Soccer - avoid Kids Pro Soccer

[Anonymous]

I have a 7 year old and 2 year old, who have been taking soccer with Kids Pro, and really, parents, you just need to use your own judgement!! We were very pleased, my kids love the program (we had Marcel and a couple of other coaches). It looks like most of the complains are based on the refund policy etc.--that has nothing to do with the quality of program. I am a preschool director in Arlington, and I know how irrational some of the parents can be in regards to tuition and fees. If your child just refuses to play, you can not just ask your money back...I know that that was the case in a lot of instances as I have been running KPS program in my Pre-K. They give us wonderful service and we keep recommending KPS to other, fellow schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agreed. Kids Pro Soccer was awful -- cancelled classes, bad communications, just not showing up, etc.

I have organized classes for the past 3 seasons with Darryl Gee and they are terrific. Very organized, very responsive, and great coaches -- esp. Coach Andrew and Coach Pablo.

My kids were in a class with a parent organizer with Kids Pro Soccer and the class was very nice, good teacher, and great methods. I am organizing a class this fall for my son's school in Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a 7 year old and 2 year old, who have been taking soccer with Kids Pro, and really, parents, you just need to use your own judgement!! We were very pleased, my kids love the program (we had Marcel and a couple of other coaches). It looks like most of the complains are based on the refund policy etc.--that has nothing to do with the quality of program. I am a preschool director in Arlington, and I know how irrational some of the parents can be in regards to tuition and fees. If your child just refuses to play, you can not just ask your money back...I know that that was the case in a lot of instances as I have been running KPS program in my Pre-K. They give us wonderful service and we keep recommending KPS to other, fellow schools.

NP here. I finally read the post about Kids Pro Soccer because we're considering soccer for our kids. I disagree that most of the posts related to their refund policy. It seems they have poor customer service and aren't reliable. It's a hit or miss experience. One PP wrote about contacting the BBB. I just looked up Kids Pro Soccer and their score with the BBB is an F. http://dc-easternpa.bbb.org/codbrep.html?wlcl=y&id=154458445 I've never seen an F before.

[Anonymous]

Wow, here are some opinions! I have not looked it up to be honest, but I agree that all the negative feedback that has been posted must be because the refunds, or such... I enrolled my not so sporty 4 year old in one of the dc classes and I have to say that coach Louis was amazing! That was last Fall. Since then he has been playing every season (including the indoor program), and our kid just came out of the shell!! I also found the office to be very responsive and helpful when we needed to make-up some classes that we were unable to attend.

[Anonymous]

Our coach did not show up for one practice, but when he was there, he was really great. We got a make-up for that class. We are in this season. We are in Chevy Chase.

[Anonymous]

I had a class cancelled with Kids Pro Soccer and insisted on a refund. It took two telephone calls, but they did it without complaint. (Credited back to my card.)

The best thing about Kids Pro Soccer, especially compared to the Coach John classes, is the cost. It's "only" $125 for eight weeks, as compared to about $250 with Coach John. Someone is really cleaning up in that deal.

[Anonymous]

I have just had to cancel my class due to our schedule changes. Even though the classes are starting this week and they did not have to give me a refund as it was too late to withdraw, they did it with no complains either. I was ready for a battle as with other providers....
I just emailed them and received my refund notice via email the same day, and had it on my card the next day! From my experience (and this is the second time I registered), I can say that they are very responsive. We took the class in the Spring, and were extremely happy with it too. Coach Marcel was great with the kids. We are looking into signing for the winter program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have just had to cancel my class due to our schedule changes. Even though the classes are starting this week and they did not have to give me a refund as it was too late to withdraw, they did it with no complains either. I was ready for a battle as with other providers....
I just emailed them and received my refund notice via email the same day, and had it on my card the next day! From my experience (and this is the second time I registered), I can say that they are very responsive. We took the class in the Spring, and were extremely happy with it too. Coach Marcel was great with the kids. We are looking into signing for the winter program.

This is shocking to me as it is completely contrary to my experience. Marcel was a total SOB when I requested not a refund, but only to confirm whether my child was even registered on a team. He told me he could not find our registration and that I'd have to register again. When I told him I had already been charged for the class he started screaming at me. It's great that some people have been able to register and actually get what they paid for, but annoying that he can't manage that simple feat consistently. Maybe he's trying to clean up his act due to the F BBB rating. They may be "very responsive" in your case, but trust me they haven't been very responsive in all cases.

[Anonymous]

PP above with clarification: I am not the OP on this thread, just another disgusted customer.

[Anonymous]

Just came from the first class of the season with my 3 year old, and we are thrilled! (at least for now
He had so much fun, the weather was perfect, and the coach was funny and engaging.
I am relieved that our experience with Kids Pro Soccer has been a total contradiction of what we have read!
You will hear from me if anything changes...

[Anonymous]

We have just started our class this past saturday for my 3 year old twins, and and a youth program for my 8 year olds son, and we are very much in love with both of the coaches! Kids were so excited and followed directions of this very funny coach.
We have been doing Stodder with our older son, and I have to say that the session with coach Marcel was an eye-opening experience. I was expecting more of tot style class, and he was really focusing on the skills of each individual player, and closed it up with a super game with full guidance of how to and what not to, etc. They were all tired but happy!

[Anonymous]

I am happy to report that we had an awesome class on Saturday too!! Our DD had a blast. The coach was fabulous.
We are in the Falls Church class.

[Anonymous]

Agreed! Kids Pro Soccer was absolutely ridiculous - no shows several weeks in a row with no explanation. Promised make up classes - which never happened; and he was terrible at engaging the kids. I wish someone would have told me how bad this was before I spent the money. Never again!

[Anonymous]

Kids Pro Soccer is awful. Our outgoing almost 4 year old joined a group class along w/ his daycare mates. the coach (sounds like Marcel from posts below or someone very similar) should NOT be working with kids under 12. It's not about learning the finer points of the game at 4, it's about having fun and feeling welcome. We paid the day of the first class but for each of the 5 (out of 8 but stopped going after the 5th) classes we were "welcomed" by being told that our son could not return if we didn't pay. Between my wife and I, we spent over an hour on the phone with them PROVING we paid... as if we should have to. The only "proof" was an online AMEX receipt b/c we hadn't gotten the bill yet. Final straw was when my parents took our son to practice and they too were told he could not come back b/c we had not paid. I called to say we did not feel welcome (did not even get into the aspects about coache's personality or techniques) but no partial credit back for full payment and complete embarrasment was agreed to. Clearly they are much more concerned with the MONEY than teaching soccer and having the kids enjoy themselves. We will not use it again and I'm confident that the credit card company's investigation will yield - at least - a refund of the pro-rated missed classes (which is all I wanted) but hopefully will refund the entire amount.

[Anonymous]

All I can do is add to the negative posts regarding KPS. We showed up to the first class (2-3 year old "tots") to find kids aged 5+. When questioned (via email) the director told me that the groups were mixed for the first two weeks of our session due to rain date make up classes for the older group. I was willing to let this go. The second class we showed up and there were at least 6 kids that were the correct age. The coach was horrible. Expecting these kids (again aged 2-3) to understand what he meant when he said "dribble the ball", "make a goal." He had them play a game before even explaining a thing to them.
I received an email on the afternoon of the third class that the class was canceled b/c everyone else in the class wanted to move to a Saturday class. I decided to switch my daughter to another tots class (not Saturday). I showed up and AGAIN the kids were 5+. When I questioned the director where the 2-3 year olds were he started yelling at me and verbally assaulting me in front of my two small children. He said he was going to post my personal information all over the local websites and "expose" me. I was frightened, grabbed my daughter and left.
I confirmed with a friend (that had been in the canceled class) that as far as she knows all the other families had asked for their money back and had NOT switched to another class.
Bad reviews on Yelp too.