your money hoping that they can somehow find a place for each of the 8 sessions without being kicked out.

We did not get that lucky. The county shut down the class after three times, even if the company moved us around between two fields. According to the officials, it is not the first time this company tries to avoid paying a small percentage of their revenues to the county (as is quite reasonably required from all such vendors) in return of using public parks to run their business.

The couch told all parents that they would mail a refund for the cancelled classes, but of course that has not happened in the two weeks since...

[Anonymous]

BE SOCCER PLAYLER

[Anonymous]

SOCCER PLAYLER PLEASES NOW

[Anonymous]

Yes, Kids Pro Soccer is really as bad as these reviews say it is. I too, was charmed by the slick website with pictures of happy looking children. It all appeared quite professional. We paid our $170 registration fee online and patiently waited for the season to start. Then the season by delayed by 2 weeks -- ok, we got that, the weather was bad (it snowed on March 14th). Then 2 days before our class at Candy Cane Park was supposed to begin, we get an email saying that the class has been cancelled and we now have the choice to go to St Albans School or Norwood Park in Chevy Chase for the class. We felt this was an inconvenience and last minute, but we maintained an open mind. That Sunday, we showed at Norwood Park @ 10:50 for our 11am class. At 11:05, all of the parents were looking back and forth at each other (at least 20 families in attendance), perplexed about where our instructors were. I grabbed my phone to try to to find the phone number for Kids Pro and I saw and email come through that abruptly said that the 11am class time is now 11:15. The coaches rolled in on two wheels at 11:15 and stared barking at everyone, with minimal apology, and screamed at us that the 11am class will now begin at 11:15 because they have to come from Georgetown and there are too many traffic lights. They ended their announcement with "and if anyone has a problem with it, they should say so now." There were a variety of people present -- some who received emails about cancellations of other classes and redirected to Norwood Park, others who received no communication and received word of mouth. The instructors then took more time away from practice to continue to bark at families and challenge adults whose children were not on their roster, after taking roll TWICE, rather than spending time instructing the children on the fundamentals of the game. They yelled at an African American mom who was only trying to encourage them to handle business later and just focus on the frustrated kids standing in front of them, many of whom had been waiting 30 minutes to begin the class. Then there was the actual instruction, which consisted of coaches simply yelling "kick, kick, kick" at a group of 4 & 5 year olds and did not even bother to breakdown the basics of the game (i.e. - "this is what it looks like to kick a soccer ball. This is how you do it"). It was all around a horrific scene. This might be the most incompetent and rudest group of coaches I have ever seen, and I have 2 older children who have played league sports in DC, MD and VA.

We wrote to them and asked for a refund of our $170 enrollment fee.They will not reply to my emails or phone calls, so I will be taking them to small claims court and filing with the Better Business Bureau. Avoid these people at ALL COSTS! You can find other reputable programs through Brit-Am, your local YMCA, Takoma Soccer, Stoddard Soccer, DC Parks & Rec or Montgomery County Parks & Rec. Do not support these scam and con artists!.

[Anonymous]

We completely disagree with the previous post. That person is out of line and is unprofessional for mischaracterizing Coach Marcel and his team of stellar coaches. Our son has been taking the class since he was 2 and he absolutely loves it as do we. He is now 5 and is growing tremendously. In addition to the weekly class he takes at St. Albans on Saturday, he also plays in the DC Stoddert Soccer League with his classmates at school on Saturdays. There, we get to see him implement the fundamentals and teamwork effort that he has been learning with Kids Pro Soccer. Our 3 year old daughter has also been taking the class since she was 2 and we have also seen her develop a liking for soccer and looks forward to attending class each Saturday with Coach George. She also re-creates the drills at home.

We are most appreciative of the seriousness, passion, commitment, and dedication of Coach Marcel, Coach George and the other coaches our children have had. Let's be clear - this is an opportunity for children to learn, grow and develop fundamental skills that they can use as they begin to play competitively. We have personally seen children run around pulling their shirts up and rolling around in the grass and on the floor (when it is held indoor) as if they are barnyard animals and as if this is a wrestling class. This class is for parents who are serious about exposing their children to soccer and want them to be taught by trained, former college and professional soccer players. They are not babysitters and it is unfair for the coaches to have to stop and correct your children. Do not bring them simply because you want to find something for your untrained children to do. These coaches are not babysitters. Train your children at home and then evaluate whether they want to play a sport that requires dedicated attendance in order to learn and grow. If not, find a class that is taught by babysitters. You cannot simply pay the fee for the program, realize your untrained child is not wired for the class and then expect the coaches to turn your child into Pele after one appearance and then demand a refund. Coaches are not rude - they are fun, yet serious and will work with children who want to learn and grow.

The classes our son and daughter take have been run consistently and on time. If there is bad weather, the class is cancelled with PLENTY of notice and a makeup is scheduled with notice. The company communicates via email effectively all necessary information about registering, makeups and cancellations. Should there be any additional concerns, you should address them with the coach instead of trying to defame a reputable program that our children and other children enjoy immensely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
We completely disagree with the previous post. That person is out of line and is unprofessional for mischaracterizing Coach Marcel and his team of stellar coaches. Our son has been taking the class since he was 2 and he absolutely loves it as do we. He is now 5 and is growing tremendously. In addition to the weekly class he takes at St. Albans on Saturday, he also plays in the DC Stoddert Soccer League with his classmates at school on Saturdays. There, we get to see him implement the fundamentals and teamwork effort that he has been learning with Kids Pro Soccer. Our 3 year old daughter has also been taking the class since she was 2 and we have also seen her develop a liking for soccer and looks forward to attending class each Saturday with Coach George. She also re-creates the drills at home.

We are most appreciative of the seriousness, passion, commitment, and dedication of Coach Marcel, Coach George and the other coaches our children have had. Let's be clear - this is an opportunity for children to learn, grow and develop fundamental skills that they can use as they begin to play competitively. We have personally seen children run around pulling their shirts up and rolling around in the grass and on the floor (when it is held indoor) as if they are barnyard animals and as if this is a wrestling class. This class is for parents who are serious about exposing their children to soccer and want them to be taught by trained, former college and professional soccer players. They are not babysitters and it is unfair for the coaches to have to stop and correct your children. Do not bring them simply because you want to find something for your untrained children to do. These coaches are not babysitters. Train your children at home and then evaluate whether they want to play a sport that requires dedicated attendance in order to learn and grow. If not, find a class that is taught by babysitters. You cannot simply pay the fee for the program, realize your untrained child is not wired for the class and then expect the coaches to turn your child into Pele after one appearance and then demand a refund. Coaches are not rude - they are fun, yet serious and will work with children who want to learn and grow.

The classes our son and daughter take have been run consistently and on time. If there is bad weather, the class is cancelled with PLENTY of notice and a makeup is scheduled with notice. The company communicates via email effectively all necessary information about registering, makeups and cancellations. Should there be any additional concerns, you should address them with the coach instead of trying to defame a reputable program that our children and other children enjoy immensely.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/kids-pro-soccer-alexandria

Seems like you'll be getting private lessons soon for your oh so talented 2 year old, LOL.

[Anonymous]

wow, 11:54 has to be a corporate shill.