Bethesda Soccer On Way Down

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having kids go all the way to a game only to find out they aren't even allowed to sit on the bench is nasty.

WOW - For away games too???? I could understand supporting the team for home games, but at least they should give families the courtesy of deciding if they want to take a 2-3 hour ride for an away game, for their kid not to see the field.

When you're part of a team, you're there for all of it, not just when the pictures get taken or when you feel like it. Playing in college is the same. Not many players from that 28 roster see meaningful minutes consistently every year that they're part of the team. Some players hit the field from freshman year, others are in development / on the bench until later and some never see the field. But they all want to be a part of it for one reason or another.

I guess every coach and club is different. For my son's U14 MLS Next academy team, the coach at least informs the players who will not be dressing the evening before (usually no more than 1 or 2). For home games, he expects they attend, but for away games, especially some that require hotel stay ...they are not required to attend. I for one, respect and am grateful for that approach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having kids go all the way to a game only to find out they aren't even allowed to sit on the bench is nasty.

WOW - For away games too???? I could understand supporting the team for home games, but at least they should give families the courtesy of deciding if they want to take a 2-3 hour ride for an away game, for their kid not to see the field.

When you're part of a team, you're there for all of it, not just when the pictures get taken or when you feel like it. Playing in college is the same. Not many players from that 28 roster see meaningful minutes consistently every year that they're part of the team. Some players hit the field from freshman year, others are in development / on the bench until later and some never see the field. But they all want to be a part of it for one reason or another.

This is incredibly stupid for actual kids. College kids are a completely different example. They can get transportation on team buses/etc. Making a kid give up a weekend to cheer on teammates is not something that happens for most teams.

We are talking about top ECNL U15 and up, which are college prep programs, not U-littles cheering on teammates. Players and their families don't travel to cheer on.

Soo.... are you saying that transportation is provided (like in College) for away games by these clubs for the players, at this age U15?

Transportation is completely irrelevant in this case because it’s not typical for minors in the US to travel alone. If you commit to an elite team, you commit to the travel. That is taking your kid to games and back, whether they’re playing or not. This requires commitment and sacrifice from player and family for the younger age groups because the players need parental support.

College players are typically independent adults and don’t need their parents to take them places. I’m not sure why you have a hard time grasping that.

Game days at the highest level are intense learning moments, whether you’re on the field or off. You can always choose to stay home on a day your kid’s team is playing a game but not on an elite team. If that’s not your thing, there’re plenty of other teams that can match your level of commitment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having kids go all the way to a game only to find out they aren't even allowed to sit on the bench is nasty.

WOW - For away games too???? I could understand supporting the team for home games, but at least they should give families the courtesy of deciding if they want to take a 2-3 hour ride for an away game, for their kid not to see the field.

When you're part of a team, you're there for all of it, not just when the pictures get taken or when you feel like it. Playing in college is the same. Not many players from that 28 roster see meaningful minutes consistently every year that they're part of the team. Some players hit the field from freshman year, others are in development / on the bench until later and some never see the field. But they all want to be a part of it for one reason or another.

This is incredibly stupid for actual kids. College kids are a completely different example. They can get transportation on team buses/etc. Making a kid give up a weekend to cheer on teammates is not something that happens for most teams.

We are talking about top ECNL U15 and up, which are college prep programs, not U-littles cheering on teammates. Players and their families don't travel to cheer on.

Soo.... are you saying that transportation is provided (like in College) for away games by these clubs for the players, at this age U15?

Transportation is completely irrelevant in this case because it’s not typical for minors in the US to travel alone. If you commit to an elite team, you commit to the travel. That is taking your kid to games and back, whether they’re playing or not. This requires commitment and sacrifice from player and family for the younger age groups because the players need parental support.

College players are typically independent adults and don’t need their parents to take them places. I’m not sure why you have a hard time grasping that.

Game days at the highest level are intense learning moments, whether you’re on the field or off. You can always choose to stay home on a day your kid’s team is playing a game but not on an elite team. If that’s not your thing, there’re plenty of other teams that can match your level of commitment.

Does that go for play off games (that I hear folks talking about) across the country? And you are right - maybe this is not the level of commitment that I may be ready for when that time comes. Because expecting a family to pay thousands to travel cross country to games, for a learning moment/experience, is out of my league. God forbid, you have more than 1 kid playing elite level sports. Kudos to those who are able to do it though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having kids go all the way to a game only to find out they aren't even allowed to sit on the bench is nasty.

WOW - For away games too???? I could understand supporting the team for home games, but at least they should give families the courtesy of deciding if they want to take a 2-3 hour ride for an away game, for their kid not to see the field.

When you're part of a team, you're there for all of it, not just when the pictures get taken or when you feel like it. Playing in college is the same. Not many players from that 28 roster see meaningful minutes consistently every year that they're part of the team. Some players hit the field from freshman year, others are in development / on the bench until later and some never see the field. But they all want to be a part of it for one reason or another.

This is incredibly stupid for actual kids. College kids are a completely different example. They can get transportation on team buses/etc. Making a kid give up a weekend to cheer on teammates is not something that happens for most teams.

We are talking about top ECNL U15 and up, which are college prep programs, not U-littles cheering on teammates. Players and their families don't travel to cheer on.

Soo.... are you saying that transportation is provided (like in College) for away games by these clubs for the players, at this age U15?

Transportation is completely irrelevant in this case because it’s not typical for minors in the US to travel alone. If you commit to an elite team, you commit to the travel. That is taking your kid to games and back, whether they’re playing or not. This requires commitment and sacrifice from player and family for the younger age groups because the players need parental support.

College players are typically independent adults and don’t need their parents to take them places. I’m not sure why you have a hard time grasping that.

Game days at the highest level are intense learning moments, whether you’re on the field or off. You can always choose to stay home on a day your kid’s team is playing a game but not on an elite team. If that’s not your thing, there’re plenty of other teams that can match your level of commitment.

Does that go for play off games (that I hear folks talking about) across the country? And you are right - maybe this is not the level of commitment that I may be ready for when that time comes. Because expecting a family to pay thousands to travel cross country to games, for a learning moment/experience, is out of my league. God forbid, you have more than 1 kid playing elite level sports. Kudos to those who are able to do it though.

It is expensive, it is not easy and it does take sacrifice. Some players who have played at a high level for years continue to play a lot. Others who don't get to play much the first year they join the team, train and learn from the sidelines but end up playing a lot the following year when they are ready to compete on that level hence the college team analogy.

A top girls ECNL team is a multi-year college prep program that helps players prepare to achieve their goals of playing top college soccer. Players come with lots of potential but various levels of development and they will not play just because their parents paid for it or want to cheer them on but because they've reached the requisite level of development to compete at a high level. Beware of the ECNL teams in the lower half of the conferences that will take your money just the same and not get your player to the level they need to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The team has 22 players on the roster. They added a 23rd player in February who only trains with the team and will join the club for the 2026-2027 season.

Sooo..... 22/23 is customary, or normal. Seems like a lot to me but I am new to all this as mine are still in the younger age groups.

Some players are on that team just for the club to make money. A friend on that team told me the players use to be informed who is playing on game day, but now they find out at the game when they show up. We were playing them and the mom I knew said she wasn't sure her daughter was playing that day. (her daughter did play and started). I was told the roster is really large because they knew most of the team was doing U15 again, so they were trying to build up the roster for 2026-2027 year. The U16 team for next year is not looking as strong since the majority of the good players are repeating U15.

11 play and 12 pay. Can’t tolerate this craziness

Then don’t tolerate it . If they choose to stay and not play, then that’s their decision. Not yours .It’s not your kid … or is it ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having kids go all the way to a game only to find out they aren't even allowed to sit on the bench is nasty.

WOW - For away games too???? I could understand supporting the team for home games, but at least they should give families the courtesy of deciding if they want to take a 2-3 hour ride for an away game, for their kid not to see the field.

When you're part of a team, you're there for all of it, not just when the pictures get taken or when you feel like it. Playing in college is the same. Not many players from that 28 roster see meaningful minutes consistently every year that they're part of the team. Some players hit the field from freshman year, others are in development / on the bench until later and some never see the field. But they all want to be a part of it for one reason or another.

This is incredibly stupid for actual kids. College kids are a completely different example. They can get transportation on team buses/etc. Making a kid give up a weekend to cheer on teammates is not something that happens for most teams.

We are talking about top ECNL U15 and up, which are college prep programs, not U-littles cheering on teammates. Players and their families don't travel to cheer on.

Soo.... are you saying that transportation is provided (like in College) for away games by these clubs for the players, at this age U15?

Transportation is completely irrelevant in this case because it’s not typical for minors in the US to travel alone. If you commit to an elite team, you commit to the travel. That is taking your kid to games and back, whether they’re playing or not. This requires commitment and sacrifice from player and family for the younger age groups because the players need parental support.

College players are typically independent adults and don’t need their parents to take them places. I’m not sure why you have a hard time grasping that.

Game days at the highest level are intense learning moments, whether you’re on the field or off. You can always choose to stay home on a day your kid’s team is playing a game but not on an elite team. If that’s not your thing, there’re plenty of other teams that can match your level of commitment.

Does that go for play off games (that I hear folks talking about) across the country? And you are right - maybe this is not the level of commitment that I may be ready for when that time comes. Because expecting a family to pay thousands to travel cross country to games, for a learning moment/experience, is out of my league. God forbid, you have more than 1 kid playing elite level sports. Kudos to those who are able to do it though.

It is expensive, it is not easy and it does take sacrifice. Some players who have played at a high level for years continue to play a lot. Others who don't get to play much the first year they join the team, train and learn from the sidelines but end up playing a lot the following year when they are ready to compete on that level hence the college team analogy.

A top girls ECNL team is a multi-year college prep program that helps players prepare to achieve their goals of playing top college soccer. Players come with lots of potential but various levels of development and they will not play just because their parents paid for it or want to cheer them on but because they've reached the requisite level of development to compete at a high level. Beware of the ECNL teams in the lower half of the conferences that will take your money just the same and not get your player to the level they need to be.

What college prep?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having kids go all the way to a game only to find out they aren't even allowed to sit on the bench is nasty.

WOW - For away games too???? I could understand supporting the team for home games, but at least they should give families the courtesy of deciding if they want to take a 2-3 hour ride for an away game, for their kid not to see the field.

When you're part of a team, you're there for all of it, not just when the pictures get taken or when you feel like it. Playing in college is the same. Not many players from that 28 roster see meaningful minutes consistently every year that they're part of the team. Some players hit the field from freshman year, others are in development / on the bench until later and some never see the field. But they all want to be a part of it for one reason or another.

This is incredibly stupid for actual kids. College kids are a completely different example. They can get transportation on team buses/etc. Making a kid give up a weekend to cheer on teammates is not something that happens for most teams.

We are talking about top ECNL U15 and up, which are college prep programs, not U-littles cheering on teammates. Players and their families don't travel to cheer on.

Soo.... are you saying that transportation is provided (like in College) for away games by these clubs for the players, at this age U15?

Transportation is completely irrelevant in this case because it’s not typical for minors in the US to travel alone. If you commit to an elite team, you commit to the travel. That is taking your kid to games and back, whether they’re playing or not. This requires commitment and sacrifice from player and family for the younger age groups because the players need parental support.

College players are typically independent adults and don’t need their parents to take them places. I’m not sure why you have a hard time grasping that.

Game days at the highest level are intense learning moments, whether you’re on the field or off. You can always choose to stay home on a day your kid’s team is playing a game but not on an elite team. If that’s not your thing, there’re plenty of other teams that can match your level of commitment.

Your definition of having a high level of commitment is being content with having enough subs to field a whole second 11v11 team? And you think similar player development happens on the bench watching other kids play as it does being in the thick of it and problem-solving? You are so brainwashed it’s useless to even engage. But clearly, other folks on here recognize the “money first, player development second” machine that is BSC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having kids go all the way to a game only to find out they aren't even allowed to sit on the bench is nasty.

WOW - For away games too???? I could understand supporting the team for home games, but at least they should give families the courtesy of deciding if they want to take a 2-3 hour ride for an away game, for their kid not to see the field.

The BSC way and the KL effect all in one, genius team building Kevin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having kids go all the way to a game only to find out they aren't even allowed to sit on the bench is nasty.

WOW - For away games too???? I could understand supporting the team for home games, but at least they should give families the courtesy of deciding if they want to take a 2-3 hour ride for an away game, for their kid not to see the field.

When you're part of a team, you're there for all of it, not just when the pictures get taken or when you feel like it. Playing in college is the same. Not many players from that 28 roster see meaningful minutes consistently every year that they're part of the team. Some players hit the field from freshman year, others are in development / on the bench until later and some never see the field. But they all want to be a part of it for one reason or another.

This is incredibly stupid for actual kids. College kids are a completely different example. They can get transportation on team buses/etc. Making a kid give up a weekend to cheer on teammates is not something that happens for most teams.

We are talking about top ECNL U15 and up, which are college prep programs, not U-littles cheering on teammates. Players and their families don't travel to cheer on.

Soo.... are you saying that transportation is provided (like in College) for away games by these clubs for the players, at this age U15?

Transportation is completely irrelevant in this case because it’s not typical for minors in the US to travel alone. If you commit to an elite team, you commit to the travel. That is taking your kid to games and back, whether they’re playing or not. This requires commitment and sacrifice from player and family for the younger age groups because the players need parental support.

College players are typically independent adults and don’t need their parents to take them places. I’m not sure why you have a hard time grasping that.

Game days at the highest level are intense learning moments, whether you’re on the field or off. You can always choose to stay home on a day your kid’s team is playing a game but not on an elite team. If that’s not your thing, there’re plenty of other teams that can match your level of commitment.

Your definition of having a high level of commitment is being content with having enough subs to field a whole second 11v11 team? And you think similar player development happens on the bench watching other kids play as it does being in the thick of it and problem-solving? You are so brainwashed it’s useless to even engage. But clearly, other folks on here recognize the “money first, player development second” machine that is BSC.

Nobody is content, all players are working hard, everyone wants to play. BSC players and families can go problem solve on any other team and some do. It is a choice.

[Anonymous]

you're all sheep

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having kids go all the way to a game only to find out they aren't even allowed to sit on the bench is nasty.

WOW - For away games too???? I could understand supporting the team for home games, but at least they should give families the courtesy of deciding if they want to take a 2-3 hour ride for an away game, for their kid not to see the field.

When you're part of a team, you're there for all of it, not just when the pictures get taken or when you feel like it. Playing in college is the same. Not many players from that 28 roster see meaningful minutes consistently every year that they're part of the team. Some players hit the field from freshman year, others are in development / on the bench until later and some never see the field. But they all want to be a part of it for one reason or another.

This is incredibly stupid for actual kids. College kids are a completely different example. They can get transportation on team buses/etc. Making a kid give up a weekend to cheer on teammates is not something that happens for most teams.

We are talking about top ECNL U15 and up, which are college prep programs, not U-littles cheering on teammates. Players and their families don't travel to cheer on.

Soo.... are you saying that transportation is provided (like in College) for away games by these clubs for the players, at this age U15?

Transportation is completely irrelevant in this case because it’s not typical for minors in the US to travel alone. If you commit to an elite team, you commit to the travel. That is taking your kid to games and back, whether they’re playing or not. This requires commitment and sacrifice from player and family for the younger age groups because the players need parental support.

College players are typically independent adults and don’t need their parents to take them places. I’m not sure why you have a hard time grasping that.

Game days at the highest level are intense learning moments, whether you’re on the field or off. You can always choose to stay home on a day your kid’s team is playing a game but not on an elite team. If that’s not your thing, there’re plenty of other teams that can match your level of commitment.

Your definition of having a high level of commitment is being content with having enough subs to field a whole second 11v11 team? And you think similar player development happens on the bench watching other kids play as it does being in the thick of it and problem-solving? You are so brainwashed it’s useless to even engage. But clearly, other folks on here recognize the “money first, player development second” machine that is BSC.

Nobody is content, all players are working hard, everyone wants to play. BSC players and families can go problem solve on any other team and some do. It is a choice.

You are ecnl brain washed. Did you ever think how much your kid might develop playing 80 minutes a game on a ga team? This is insane to think not dressing or being on a bench is a good thing. Theres a small window that closes a little more every day. Get your kid on the field stop financially supporting the top 6-7 kids dreams on the club and the club itself. There are plenty of paths to d1 outside of ecnl

[Anonymous]

The real problem is that BSC doesn’t have decent competition inside a 30 minute radius in an area concentrated with talented and well trained girls with plenty of money for private coaches. Some have skills coaches, running coaches, and strength coaches starting in middle school. There are too many players on these rosters. Families join because everything thinks their kid will work their way up, either to the first team, or onto the field at game time. But that isn’t always the case. If there were another decent club that doesn’t make you take the beltway or the AL bridge at rush hour, or in Baltimore, it wouldn’t be as much of a problem. The league has cause this mess by not encouraging real competition in a very soccer-dense area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The real problem is that BSC doesn’t have decent competition inside a 30 minute radius in an area concentrated with talented and well trained girls with plenty of money for private coaches. Some have skills coaches, running coaches, and strength coaches starting in middle school. There are too many players on these rosters. Families join because everything thinks their kid will work their way up, either to the first team, or onto the field at game time. But that isn’t always the case. If there were another decent club that doesn’t make you take the beltway or the AL bridge at rush hour, or in Baltimore, it wouldn’t be as much of a problem. The league has cause this mess by not encouraging real competition in a very soccer-dense area.

Not really important. Just let your kid play, make memories, have fun playing the sport and focus on what’s more important. Soccer is not that detrimental to your kid or any other kid’s future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The real problem is that BSC doesn’t have decent competition inside a 30 minute radius in an area concentrated with talented and well trained girls with plenty of money for private coaches. Some have skills coaches, running coaches, and strength coaches starting in middle school. There are too many players on these rosters. Families join because everything thinks their kid will work their way up, either to the first team, or onto the field at game time. But that isn’t always the case. If there were another decent club that doesn’t make you take the beltway or the AL bridge at rush hour, or in Baltimore, it wouldn’t be as much of a problem. The league has cause this mess by not encouraging real competition in a very soccer-dense area.

This is called a “rich people’s problem” whether you have money or not.

I travel longer than 30 minutes daily to get to BSC and many others as well. So reframe your mind to say the truth. “My personal agenda and priorities only enable me to drive a maximum of 30 minutes for my kids soccer.” Cool. That’s your choice. Now quit whining about BSC and as the top girl I have seen in the DMV relative to her age group is in MoCo and not at BSC. There are always options. Maybe your ego won’t allow you to choose them or your priorities but there are options.

[Anonymous]

If the VA players stayed in VA things would be considerably better