Bethesda Offers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A PP said there's no point to being on the 2nd team at BSC.
The next poster said that a half dozen kids from the 2nd team just made the U12 DA.
Unless you can disprove that, it seems like there's a reasonable reason to stick with the 2nd team.

Ok, 2008 is an outlier and probably not a good example because next year's U12 DA (and it's not technically a DA) is the combination of the U11 Academy 1 and Academy 2, both of which are about a dozen players. That half of Academy 2 was merged with Academy 1 is to be expected as the U12 team will be at least 20-24 boys on the roster.

At other ages, I think the number of boys that joined the DA midseason from other clubs greatly exceeds the number of boys promoted. For example, in our year I think something like 4-6 new boys were brought into the club from other DA programs over the course of the year, and only 2 were promoted from the Blue team at the end of the year.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Just don't expect that your DC will improve drastically playing at BSC.

Perhaps this is true at the most novice/weaker of the teams, but for the high- and mid-level teams, a big part of kids' improvement is not just coaching but also the day-to-day competition spurred by the other players on the teams, in drills and scrimmages. Bethesda attracts a lot of higher skilled players across all age groups, and those higher skilled players will help elevate the skills of your DC (and vice versa). In other words, when evaluating potential for improvement, the existing talent base is an important (and often overlooked) factor.

I agree with this, and I'd add that in the years we've been at Bethesda the club has also benefited from having a lot of families from other countries that are very serious about soccer. You don't realize how much difference knowledgeable parents make until you are stuck on a team where the parents are a bunch of highly-paid professionals who know nothing about the game and are trying to push their kids to the top via networking and scheming.

I have son on a B team there now who has improved dramatically over the last couple of years. We've been at Bethesda for close to a decade, and I wouldn't tell you that the club has ever had amazing leadership or fields or is super-well organized, but there are at least some good coaches at every age group and they take skill development very seriously at the younger ages. If your kid has failed to improve in their youth system, you and your kid are not taking full advantage of what's on offer.

You've been there close to a decade paying 3-4k a year and your kid is still on the B team? I genuinely don't understand that.

What don't you understand? If a kid is improving, why would you want to leave a club?

Because the price range and time commitment is insane if the kid isn't that good at soccer.

The point is that at BSC the B team is actually pretty good and kids can be really, really good and play on the Bethesda B team, which likely is better (and more enjoyable) than most other clubs' A teams.

According to who?

According to anyone in this area that watches soccer?
The B teams at Arlington and Bethesda tend to be equal to, or better, than most other clubs A teams.
About 6 or 7 kids from the U11 B team made the DA at U12 for the upcoming season.

Can confirm, at a local boys tournament this season, our GRFRSC A team in the top bracket got beat by Arlington's B team in the Championship. Didn't realize they were the B team till a week later.

[Anonymous]

Back to the original topic--is there anyone else who still hasn't heard about an offer?

If they don't place you at all, do they let you know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Back to the original topic--is there anyone else who still hasn't heard about an offer?

If they don't place you at all, do they let you know?

They said they'd make all offers by the 7th...if you haven't heard by then, you should email them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Back to the original topic--is there anyone else who still hasn't heard about an offer?

If they don't place you at all, do they let you know?

They said they'd make all offers by the 7th...if you haven't heard by then, you should email them.

I believe their intent is to get a decision one way or another to everyone who tried out. Sometimes things get messed up, and it doesn't necessarily mean that your kid does not have a spot.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Lots of kids are leaving Bethesda this spring/summer for other clubs due to dissatisfaction with subpar coaching and the power of pushy parents to get undeserved advantages for their kids, including playing time and team placements. Top teams in many age groups, including DA, are slipping in quality. Bethesda’s reputation is way out of step with its actual quality. The administration of the club is a mess and the club badly needs its own practice and game facilities. Muldoons, in particular, is a disgrace. Send your kid to this club at your peril!

Got some evidence for Bethesda DA "slipping"? In all three Boys DA age groups for which standings are kept, Bethesda's teams have finished the year in the top 4 in the highly competitive Atlantic division. U16/17 and U18/19 teams have qualified for the playoffs. U15s have not in spite of having an even better record than the older teams because DA this year decided to have only the top team in each division qualify for the playoffs (plus one wildcard for all divisions combined). For every age group, the Bethesda DA team has finished ahead of every other local DA team in the area, with the exceptions of Baltimore Armour (finshed ahead of Bethesda in U18/19) and DC United (U16/17). You can guess how much of a "slippage" that has been from previous years (not). There are not many non-MLS DAs in the country who have all their three higher age groups finishing in the top 4 of their DA divisions in a single year. In this region, PDA might be the only other one.
http://www.ussoccerda.com/sam/standings/league/standings.php?leagueId=MTA3Ng%3D%3D

And the U14s have sent 3 players to the national team camp.

Bethesda is a developing club more than a recruiting club. Should be proud of that.

I think I just threw up in my mouth.

Bethesda attracts some of the top talent but they aren't bringing kids up and making them better, rather taking good kids and letting them play with other good kids. Many of the DAs have more external imports than they do internal promotions every year.

All top clubs attract top talent, you’re saying that none of the kids on Bethesda DA developed out of lower teams?

At one of the tryouts one of the bros who runs the club told parents that the green team was for kids who played soccer as a second sport, took it less seriously and who would miss games for other events like family parties. This does not sound like a club that values the kids it supposedly wants to develop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of kids are leaving Bethesda this spring/summer for other clubs due to dissatisfaction with subpar coaching and the power of pushy parents to get undeserved advantages for their kids, including playing time and team placements. Top teams in many age groups, including DA, are slipping in quality. Bethesda’s reputation is way out of step with its actual quality. The administration of the club is a mess and the club badly needs its own practice and game facilities. Muldoons, in particular, is a disgrace. Send your kid to this club at your peril!

Got some evidence for Bethesda DA "slipping"? In all three Boys DA age groups for which standings are kept, Bethesda's teams have finished the year in the top 4 in the highly competitive Atlantic division. U16/17 and U18/19 teams have qualified for the playoffs. U15s have not in spite of having an even better record than the older teams because DA this year decided to have only the top team in each division qualify for the playoffs (plus one wildcard for all divisions combined). For every age group, the Bethesda DA team has finished ahead of every other local DA team in the area, with the exceptions of Baltimore Armour (finshed ahead of Bethesda in U18/19) and DC United (U16/17). You can guess how much of a "slippage" that has been from previous years (not). There are not many non-MLS DAs in the country who have all their three higher age groups finishing in the top 4 of their DA divisions in a single year. In this region, PDA might be the only other one.
http://www.ussoccerda.com/sam/standings/league/standings.php?leagueId=MTA3Ng%3D%3D

Yes I was there when he said that. The disdain was unbelievable. Ironically my son got an offer for a green team and no surprise, we turned it down.

And the U14s have sent 3 players to the national team camp.

Bethesda is a developing club more than a recruiting club. Should be proud of that.

I think I just threw up in my mouth.

Bethesda attracts some of the top talent but they aren't bringing kids up and making them better, rather taking good kids and letting them play with other good kids. Many of the DAs have more external imports than they do internal promotions every year.

All top clubs attract top talent, you’re saying that none of the kids on Bethesda DA developed out of lower teams?

At one of the tryouts one of the bros who runs the club told parents that the green team was for kids who played soccer as a second sport, took it less seriously and who would miss games for other events like family parties. This does not sound like a club that values the kids it supposedly wants to develop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of kids are leaving Bethesda this spring/summer for other clubs due to dissatisfaction with subpar coaching and the power of pushy parents to get undeserved advantages for their kids, including playing time and team placements. Top teams in many age groups, including DA, are slipping in quality. Bethesda’s reputation is way out of step with its actual quality. The administration of the club is a mess and the club badly needs its own practice and game facilities. Muldoons, in particular, is a disgrace. Send your kid to this club at your peril!

Got some evidence for Bethesda DA "slipping"? In all three Boys DA age groups for which standings are kept, Bethesda's teams have finished the year in the top 4 in the highly competitive Atlantic division. U16/17 and U18/19 teams have qualified for the playoffs. U15s have not in spite of having an even better record than the older teams because DA this year decided to have only the top team in each division qualify for the playoffs (plus one wildcard for all divisions combined). For every age group, the Bethesda DA team has finished ahead of every other local DA team in the area, with the exceptions of Baltimore Armour (finshed ahead of Bethesda in U18/19) and DC United (U16/17). You can guess how much of a "slippage" that has been from previous years (not). There are not many non-MLS DAs in the country who have all their three higher age groups finishing in the top 4 of their DA divisions in a single year. In this region, PDA might be the only other one.
http://www.ussoccerda.com/sam/standings/league/standings.php?leagueId=MTA3Ng%3D%3D

Yes I was there when he said that. The disdain was unbelievable. Ironically my son got an offer for a green team and no surprise, we turned it down.

And the U14s have sent 3 players to the national team camp.

Bethesda is a developing club more than a recruiting club. Should be proud of that.

I think I just threw up in my mouth.

Bethesda attracts some of the top talent but they aren't bringing kids up and making them better, rather taking good kids and letting them play with other good kids. Many of the DAs have more external imports than they do internal promotions every year.

All top clubs attract top talent, you’re saying that none of the kids on Bethesda DA developed out of lower teams?

At one of the tryouts one of the bros who runs the club told parents that the green team was for kids who played soccer as a second sport, took it less seriously and who would miss games for other events like family parties. This does not sound like a club that values the kids it supposedly wants to develop.

Yes I was there when he said that. The disdain was unbelievable. Ironically my son got an offer for a green team and no surprise, we turned it down.

There was a different thread that addressed whether it was worth it to take a lower team spot. It really depends on your goals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of kids are leaving Bethesda this spring/summer for other clubs due to dissatisfaction with subpar coaching and the power of pushy parents to get undeserved advantages for their kids, including playing time and team placements. Top teams in many age groups, including DA, are slipping in quality. Bethesda’s reputation is way out of step with its actual quality. The administration of the club is a mess and the club badly needs its own practice and game facilities. Muldoons, in particular, is a disgrace. Send your kid to this club at your peril!

Got some evidence for Bethesda DA "slipping"? In all three Boys DA age groups for which standings are kept, Bethesda's teams have finished the year in the top 4 in the highly competitive Atlantic division. U16/17 and U18/19 teams have qualified for the playoffs. U15s have not in spite of having an even better record than the older teams because DA this year decided to have only the top team in each division qualify for the playoffs (plus one wildcard for all divisions combined). For every age group, the Bethesda DA team has finished ahead of every other local DA team in the area, with the exceptions of Baltimore Armour (finshed ahead of Bethesda in U18/19) and DC United (U16/17). You can guess how much of a "slippage" that has been from previous years (not). There are not many non-MLS DAs in the country who have all their three higher age groups finishing in the top 4 of their DA divisions in a single year. In this region, PDA might be the only other one.
http://www.ussoccerda.com/sam/standings/league/standings.php?leagueId=MTA3Ng%3D%3D

Guess I’d better tell my son he’s washed up by the age of 12, and that all of the hard work he puts in to improve won’t earn him any respect, nor will it matter how good he gets because playing on a lower team means he’s just not as into soccer as the kids in the higher teams. Moving up just won’t be in the cards. Oh well.

Yes I was there when he said that. The disdain was unbelievable. Ironically my son got an offer for a green team and no surprise, we turned it down.

And the U14s have sent 3 players to the national team camp.

Bethesda is a developing club more than a recruiting club. Should be proud of that.

I think I just threw up in my mouth.

Bethesda attracts some of the top talent but they aren't bringing kids up and making them better, rather taking good kids and letting them play with other good kids. Many of the DAs have more external imports than they do internal promotions every year.

All top clubs attract top talent, you’re saying that none of the kids on Bethesda DA developed out of lower teams?

At one of the tryouts one of the bros who runs the club told parents that the green team was for kids who played soccer as a second sport, took it less seriously and who would miss games for other events like family parties. This does not sound like a club that values the kids it supposedly wants to develop.

Yes I was there when he said that. The disdain was unbelievable. Ironically my son got an offer for a green team and no surprise, we turned it down.

There was a different thread that addressed whether it was worth it to take a lower team spot. It really depends on your goals.

[Anonymous]

BSC is still looking for girls to play 2007 ECNL (2). The original Facebook message said ECNL 2, but it was corrected to just read ECNL. So, I wonder if they're really looking for only ECNL2, but want to draw a larger crowd?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of kids are leaving Bethesda this spring/summer for other clubs due to dissatisfaction with subpar coaching and the power of pushy parents to get undeserved advantages for their kids, including playing time and team placements. Top teams in many age groups, including DA, are slipping in quality. Bethesda’s reputation is way out of step with its actual quality. The administration of the club is a mess and the club badly needs its own practice and game facilities. Muldoons, in particular, is a disgrace. Send your kid to this club at your peril!

Got some evidence for Bethesda DA "slipping"? In all three Boys DA age groups for which standings are kept, Bethesda's teams have finished the year in the top 4 in the highly competitive Atlantic division. U16/17 and U18/19 teams have qualified for the playoffs. U15s have not in spite of having an even better record than the older teams because DA this year decided to have only the top team in each division qualify for the playoffs (plus one wildcard for all divisions combined). For every age group, the Bethesda DA team has finished ahead of every other local DA team in the area, with the exceptions of Baltimore Armour (finshed ahead of Bethesda in U18/19) and DC United (U16/17). You can guess how much of a "slippage" that has been from previous years (not). There are not many non-MLS DAs in the country who have all their three higher age groups finishing in the top 4 of their DA divisions in a single year. In this region, PDA might be the only other one.
http://www.ussoccerda.com/sam/standings/league/standings.php?leagueId=MTA3Ng%3D%3D

Yes I was there when he said that. The disdain was unbelievable. Ironically my son got an offer for a green team and no surprise, we turned it down.

And the U14s have sent 3 players to the national team camp.

Bethesda is a developing club more than a recruiting club. Should be proud of that.

I think I just threw up in my mouth.

Bethesda attracts some of the top talent but they aren't bringing kids up and making them better, rather taking good kids and letting them play with other good kids. Many of the DAs have more external imports than they do internal promotions every year.

All top clubs attract top talent, you’re saying that none of the kids on Bethesda DA developed out of lower teams?

At one of the tryouts one of the bros who runs the club told parents that the green team was for kids who played soccer as a second sport, took it less seriously and who would miss games for other events like family parties. This does not sound like a club that values the kids it supposedly wants to develop.

Yes I was there when he said that. The disdain was unbelievable. Ironically my son got an offer for a green team and no surprise, we turned it down.

There was a different thread that addressed whether it was worth it to take a lower team spot. It really depends on your goals.

Why in the world would you decline that offer? LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BSC is still looking for girls to play 2007 ECNL (2). The original Facebook message said ECNL 2, but it was corrected to just read ECNL. So, I wonder if they're really looking for only ECNL2, but want to draw a larger crowd?

Speaking of disdain for the 3rd Team ... No one "good enough" to move up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of kids are leaving Bethesda this spring/summer for other clubs due to dissatisfaction with subpar coaching and the power of pushy parents to get undeserved advantages for their kids, including playing time and team placements. Top teams in many age groups, including DA, are slipping in quality. Bethesda’s reputation is way out of step with its actual quality. The administration of the club is a mess and the club badly needs its own practice and game facilities. Muldoons, in particular, is a disgrace. Send your kid to this club at your peril!

Got some evidence for Bethesda DA "slipping"? In all three Boys DA age groups for which standings are kept, Bethesda's teams have finished the year in the top 4 in the highly competitive Atlantic division. U16/17 and U18/19 teams have qualified for the playoffs. U15s have not in spite of having an even better record than the older teams because DA this year decided to have only the top team in each division qualify for the playoffs (plus one wildcard for all divisions combined). For every age group, the Bethesda DA team has finished ahead of every other local DA team in the area, with the exceptions of Baltimore Armour (finshed ahead of Bethesda in U18/19) and DC United (U16/17). You can guess how much of a "slippage" that has been from previous years (not). There are not many non-MLS DAs in the country who have all their three higher age groups finishing in the top 4 of their DA divisions in a single year. In this region, PDA might be the only other one.
http://www.ussoccerda.com/sam/standings/league/standings.php?leagueId=MTA3Ng%3D%3D

Maybe you should just tell your young son he’s washed up, and all of his hard work won’t matter because no one will value him anyway, since he “only” made the green team, ?

Yes I was there when he said that. The disdain was unbelievable. Ironically my son got an offer for a green team and no surprise, we turned it down.

And the U14s have sent 3 players to the national team camp.

Bethesda is a developing club more than a recruiting club. Should be proud of that.

I think I just threw up in my mouth.

Bethesda attracts some of the top talent but they aren't bringing kids up and making them better, rather taking good kids and letting them play with other good kids. Many of the DAs have more external imports than they do internal promotions every year.

All top clubs attract top talent, you’re saying that none of the kids on Bethesda DA developed out of lower teams?

At one of the tryouts one of the bros who runs the club told parents that the green team was for kids who played soccer as a second sport, took it less seriously and who would miss games for other events like family parties. This does not sound like a club that values the kids it supposedly wants to develop.

Yes I was there when he said that. The disdain was unbelievable. Ironically my son got an offer for a green team and no surprise, we turned it down.

There was a different thread that addressed whether it was worth it to take a lower team spot. It really depends on your goals.

Why in the world would you decline that offer? LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BSC is still looking for girls to play 2007 ECNL (2). The original Facebook message said ECNL 2, but it was corrected to just read ECNL. So, I wonder if they're really looking for only ECNL2, but want to draw a larger crowd?

Speaking of disdain for the 3rd Team ... No one "good enough" to move up?

So...I assume that if 2007 DD hasn’t heard back from BSC by now, she’s NOT making one of the ECNL teams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BSC is still looking for girls to play 2007 ECNL (2). The original Facebook message said ECNL 2, but it was corrected to just read ECNL. So, I wonder if they're really looking for only ECNL2, but want to draw a larger crowd?

Speaking of disdain for the 3rd Team ... No one "good enough" to move up?

So...I assume that if 2007 DD hasn’t heard back from BSC by now, she’s NOT making one of the ECNL teams.

No harm in calling to see, it could be that or something could have gotten lost in transit.