Soccer - avoid Kids Pro Soccer

[Anonymous]

Marcel and in general Kids Pro have been to great to us. Some of the negatives are insane and very unsubstantiated for sure. We really recommend them.

[Anonymous]

KIDS PRO SOCCER IS HORRIBLE. They ripped us off before when they cancelled classes due to rain without issuing a refund or credit of any kind. We figured it was a one time thing. Now, they've no showed for a first class. These folks don't care about anything other than taking your money. Brit-Am, PPA, Soccer Shots, they're all good. Kids Pro doesn't deserve to be in business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Marcel and in general Kids Pro have been to great to us. Some of the negatives are insane and very unsubstantiated for sure. We really recommend them.

Because you claim a positive experience, others are liars? Wrong. This company is unethical. Stay away from Marcel, period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Marcel and in general Kids Pro have been to great to us. Some of the negatives are insane and very unsubstantiated for sure. We really recommend them.

Agreed. The classes we’ve taken are great, especially coach Marcel and coach George.
We can probably go into debate about any kids classes giving refunds for weather cancellations, but it’s certainly not a part of judging the program.
We have been enjoying the program and recommend it.

[Anonymous]

Soccer Shots is great so far! (Chevy Chase) Age 4 DD.

[Anonymous]

Kids Pro Soccer is a complete scam.

See here:

https://kidsprosoccer.blogspot.com/2009/10/warning-to-other-parents-in-arlington.html?m=1

[Anonymous]

kidsprosoccer
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Warning to other parents in Arlington, Virginia!
I set up this page to warn other parents who are considering signing up their kids for the soccer training offered by Kids Pro Soccer in Arlington, Virginia.

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 practices, 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.

So please think twice before signing up!!

According to their website, they also seem to be running training programs in DC and Maryland.

And just in case, let me give you below the full details of the company that I am talking about:


Kids Pro Soccer
http://www.kidsprosoccer.com

202-438-8555
[e-mail]

Mailing Address
Kids Pro Soccer
107 S. West St, PMB 458
Alexandria, VA 22314

KPS Email
[e-mail]

Marcel D Nkoulou - Director
[e-mail]

Programs
[e-mail]

[Anonymous]

Wait, this data is pulled from a blog from 2009! Sorry, a bit outdated.

[Anonymous]

Shame on you for posting false information - not to mention old false information. Our children (boy and girl) absolutely love the classes. They have been taking them for the last four years and are quite skilled at soccer. They are agile and have developed strong skills that have helped them as they play with their school classmates through a league. The weekly indoor and outdoor training is paying off. While the company is indeed a small business, it is not perfect and can certainly tighten up on the administrative side of things. But regarding the training, they are phenomenal and have produced college and professional players. Coach Marcel and his team of coaches are doing a fantastic job - they are fun, kind - yet tough. Again - my kids love it.

Thanks,
Nichole

[Anonymous]

I liked Kids Pro Soccer. Coach Marcel did a great job with young kids, and my son loved playing. Things didn't always start on time but it was a net positive experience.

My son is a teen now and over the years my eyes have been opened about sports activities in the DMV. Kids Pro Soccer wasn't nearly the worst camp or activity.

Here's one that was truly bad - a well-known high school basketball camp. Teenage boys are the 'counselors.' When I picked up my 7-yo at 3pm, he had a raging fever. He was sitting down with his head on his knees. WTF? No one thought - hey, this kid doesn't seem well, let me call his Mom.

Here's another - blatant Daddyball on rec teams. OMG the Dads who dust off their playbook and coach DS at QB, shortstop, center, etc. Ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Current parent here-enrolled in the session in the session going on now with Kids Pro Soccer and my kids love the class. The coach is beyond expectations-fun and with my 4 year old who is in the older group, I really like the fact that he is learning and practicing drills. It looks like someone has a personal grudge to bring this up. This came up to my attention from one of our teammates'. We definitely stand by them.

[Anonymous]

I had a terrible experience with Kids Pro Soccer last year and then again this year. We are in Bethesda.

The first time, we signed up for Saturday, but no one showed up the first weekend, so I called. No one answered. We went to that park Sunday morning (to play at the park), saw the coach (we had previously done 2 seasons with them) and he said the Saturday class was cancelled and we could just join the Sunday class. We did, and it was a good experience for my DC. No one ever called to tell me that the Saturday class was not being offered, but I didn't complain because my child was getting to play soccer.

Then in the spring, we again signed up for Saturday, and no one every showed up. No one on Sunday either. I showed up for the following 2 weeks to see if I could catch the coach - no one was there. I called, email, and called - no one ever picked up the phone or responded. My fees were never refunded.

A few months later (we had not signed up for any more session after that) I received an email "cancelling" a class due to weather. About a dozen parents responded, all complaining about how Kids Pro Soccer should not ever contact them again, and they had all been ripped off. Each had a story similar to mine. Someone from Kids Pro Soccer responded to the thread saying that he was sorry those things had happened but that he was not responsible if a coach did not show up.

Given the number of folks who responded (and the number who probably stayed silent like me, but had a similar experience) I think that taking money and not planning to have anyone show up is part of the business model for Kids Pro Soccer. Out of the 4 seasons we did with them, the coach was just a no-show 2 times.

We will never use them again, and we have switched to Brit-Am.

[Anonymous]

If Kidspro is so bad. which is recommended.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a terrible experience with Kids Pro Soccer last year and then again this year. We are in Bethesda.

The first time, we signed up for Saturday, but no one showed up the first weekend, so I called. No one answered. We went to that park Sunday morning (to play at the park), saw the coach (we had previously done 2 seasons with them) and he said the Saturday class was cancelled and we could just join the Sunday class. We did, and it was a good experience for my DC. No one ever called to tell me that the Saturday class was not being offered, but I didn't complain because my child was getting to play soccer.

Then in the spring, we again signed up for Saturday, and no one every showed up. No one on Sunday either. I showed up for the following 2 weeks to see if I could catch the coach - no one was there. I called, email, and called - no one ever picked up the phone or responded. My fees were never refunded.

A few months later (we had not signed up for any more session after that) I received an email "cancelling" a class due to weather. About a dozen parents responded, all complaining about how Kids Pro Soccer should not ever contact them again, and they had all been ripped off. Each had a story similar to mine. Someone from Kids Pro Soccer responded to the thread saying that he was sorry those things had happened but that he was not responsible if a coach did not show up.

We had a HORRIBLE experience with Brit AM!!! I guess it really depends on whom you get and location. Brit AM was kicked out of Norwood park by park police as they had no permits for use, and all parents were forced to drive to a very inconvenient location. We couldn’t so lost all the money as they would not refund.

Given the number of folks who responded (and the number who probably stayed silent like me, but had a similar experience) I think that taking money and not planning to have anyone show up is part of the business model for Kids Pro Soccer. Out of the 4 seasons we did with them, the coach was just a no-show 2 times.

We will never use them again, and we have switched to Brit-Am.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I liked Kids Pro Soccer. Coach Marcel did a great job with young kids, and my son loved playing. Things didn't always start on time but it was a net positive experience.

My son is a teen now and over the years my eyes have been opened about sports activities in the DMV. Kids Pro Soccer wasn't nearly the worst camp or activity.

Here's one that was truly bad - a well-known high school basketball camp. Teenage boys are the 'counselors.' When I picked up my 7-yo at 3pm, he had a raging fever. He was sitting down with his head on his knees. WTF? No one thought - hey, this kid doesn't seem well, let me call his Mom.

Here's another - blatant Daddyball on rec teams. OMG the Dads who dust off their playbook and coach DS at QB, shortstop, center, etc. Ridiculous.

Don't most rec leagues rely on parents to volunteer to coach?