Advice - Moving to Bethesda

[Anonymous]

I am a PP who went after parents recommending Bethesda. Look, Bethesda is a club that fields girls teams but the only people praising Bethesda are parents who believe they are privileged to have a kid at the club alarmist as if they were a member of Chevy Chase CC.

Look, Bethesda is not a bad club but do your homework before you sign-up.

Whoever the idiot is who referenced Coach PG, you should know that he does not even train the high end girls and he may train a girls team but you might not get him. A serious person should do classic at u9 and seek out PG for additional training. Forget driving 100+ miles to play glorified rec games.

I know dozens of elite players that have left Bethesda over the years because of the environment. Even those who remained would have left if they were not into the recruiting process.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you for all the very helpful advice and info. A lot to work with… She is aggressive and really fast and really small. She says she wants to be a professional soccer player but, yes, she is only nine. Just want to help her do her best in a great environment and keep her love for the game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for all the very helpful advice and info. A lot to work with… She is aggressive and really fast and really small. She says she wants to be a professional soccer player but, yes, she is only nine. Just want to help her do her best in a great environment and keep her love for the game.

If she is motivated on her own she will do well regardless of the coach. Also, most of the clubs in MoCo practice in the rockville potomac area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a PP who went after parents recommending Bethesda. Look, Bethesda is a club that fields girls teams but the only people praising Bethesda are parents who believe they are privileged to have a kid at the club alarmist as if they were a member of Chevy Chase CC.

Look, Bethesda is not a bad club but do your homework before you sign-up.

Whoever the idiot is who referenced Coach PG, you should know that he does not even train the high end girls and he may train a girls team but you might not get him. A serious person should do classic at u9 and seek out PG for additional training. Forget driving 100+ miles to play glorified rec games.

I know dozens of elite players that have left Bethesda over the years because of the environment. Even those who remained would have left if they were not into the recruiting process.

Agreed!

[Anonymous]

If she says she wants to be a professional soccer player (whether she does or not) skip classic ans go to Bethesda. OP is not driving 100 miles bc he lives in Bethesda. We live in Bethesda, bsc is competitive and my ds (near the age of OPs dd) says he never wants to leave. He has played at weaker clubs and did not enjoy being with kids who did not play as well as him. He is a competitor and thrives off of the competitive atmosphere. The harder the workout, he always says it was 'so much fun!'

Some kids love these environments and do well in them. To each their own. If it's not for your kid, then leave. You have to do what works for your child but you can't knock an entire club because it wasn't the right fit for your family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for all the very helpful advice and info. A lot to work with… She is aggressive and really fast and really small. She says she wants to be a professional soccer player but, yes, she is only nine. Just want to help her do her best in a great environment and keep her love for the game.

So no long drives, make sure the coaches are fun and not abusive. Everything chances at u13 for the girls. If at that point she makes an ECNL or GA team the travel abs time commitment really increase. My DD(at a private school) struggles with school, soccer, 8 am games, playing an instrument, etc. not much time left to do anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for all the very helpful advice and info. A lot to work with… She is aggressive and really fast and really small. She says she wants to be a professional soccer player but, yes, she is only nine. Just want to help her do her best in a great environment and keep her love for the game.

If that's her age, keep her away from Bethesda...she'd probably have Eric as a coach, and I'd avoid him like the plague.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If she says she wants to be a professional soccer player (whether she does or not) skip classic ans go to Bethesda. OP is not driving 100 miles bc he lives in Bethesda. We live in Bethesda, bsc is competitive and my ds (near the age of OPs dd) says he never wants to leave. He has played at weaker clubs and did not enjoy being with kids who did not play as well as him. He is a competitor and thrives off of the competitive atmosphere. The harder the workout, he always says it was 'so much fun!'

Some kids love these environments and do well in them. To each their own. If it's not for your kid, then leave. You have to do what works for your child but you can't knock an entire club because it wasn't the right fit for your family.

We are very happy with our son’s experience at BSC over the last few years as well. However, I’d have more reservations with a girl. Maybe try for a year and see what you think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for all the very helpful advice and info. A lot to work with… She is aggressive and really fast and really small. She says she wants to be a professional soccer player but, yes, she is only nine. Just want to help her do her best in a great environment and keep her love for the game.

If that's her age, keep her away from Bethesda...she'd probably have Eric as a coach, and I'd avoid him like the plague.

He is not doing 2012. But you never know year to year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't listen to anyone who says Bethesda Soccer is the best option. It is not, especially for a 9 year-old girl. Bethesda is not even the best option for an elite player, which is why most travel across the river or up I95 to play for Pipeline or MUFC.

If you want to impress friends who don't know jacksh&t about girls soccer, then encourage them to go to Bethesda. If you want your daughter to develop into an elite player, look at other options:

1. FCGB does a good jo of training their players. Anyone who has watched their practices will confirm.
2. Find a good MSI Classic coach/team for u10. Look for someone who is teaches the basics and is also competitive. No need to travel to PA and WV for travel games at nine.

I have seen more kids who come from classic or similar teams at u12 and beat out Bethesda players that have been at Bethesda from the beginning. Also, classic is a better social environment sense your kid will likely attend school with her teammates.

Somebody sounds a bit bitter and biased...FYI, literally the best coach in the DMV both trains and coaches at Bethesda. He is the Head Coach of the Mens' Howard Univ. Team as well as a former USMNT player. His son currently plays in the MLS. His daughter played all four four years at Duke University. However, above poster is correct that SOME players choose alternatives because the ECNL coaches are not suited for them. MOST players stay and weather the tough coaching and atmosphere. Bethesda has an excellent chance of 4 straight years to make the ECNL playoffs this year (06, 07, 08, 09) with the incoming 10s likely to add to that next year.

Most travel else where? Really? FYI, there is actually a family that does not listen to the type of crap people like you spew. Said family did the best for their DD's and chose the best club for each players need. One DD plays at Bethesda (and is part of USWNT Camp) and the other plays at Pipeline and recently received a D1 scholarship.

Please ignore posters like the above, DYOR, and find the best environment for your DD. No club is going to be perfect. No "social" group or parent are going to be perfect. In my experience that type of environment varies year by year at any club. Pending your goals over the upcoming years, you can't go wrong FCGB or Bethesda after picking your coach. Unlike the above poster, I will just plead the 5th on MSI and Potomac.

This post x100,000. Absolutely spot on. Find the right fit. What’s right for some isn’t for others. There is soccer for every level of skill and engagement

There are currently 192 players (men and women) CURRENTLY in college playing soccer from D1 (#1 Georgetown, Men + #2 Virginia, #4 UNC) and many on ranked d3 teams. Check out their Instagram

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for all the very helpful advice and info. A lot to work with… She is aggressive and really fast and really small. She says she wants to be a professional soccer player but, yes, she is only nine. Just want to help her do her best in a great environment and keep her love for the game.

If that's her age, keep her away from Bethesda...she'd probably have Eric as a coach, and I'd avoid him like the plague.

Coaches move up and down. Eric runs the little ones just call the club

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't listen to anyone who says Bethesda Soccer is the best option. It is not, especially for a 9 year-old girl. Bethesda is not even the best option for an elite player, which is why most travel across the river or up I95 to play for Pipeline or MUFC.

If you want to impress friends who don't know jacksh&t about girls soccer, then encourage them to go to Bethesda. If you want your daughter to develop into an elite player, look at other options:

1. FCGB does a good jo of training their players. Anyone who has watched their practices will confirm.
2. Find a good MSI Classic coach/team for u10. Look for someone who is teaches the basics and is also competitive. No need to travel to PA and WV for travel games at nine.

I have seen more kids who come from classic or similar teams at u12 and beat out Bethesda players that have been at Bethesda from the beginning. Also, classic is a better social environment sense your kid will likely attend school with her teammates.

Somebody sounds a bit bitter and biased...FYI, literally the best coach in the DMV both trains and coaches at Bethesda. He is the Head Coach of the Mens' Howard Univ. Team as well as a former USMNT player. His son currently plays in the MLS. His daughter played all four four years at Duke University. However, above poster is correct that SOME players choose alternatives because the ECNL coaches are not suited for them. MOST players stay and weather the tough coaching and atmosphere. Bethesda has an excellent chance of 4 straight years to make the ECNL playoffs this year (06, 07, 08, 09) with the incoming 10s likely to add to that next year.

Most travel else where? Really? FYI, there is actually a family that does not listen to the type of crap people like you spew. Said family did the best for their DD's and chose the best club for each players need. One DD plays at Bethesda (and is part of USWNT Camp) and the other plays at Pipeline and recently received a D1 scholarship.

Please ignore posters like the above, DYOR, and find the best environment for your DD. No club is going to be perfect. No "social" group or parent are going to be perfect. In my experience that type of environment varies year by year at any club. Pending your goals over the upcoming years, you can't go wrong FCGB or Bethesda after picking your coach. Unlike the above poster, I will just plead the 5th on MSI and Potomac.

This post x100,000. Absolutely spot on. Find the right fit. What’s right for some isn’t for others. There is soccer for every level of skill and engagement

There are currently 192 players (men and women) CURRENTLY in college playing soccer from D1 (#1 Georgetown, Men + #2 Virginia, #4 UNC) and many on ranked d3 teams. Check out their Instagram

DP but this has no correlation to a u9/u10 girl. Those players are first and foremost really good athletes and faster vs the vast majority of players who went through BSC. They would have had the same results at any of the well known clubs in the area. BSC boys is a huge operation. The girls side is very similar to many small local club. Look at how many players from u9/u10 are still playing at BSC or any club by u15. Also the girls program is totally different vs the boys.

[Anonymous]

My advice is to go watch two or three prospective teams play. Pay attention to how the coaches and parents act when they're winning and when they're losing. If a team seems like a good fit, email the coach and ask if you can come to a couple of practices. In my opinion, it's only worth going to a big name club if you're offered a spot on the first or second team. Otherwise, find a smaller club that will help your daughter develop. There are always opportunities to move to a bigger club when going from 9v9 to 11v11, etc. ODP is another possibility as she gets older. We have noticed the ECNL/GA clubs tend to recruit the "stars" from smaller clubs instead of pulling kids up from their lower teams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My advice is to go watch two or three prospective teams play. Pay attention to how the coaches and parents act when they're winning and when they're losing. If a team seems like a good fit, email the coach and ask if you can come to a couple of practices. In my opinion, it's only worth going to a big name club if you're offered a spot on the first or second team. Otherwise, find a smaller club that will help your daughter develop. There are always opportunities to move to a bigger club when going from 9v9 to 11v11, etc. ODP is another possibility as she gets older. We have noticed the ECNL/GA clubs tend to recruit the "stars" from smaller clubs instead of pulling kids up from their lower teams.

This is absolutely true. If your kids makes the top BSC team there are good reasons to go. If you get a white or worse green offer stay away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My advice is to go watch two or three prospective teams play. Pay attention to how the coaches and parents act when they're winning and when they're losing. If a team seems like a good fit, email the coach and ask if you can come to a couple of practices. In my opinion, it's only worth going to a big name club if you're offered a spot on the first or second team. Otherwise, find a smaller club that will help your daughter develop. There are always opportunities to move to a bigger club when going from 9v9 to 11v11, etc. ODP is another possibility as she gets older. We have noticed the ECNL/GA clubs tend to recruit the "stars" from smaller clubs instead of pulling kids up from their lower teams.

This is absolutely true. If your kids makes the top BSC team there are good reasons to go. If you get a white or worse green offer stay away.

Top teams get great exposure at BSC