MSI Academy vs Potomac Soccer

[Anonymous]

My DS plays at Potomac - he played 4-5 times a week almost all fall/winter/spring as the Academy nights (Striker, SAQ, etc) that PP mentioned are included in the regular fees and allows for additional practice with other coaches/players.

[Anonymous]

We initially had a positive experience at Potomac and I recommended the club to many families. But the experience is very coach dependent and things steadily declined in our case over time. Unfortunately we had a coach who was too focused on winning and not really in line with the TD/club attitude about development. Lots of yelling and singling out certain players. When the TD was present, the coach would behave very differently. Parents seemed afraid to speak up. We also saw players lured with promises of movement to higher teams when really our experience was that most kids get stuck or even moved down over time. I suppose these are issues at many medium-large clubs. My advice is to always ask who the coach will be and have your child attend practices with the actual team offered before accepting. Also see if you can watch the team play in a game. If I had seen our coach on the sidelines before signing it would have been a deal breaker.

[Anonymous]

Let's be serious for just a moment. Bethesda is in one tier, Potomac another and MSI yet another. I would not say Bethesda and Potomac in the same breath. They were both somewhat close ten years ago but Bethesda one that battle. Not only did the Bethesda Boys win the DA from Potomac but the girls have ECNL. Unless you find a very strong coach at Potomac, Bethesda is going to provide more opportunities. MSC is very coach specific. The club is focused more on Rec and Classic. That being said, the girls' side is the only club among the three clubs that has a national club title. The club just does not field elite teams. MSC is considered a second-class citizen by elite players. If you have a desire to play soccer at the next level, you are not going to MSI. That being said, they do have a coach on the girls side who is also a well-known ECNL coach at McLean.

Also, I would not rule out smaller clubs. Toca Junior, Juventus and others can offer you much more than Bethesda, Potomac or MSC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let's be serious for just a moment. Bethesda is in one tier, Potomac another and MSI yet another. I would not say Bethesda and Potomac in the same breath. They were both somewhat close ten years ago but Bethesda one that battle. Not only did the Bethesda Boys win the DA from Potomac but the girls have ECNL. Unless you find a very strong coach at Potomac, Bethesda is going to provide more opportunities. MSC is very coach specific. The club is focused more on Rec and Classic. That being said, the girls' side is the only club among the three clubs that has a national club title. The club just does not field elite teams. MSC is considered a second-class citizen by elite players. If you have a desire to play soccer at the next level, you are not going to MSI. That being said, they do have a coach on the girls side who is also a well-known ECNL coach at McLean.

Also, I would not rule out smaller clubs. Toca Junior, Juventus and others can offer you much more than Bethesda, Potomac or MSC.

It’s interesting that you say that. I see players moving from Bethesda and Potomac to MSI and other clubs on a regular yearly basis. The only ones that stays there are the ones that are on the “A Team” or top team. Bethesda parents loves to brag that their DC plays for BSC but purposely neglect to mention that their DC is not on the top tier teams. Makes matters worse, their DC is not all that good to begin with to be bragging. LOL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let's be serious for just a moment. Bethesda is in one tier, Potomac another and MSI yet another. I would not say Bethesda and Potomac in the same breath. They were both somewhat close ten years ago but Bethesda one that battle. Not only did the Bethesda Boys win the DA from Potomac but the girls have ECNL. Unless you find a very strong coach at Potomac, Bethesda is going to provide more opportunities. MSC is very coach specific. The club is focused more on Rec and Classic. That being said, the girls' side is the only club among the three clubs that has a national club title. The club just does not field elite teams. MSC is considered a second-class citizen by elite players. If you have a desire to play soccer at the next level, you are not going to MSI. That being said, they do have a coach on the girls side who is also a well-known ECNL coach at McLean.

Also, I would not rule out smaller clubs. Toca Junior, Juventus and others can offer you much more than Bethesda, Potomac or MSC.

This sounds about right to me -- and reinforces my decision to send my kid to MSI Academy. It's really about goals, and what we're looking for in a club, anyway: My goal is for my kid to have a positive all-around experience. Developing skills is a part of that, challenging herself physically is part of that, and developing strong bonds with teammates is part of that, too. Beyond that, having the opportunity to develop to a level where she could make her highly-competitive high school team would be nice.

That said, as a kid with probably just-average athletic capabilities and a diverse array of interests, I'm not attached to any particular scenario for her soccer career. Which makes me wary of Bethesda and Potomac, TBH. The fact that the best teams at MSI -- being serious for a moment! -- won't touch the best at Bethesda means that most of the kids (and parents - and coaches!) involved aren't striving for elite status. The folks I've encountered are pretty average soccer parents: We want our kids to challenge themselves to excel, make friends, and have fun.

For players who are genuinely gifted athletes, driven and committed to soccer, seeking play at the highest levels, a soccer career in D1 or beyond -- MSI is probably not the right fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's be serious for just a moment. Bethesda is in one tier, Potomac another and MSI yet another. I would not say Bethesda and Potomac in the same breath. They were both somewhat close ten years ago but Bethesda one that battle. Not only did the Bethesda Boys win the DA from Potomac but the girls have ECNL. Unless you find a very strong coach at Potomac, Bethesda is going to provide more opportunities. MSC is very coach specific. The club is focused more on Rec and Classic. That being said, the girls' side is the only club among the three clubs that has a national club title. The club just does not field elite teams. MSC is considered a second-class citizen by elite players. If you have a desire to play soccer at the next level, you are not going to MSI. That being said, they do have a coach on the girls side who is also a well-known ECNL coach at McLean.

Also, I would not rule out smaller clubs. Toca Junior, Juventus and others can offer you much more than Bethesda, Potomac or MSC.

It’s interesting that you say that. I see players moving from Bethesda and Potomac to MSI and other clubs on a regular yearly basis. The only ones that stays there are the ones that are on the “A Team” or top team. Bethesda parents loves to brag that their DC plays for BSC but purposely neglect to mention that their DC is not on the top tier teams. Makes matters worse, their DC is not all that good to begin with to be bragging. LOL.

I think you both are saying the same thing. He mentioned that Bethesda is the ideal club for serious players at the top of their game (if that is what you are looking for). Many people do not care about that. They simply want a positive experience for a kid who is not at the top or not as serious about the sport. In that case he is recommending a smaller club for those players. Bethesda can be very frustrating if you are not on one of the top teams and negates the positive aspects of playing the game. In those cases a kid (and parents) at a smaller club will get just as much satisfaction out of the game as those at Bethesda playing on the top team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's be serious for just a moment. Bethesda is in one tier, Potomac another and MSI yet another. I would not say Bethesda and Potomac in the same breath. They were both somewhat close ten years ago but Bethesda one that battle. Not only did the Bethesda Boys win the DA from Potomac but the girls have ECNL. Unless you find a very strong coach at Potomac, Bethesda is going to provide more opportunities. MSC is very coach specific. The club is focused more on Rec and Classic. That being said, the girls' side is the only club among the three clubs that has a national club title. The club just does not field elite teams. MSC is considered a second-class citizen by elite players. If you have a desire to play soccer at the next level, you are not going to MSI. That being said, they do have a coach on the girls side who is also a well-known ECNL coach at McLean.

Also, I would not rule out smaller clubs. Toca Junior, Juventus and others can offer you much more than Bethesda, Potomac or MSC.

It’s interesting that you say that. I see players moving from Bethesda and Potomac to MSI and other clubs on a regular yearly basis. The only ones that stays there are the ones that are on the “A Team” or top team. Bethesda parents loves to brag that their DC plays for BSC but purposely neglect to mention that their DC is not on the top tier teams. Makes matters worse, their DC is not all that good to begin with to be bragging. LOL.

I think you both are saying the same thing. He mentioned that Bethesda is the ideal club for serious players at the top of their game (if that is what you are looking for). Many people do not care about that. They simply want a positive experience for a kid who is not at the top or not as serious about the sport. In that case he is recommending a smaller club for those players. Bethesda can be very frustrating if you are not on one of the top teams and negates the positive aspects of playing the game. In those cases a kid (and parents) at a smaller club will get just as much satisfaction out of the game as those at Bethesda playing on the top team.

My DC is a rising U12. We decided to stay with our current club for this upcoming year. But we will probably look to join BSC or other more top tier team/club at U13 assuming she will get accepted.