Anonymous wrote:So where would a DC based young but aspiring top level player play? If both Bethesda and Achilles aren’t good, what’s the better option?
There’s a group working on bringing a new club to the bethesda area. They are building new fields. Heard some of bethesda coaches are already secretely on board and they will be offering encl girls program.
JC will find these traitors!!
Potomac did just get ECNL boys........
Potomac girls are not within a million miles of ECNL ready or worthy. Boys they’re stronger and it is a totally different story with BSC having MLSNext and no other ECNL boys programs in county. Not to mention Achilles MLSN.
More realistic is a GA program in MoCo. They have a big presence around Baltimore and surrounding areas (Armour, Celtic, Coppermine).
Potomac had a short lived partnership with the now defunct Metro United.
I guess MoCo is big enough for another ECNL but it would make zero sense for Potomac any time soon. Maybe RL only (like DC Soccer) which also helps with less travel for MD RL teams. Works well in VA with more RL teams because of the combined ECNL team clubs having their own RL teams, which MD does not have.
Dismissing the readiness or worthiness of clubs in MoCo seems harsh and just wrong. The reality is that development is a dynamic process, and clubs evolve rapidly based on the quality of their coaching, resources, and commitment to player.
As for BSC, while they have MLSNext and ECNL, it doesn’t necessarily make them more “worthy” than other clubs—every organization has its strengths and areas for growth. Seriously just think, we have to pay trainers more than the club in many cases because the coaching is so terrible just so our kids don't fall behind. But THAY speaks to a broader issue across many clubs, not just one. We should only have to pay for the platform lol.
If there’s a growing interest and talent pool in MoCo, why shouldn’t there be more opportunities for players, whether that’s through ECNL, GA, MLSN or other platforms?
It’s funny to see bethesda coaches in this board taking credit for developing players when in 99% of the cases these kids been developed by Paul Torres at Next Star. Ask any of these kids who they attribute their development to and you’ll see.
The fact that bethesda parents pay thousands for extra training is the perfect example to show how bad Bethesda’s program is and how little its impacts of the players development. This is true for most clubs though.
All players need extra training outside their clubs to reach the highest levels.
Correct
In the USA yes
Until kids become residents living at the academies in Europe after U14, they do extra training outside if they want to be in the top percentile
During summer and winter breaks many do private training.
So do professional players.
So no. Not only in the USA
You now throwing professionals in there? Really?
How old is your child?
I’m under the assumption we are talking about young kids here?
The PP clearly emphasized the Academy years.
The point is that outside the USA everywhere does private extra training.
I'm just going to be honest. We often turn to private training because the coaching at the club level is lacking and doesn't prepare our kids for anything. Alternatively, we pay for extra sessions with coaches who may have influence within the club, in exchange for more favorable treatment for our child.
I thought people did private training outside their club because they had drive and motivation to develop into strong players.
Coaches are coaching a team of players. They don't have enough time to give all the kids the personal attention to their individual development.
Just like in school, the ones who do the most at home excel the most.
Come on we all have kids in the system. Coaches don't have time pay attention to kids individual development is BS. Then what are paying for team success lol.
Well, we know you're not a coach or familiar with training sessions for 15 or 20 kids
Also, the moment a U8 to U10 coach seriously started focusing solely on development of individuals to the detriment of W's parents are in uproar and mass migration begins
This whole thread also has parents complaining about coaches not developing kids.
My thesis of this case is that parents are more invested in their dreams for their kid than the kids are in those dreams.
Of course the coach and the club have zero investment in the parent dream for the kid, they can’t.
What exactly is the club investing in? They constantly boast about developing players and taking credit for work they didn't even do. They can't then spin it by blaming parents saying they have unrealistic expectations or dreams when they failure consistently on delivering what they promise.
For sure they take credit in developing the player.
In a game / team setting they absolutely do that - where outside of a club or team can your kid develop as a team player or in games? Duh….and while you might resent it because of the amount of outside work, or the position of your kid in the hierarchy, I think it’s totally fair game for the club to do that.
But if the club promoting itself is the windmill you’re tilting at because you’re unhappy with your kid’s pathway…better not open instagram…gonbe a long hard road for you my friend.
Check out most kids entering recruiting year’s socials, they’re not crediting every coach that helped them on every post. And I’d be floored if a kid credited their parents’ sacrifices and effort in a post. As far as the kids “PR” goes, it was all their own sweat blood and tears (and for a 15yo, it probably feels like it too…I don’t remember much anymore how I felt at 15). But nobody is complaining about kids not giving credit where credit is due. Why not? Because the kids is doing the work, just like the club and coaches, by and large, are doing their portions (it’s not a huge portion, but it’s an important portion) of the work.
Like I said, it’s a mismatch of expectations. Nobody can to be more invested in the outcome than the player, not even the parent. And if the parent’s desired outcome is not in line with the work the kid is willing to do, the parent is the one out of alignment. If the club is not willing to do the work for the parent’s desired outcome, the parent is out of alignment. If the club isn’t willing to do the work for the kid’s desired outcome, then it’s the club, and you need to change clubs.
This isn’t that hard of an equation.
The attempt to dismiss parental concerns as a “mismatch of expectations” is insulting. It’s not about unrealistic expectations; it’s about clubs failing to meet even the most basic commitments they’ve made. Parents invest their time, money, and hopes into these clubs, expecting their children to receive genuine development, not empty promises and self-serving credit-grabbing.
And to suggest that parents should just accept this nonsense or change clubs if they don’t like it? That’s a coward’s response. It’s the club’s responsibility to deliver on what they promise, not to blame parents or players when they don’t. If a club can’t fulfill its role in a player’s development, it has no business taking any credit whatsoever.
The bottom line is this: Clubs that fail to truly invest in their players but still claim credit for their success are nothing more than opportunistic frauds. They don’t deserve your respect, your money, or your time. If a club isn’t delivering, they deserve to be called out, not coddled.
“Parents invest their time, money, and hopes into these clubs, expecting their children to receive genuine development, not empty promises and self-serving credit-grabbing”
Where did the club rep, website, contract, coach, etc EVER say they would take on the responsibility for your time, your hopes, or your opinion of what their portion of your child’s “genuine” development is supposed to look like? Club fees are what? Top $8k a year for some high end mega clubs on the west coast? Development costs at the top end residential (free except R&B) academies are $150-300k for the academy. And, you’re raging claiming that for $48k in fees, but often more like $36k, the club not doing what OL Academy in France does for your kid isn’t your mismatch in expectations?
Man, your kid is being taught all the wrong things about this journey they’re on.
This response is not only condescending but also completely misses the point. First off, bringing up the disparity in costs between a local club and a top-tier academy like OL Academy in France is nothing but a deflection. No one is expecting a $36,000 club to operate like a $300,000 academy. What parents do expect, however, is that clubs deliver on the promises they make, regardless of the fee structure.
When a club markets itself as a development-focused organization, parents have every right to expect a certain level of commitment and quality. It’s not about the exact dollar amount; it’s about the club holding up its end of the bargain. If they promise to develop players, they should be providing more than just the bare minimum. Hiding behind the excuse that “we never said we’d take responsibility for your hopes or opinions” is nothing more than an attempt to dodge accountability.
The argument that club fees are too low to warrant genuine development is disingenuous. Clubs are quick to tout their development programs, post success stories, and use these narratives to attract new players and justify their fees. But when they fail to deliver, suddenly the tune changes to “you’re expecting too much.” It’s a classic bait-and-switch tactic, and it’s unacceptable.
This take is completely outside of reality. If a club says “our program offers 4 practices a week with C licensed coach, and 3 tournaments a year. Plus some opportunities for extra skills sessions, access to a physio, video resources for highlights and game review, off field seminars, and once a year a recruiting workshop” and you’re expecting them to teach whatever “genuine development” means in your mind, you’ve acquired an out of touch expectation.
Your club, I promise, gives your kid an IDP at least once a year, maybe more often if the club is solid. That IDP has a handful of things they excel at, and a few things they need to work on. The club isn’t taking responsibility for your kid to work on those. They’re giving you and your kid the feedback. Your club DOES provide an environment and opportunity for your kid to work on them in practice and games, but not some special extra fertilized training session with a guru on that that fundamental. Take some responsibility bruh.
First, listing out the basics like practices, tournaments, and occasional extras doesn’t excuse a club from fulfilling its core promise: actual player development. You’re treating these standard offerings as if they’re above and beyond, but they’re the bare minimum any decent club should provide. The idea that parents should lower their expectations because the club can only offer what’s on a checklist is absurd. “Genuine development” isn’t some mysterious, unattainable concept—it’s the reason parents choose a club in the first place. If a club markets itself as developmental, then that’s exactly what it should be delivering.
As for the IDP, it’s laughable to act like a once-a-year review is some grand gesture. Giving a kid a few bullet points on what they’re good at and where they need to improve is not the same as actively participating in their development. Handing out feedback and then washing your hands of the responsibility is a cop-out. The club absolutely should be invested in helping players work on those areas, not just ticking a box and leaving the rest up to the player and their parents.
The real issue here is accountability. Clubs want to market themselves as elite development centers, but when it comes time to actually do the work, they deflect responsibility.
If you bought all the marketing hype above the minimum you're a bit gullible.
If you think dropping off you kid and picking them up is enough you're mistaken.
A local grassroots club and team environment isn't private and personal training.
They indeed should be teaching the group as much as they can to facilitate development, but which local club can provide bespoke individual training during team practices?
Wait so this is all Bulls**t?
BETHESDA SC
Developing Professional and Collegiate Soccer Players. We are a development club first.
What do you think that means?
What do you mean when you say “genuine development.”
I think you don’t understand what a development means in a team environment. But I don’t know that, so I’d love to know what YOU think that means the club is supposed to do specifically.
Not the PP, but development obviously means that a player gets better. Sure, a kid should be expected to get touches on their own, juggle, and put in the effort outside of practice to perfect WHAT THEY LEARN IN PRACTICE. To that end, I expect a BSC practice to include more that what a kid can do on his own. I expect a coach to demonstrate, explain, observe, correct, fine-tune, and teach the skills necessary to get to the next level. Kids who have those technical skills at BSC are not getting them from the practices. They're getting them from parents who were past players and can coach them or from private instruction. That's what I've observed. BSC is relying on its MLSN and ECNL to bring in players that were developed elsewhere. New parents don't know this because it's not how the club is advertised. Maybe this is just the way it is, and fine. But let's call a spade a spade.
So I guess the answer is that parents are expecting the team coach to also be a technical trainer?
Or maybe parents are expecting the club to also provide technical training in addition to team training for the same price?
And that technical development is what parents believe is “genuine development?”
If that is the case, and it seems to be considering the remark about BSC relying on earlier age group clubs to provide the technical trainings, I guess I’d still argue that there is a mismatch in expectations, but it’s not totally the parents’ fault per se.
What I mean by that is, most academy / club systems expect a fairly well molded technical player at about age 14/15. You don’t get in or on the team unless you’re at a certain level. So I think this is just a point of ignorance on the parents’ behalf, as well as a point of education the teams can do better.
That said, I do understand the frustration as a kid comes in at 14 very competitive, but the u15 coach doesn’t address the deficiencies because the coach only has them for a year, needs to win, so passes the buck. Now the kid is two years behind correcting a deficiency, etc. I get that. The club needs to not do that, needs to communicate with the kid and family and help plan to close the gap even if the club isn’t owning the deficiency. But again, the work is the kids, not the coaches or the clubs. And no athlete that is working towards being the best they can be waits for a coach to tell them what to do - that is just stupid - AND - not every coach sees things the same way. 🤷♂️
Anonymous wrote:So where would a DC based young but aspiring top level player play? If both Bethesda and Achilles aren’t good, what’s the better option?
There’s a group working on bringing a new club to the bethesda area. They are building new fields. Heard some of bethesda coaches are already secretely on board and they will be offering encl girls program.
JC will find these traitors!!
Potomac did just get ECNL boys........
Potomac girls are not within a million miles of ECNL ready or worthy. Boys they’re stronger and it is a totally different story with BSC having MLSNext and no other ECNL boys programs in county. Not to mention Achilles MLSN.
More realistic is a GA program in MoCo. They have a big presence around Baltimore and surrounding areas (Armour, Celtic, Coppermine).
Potomac had a short lived partnership with the now defunct Metro United.
I guess MoCo is big enough for another ECNL but it would make zero sense for Potomac any time soon. Maybe RL only (like DC Soccer) which also helps with less travel for MD RL teams. Works well in VA with more RL teams because of the combined ECNL team clubs having their own RL teams, which MD does not have.
Dismissing the readiness or worthiness of clubs in MoCo seems harsh and just wrong. The reality is that development is a dynamic process, and clubs evolve rapidly based on the quality of their coaching, resources, and commitment to player.
As for BSC, while they have MLSNext and ECNL, it doesn’t necessarily make them more “worthy” than other clubs—every organization has its strengths and areas for growth. Seriously just think, we have to pay trainers more than the club in many cases because the coaching is so terrible just so our kids don't fall behind. But THAY speaks to a broader issue across many clubs, not just one. We should only have to pay for the platform lol.
If there’s a growing interest and talent pool in MoCo, why shouldn’t there be more opportunities for players, whether that’s through ECNL, GA, MLSN or other platforms?
It’s funny to see bethesda coaches in this board taking credit for developing players when in 99% of the cases these kids been developed by Paul Torres at Next Star. Ask any of these kids who they attribute their development to and you’ll see.
The fact that bethesda parents pay thousands for extra training is the perfect example to show how bad Bethesda’s program is and how little its impacts of the players development. This is true for most clubs though.
All players need extra training outside their clubs to reach the highest levels.
Correct
In the USA yes
Until kids become residents living at the academies in Europe after U14, they do extra training outside if they want to be in the top percentile
During summer and winter breaks many do private training.
So do professional players.
So no. Not only in the USA
You now throwing professionals in there? Really?
How old is your child?
I’m under the assumption we are talking about young kids here?
The PP clearly emphasized the Academy years.
The point is that outside the USA everywhere does private extra training.
I'm just going to be honest. We often turn to private training because the coaching at the club level is lacking and doesn't prepare our kids for anything. Alternatively, we pay for extra sessions with coaches who may have influence within the club, in exchange for more favorable treatment for our child.
I thought people did private training outside their club because they had drive and motivation to develop into strong players.
Coaches are coaching a team of players. They don't have enough time to give all the kids the personal attention to their individual development.
Just like in school, the ones who do the most at home excel the most.
Come on we all have kids in the system. Coaches don't have time pay attention to kids individual development is BS. Then what are paying for team success lol.
Well, we know you're not a coach or familiar with training sessions for 15 or 20 kids
Also, the moment a U8 to U10 coach seriously started focusing solely on development of individuals to the detriment of W's parents are in uproar and mass migration begins
This whole thread also has parents complaining about coaches not developing kids.
My thesis of this case is that parents are more invested in their dreams for their kid than the kids are in those dreams.
Of course the coach and the club have zero investment in the parent dream for the kid, they can’t.
What exactly is the club investing in? They constantly boast about developing players and taking credit for work they didn't even do. They can't then spin it by blaming parents saying they have unrealistic expectations or dreams when they failure consistently on delivering what they promise.
For sure they take credit in developing the player.
In a game / team setting they absolutely do that - where outside of a club or team can your kid develop as a team player or in games? Duh….and while you might resent it because of the amount of outside work, or the position of your kid in the hierarchy, I think it’s totally fair game for the club to do that.
But if the club promoting itself is the windmill you’re tilting at because you’re unhappy with your kid’s pathway…better not open instagram…gonbe a long hard road for you my friend.
Check out most kids entering recruiting year’s socials, they’re not crediting every coach that helped them on every post. And I’d be floored if a kid credited their parents’ sacrifices and effort in a post. As far as the kids “PR” goes, it was all their own sweat blood and tears (and for a 15yo, it probably feels like it too…I don’t remember much anymore how I felt at 15). But nobody is complaining about kids not giving credit where credit is due. Why not? Because the kids is doing the work, just like the club and coaches, by and large, are doing their portions (it’s not a huge portion, but it’s an important portion) of the work.
Like I said, it’s a mismatch of expectations. Nobody can to be more invested in the outcome than the player, not even the parent. And if the parent’s desired outcome is not in line with the work the kid is willing to do, the parent is the one out of alignment. If the club is not willing to do the work for the parent’s desired outcome, the parent is out of alignment. If the club isn’t willing to do the work for the kid’s desired outcome, then it’s the club, and you need to change clubs.
This isn’t that hard of an equation.
The attempt to dismiss parental concerns as a “mismatch of expectations” is insulting. It’s not about unrealistic expectations; it’s about clubs failing to meet even the most basic commitments they’ve made. Parents invest their time, money, and hopes into these clubs, expecting their children to receive genuine development, not empty promises and self-serving credit-grabbing.
And to suggest that parents should just accept this nonsense or change clubs if they don’t like it? That’s a coward’s response. It’s the club’s responsibility to deliver on what they promise, not to blame parents or players when they don’t. If a club can’t fulfill its role in a player’s development, it has no business taking any credit whatsoever.
The bottom line is this: Clubs that fail to truly invest in their players but still claim credit for their success are nothing more than opportunistic frauds. They don’t deserve your respect, your money, or your time. If a club isn’t delivering, they deserve to be called out, not coddled.
“Parents invest their time, money, and hopes into these clubs, expecting their children to receive genuine development, not empty promises and self-serving credit-grabbing”
Where did the club rep, website, contract, coach, etc EVER say they would take on the responsibility for your time, your hopes, or your opinion of what their portion of your child’s “genuine” development is supposed to look like? Club fees are what? Top $8k a year for some high end mega clubs on the west coast? Development costs at the top end residential (free except R&B) academies are $150-300k for the academy. And, you’re raging claiming that for $48k in fees, but often more like $36k, the club not doing what OL Academy in France does for your kid isn’t your mismatch in expectations?
Man, your kid is being taught all the wrong things about this journey they’re on.
This response is not only condescending but also completely misses the point. First off, bringing up the disparity in costs between a local club and a top-tier academy like OL Academy in France is nothing but a deflection. No one is expecting a $36,000 club to operate like a $300,000 academy. What parents do expect, however, is that clubs deliver on the promises they make, regardless of the fee structure.
When a club markets itself as a development-focused organization, parents have every right to expect a certain level of commitment and quality. It’s not about the exact dollar amount; it’s about the club holding up its end of the bargain. If they promise to develop players, they should be providing more than just the bare minimum. Hiding behind the excuse that “we never said we’d take responsibility for your hopes or opinions” is nothing more than an attempt to dodge accountability.
The argument that club fees are too low to warrant genuine development is disingenuous. Clubs are quick to tout their development programs, post success stories, and use these narratives to attract new players and justify their fees. But when they fail to deliver, suddenly the tune changes to “you’re expecting too much.” It’s a classic bait-and-switch tactic, and it’s unacceptable.
This take is completely outside of reality. If a club says “our program offers 4 practices a week with C licensed coach, and 3 tournaments a year. Plus some opportunities for extra skills sessions, access to a physio, video resources for highlights and game review, off field seminars, and once a year a recruiting workshop” and you’re expecting them to teach whatever “genuine development” means in your mind, you’ve acquired an out of touch expectation.
Your club, I promise, gives your kid an IDP at least once a year, maybe more often if the club is solid. That IDP has a handful of things they excel at, and a few things they need to work on. The club isn’t taking responsibility for your kid to work on those. They’re giving you and your kid the feedback. Your club DOES provide an environment and opportunity for your kid to work on them in practice and games, but not some special extra fertilized training session with a guru on that that fundamental. Take some responsibility bruh.
First, listing out the basics like practices, tournaments, and occasional extras doesn’t excuse a club from fulfilling its core promise: actual player development. You’re treating these standard offerings as if they’re above and beyond, but they’re the bare minimum any decent club should provide. The idea that parents should lower their expectations because the club can only offer what’s on a checklist is absurd. “Genuine development” isn’t some mysterious, unattainable concept—it’s the reason parents choose a club in the first place. If a club markets itself as developmental, then that’s exactly what it should be delivering.
As for the IDP, it’s laughable to act like a once-a-year review is some grand gesture. Giving a kid a few bullet points on what they’re good at and where they need to improve is not the same as actively participating in their development. Handing out feedback and then washing your hands of the responsibility is a cop-out. The club absolutely should be invested in helping players work on those areas, not just ticking a box and leaving the rest up to the player and their parents.
The real issue here is accountability. Clubs want to market themselves as elite development centers, but when it comes time to actually do the work, they deflect responsibility.
If you bought all the marketing hype above the minimum you're a bit gullible.
If you think dropping off you kid and picking them up is enough you're mistaken.
A local grassroots club and team environment isn't private and personal training.
They indeed should be teaching the group as much as they can to facilitate development, but which local club can provide bespoke individual training during team practices?
Wait so this is all Bulls**t?
BETHESDA SC
Developing Professional and Collegiate Soccer Players. We are a development club first.
What do you think that means?
What do you mean when you say “genuine development.”
I think you don’t understand what a development means in a team environment. But I don’t know that, so I’d love to know what YOU think that means the club is supposed to do specifically.
Not the PP, but development obviously means that a player gets better. Sure, a kid should be expected to get touches on their own, juggle, and put in the effort outside of practice to perfect WHAT THEY LEARN IN PRACTICE. To that end, I expect a BSC practice to include more that what a kid can do on his own. I expect a coach to demonstrate, explain, observe, correct, fine-tune, and teach the skills necessary to get to the next level. Kids who have those technical skills at BSC are not getting them from the practices. They're getting them from parents who were past players and can coach them or from private instruction. That's what I've observed. BSC is relying on its MLSN and ECNL to bring in players that were developed elsewhere. New parents don't know this because it's not how the club is advertised. Maybe this is just the way it is, and fine. But let's call a spade a spade.
So I guess the answer is that parents are expecting the team coach to also be a technical trainer?
Or maybe parents are expecting the club to also provide technical training in addition to team training for the same price?
And that technical development is what parents believe is “genuine development?”
If that is the case, and it seems to be considering the remark about BSC relying on earlier age group clubs to provide the technical trainings, I guess I’d still argue that there is a mismatch in expectations, but it’s not totally the parents’ fault per se.
What I mean by that is, most academy / club systems expect a fairly well molded technical player at about age 14/15. You don’t get in or on the team unless you’re at a certain level. So I think this is just a point of ignorance on the parents’ behalf, as well as a point of education the teams can do better.
That said, I do understand the frustration as a kid comes in at 14 very competitive, but the u15 coach doesn’t address the deficiencies because the coach only has them for a year, needs to win, so passes the buck. Now the kid is two years behind correcting a deficiency, etc. I get that. The club needs to not do that, needs to communicate with the kid and family and help plan to close the gap even if the club isn’t owning the deficiency. But again, the work is the kids, not the coaches or the clubs. And no athlete that is working towards being the best they can be waits for a coach to tell them what to do - that is just stupid - AND - not every coach sees things the same way. 🤷♂️
Many college professors of Freshmen are struggling with this mentality of kids not understanding their responsibilities in contributing to their success.
They want the professor to become Mommy and Daddy removing all obstacles.
Or just give them the A anyway without the actual required work.
Anonymous wrote:So where would a DC based young but aspiring top level player play? If both Bethesda and Achilles aren’t good, what’s the better option?
There’s a group working on bringing a new club to the bethesda area. They are building new fields. Heard some of bethesda coaches are already secretely on board and they will be offering encl girls program.
JC will find these traitors!!
Potomac did just get ECNL boys........
Potomac girls are not within a million miles of ECNL ready or worthy. Boys they’re stronger and it is a totally different story with BSC having MLSNext and no other ECNL boys programs in county. Not to mention Achilles MLSN.
More realistic is a GA program in MoCo. They have a big presence around Baltimore and surrounding areas (Armour, Celtic, Coppermine).
Potomac had a short lived partnership with the now defunct Metro United.
I guess MoCo is big enough for another ECNL but it would make zero sense for Potomac any time soon. Maybe RL only (like DC Soccer) which also helps with less travel for MD RL teams. Works well in VA with more RL teams because of the combined ECNL team clubs having their own RL teams, which MD does not have.
Dismissing the readiness or worthiness of clubs in MoCo seems harsh and just wrong. The reality is that development is a dynamic process, and clubs evolve rapidly based on the quality of their coaching, resources, and commitment to player.
As for BSC, while they have MLSNext and ECNL, it doesn’t necessarily make them more “worthy” than other clubs—every organization has its strengths and areas for growth. Seriously just think, we have to pay trainers more than the club in many cases because the coaching is so terrible just so our kids don't fall behind. But THAY speaks to a broader issue across many clubs, not just one. We should only have to pay for the platform lol.
If there’s a growing interest and talent pool in MoCo, why shouldn’t there be more opportunities for players, whether that’s through ECNL, GA, MLSN or other platforms?
It’s funny to see bethesda coaches in this board taking credit for developing players when in 99% of the cases these kids been developed by Paul Torres at Next Star. Ask any of these kids who they attribute their development to and you’ll see.
The fact that bethesda parents pay thousands for extra training is the perfect example to show how bad Bethesda’s program is and how little its impacts of the players development. This is true for most clubs though.
All players need extra training outside their clubs to reach the highest levels.
Correct
In the USA yes
Until kids become residents living at the academies in Europe after U14, they do extra training outside if they want to be in the top percentile
During summer and winter breaks many do private training.
So do professional players.
So no. Not only in the USA
You now throwing professionals in there? Really?
How old is your child?
I’m under the assumption we are talking about young kids here?
The PP clearly emphasized the Academy years.
The point is that outside the USA everywhere does private extra training.
I'm just going to be honest. We often turn to private training because the coaching at the club level is lacking and doesn't prepare our kids for anything. Alternatively, we pay for extra sessions with coaches who may have influence within the club, in exchange for more favorable treatment for our child.
I thought people did private training outside their club because they had drive and motivation to develop into strong players.
Coaches are coaching a team of players. They don't have enough time to give all the kids the personal attention to their individual development.
Just like in school, the ones who do the most at home excel the most.
Come on we all have kids in the system. Coaches don't have time pay attention to kids individual development is BS. Then what are paying for team success lol.
Well, we know you're not a coach or familiar with training sessions for 15 or 20 kids
Also, the moment a U8 to U10 coach seriously started focusing solely on development of individuals to the detriment of W's parents are in uproar and mass migration begins
This whole thread also has parents complaining about coaches not developing kids.
My thesis of this case is that parents are more invested in their dreams for their kid than the kids are in those dreams.
Of course the coach and the club have zero investment in the parent dream for the kid, they can’t.
What exactly is the club investing in? They constantly boast about developing players and taking credit for work they didn't even do. They can't then spin it by blaming parents saying they have unrealistic expectations or dreams when they failure consistently on delivering what they promise.
For sure they take credit in developing the player.
In a game / team setting they absolutely do that - where outside of a club or team can your kid develop as a team player or in games? Duh….and while you might resent it because of the amount of outside work, or the position of your kid in the hierarchy, I think it’s totally fair game for the club to do that.
But if the club promoting itself is the windmill you’re tilting at because you’re unhappy with your kid’s pathway…better not open instagram…gonbe a long hard road for you my friend.
Check out most kids entering recruiting year’s socials, they’re not crediting every coach that helped them on every post. And I’d be floored if a kid credited their parents’ sacrifices and effort in a post. As far as the kids “PR” goes, it was all their own sweat blood and tears (and for a 15yo, it probably feels like it too…I don’t remember much anymore how I felt at 15). But nobody is complaining about kids not giving credit where credit is due. Why not? Because the kids is doing the work, just like the club and coaches, by and large, are doing their portions (it’s not a huge portion, but it’s an important portion) of the work.
Like I said, it’s a mismatch of expectations. Nobody can to be more invested in the outcome than the player, not even the parent. And if the parent’s desired outcome is not in line with the work the kid is willing to do, the parent is the one out of alignment. If the club is not willing to do the work for the parent’s desired outcome, the parent is out of alignment. If the club isn’t willing to do the work for the kid’s desired outcome, then it’s the club, and you need to change clubs.
This isn’t that hard of an equation.
The attempt to dismiss parental concerns as a “mismatch of expectations” is insulting. It’s not about unrealistic expectations; it’s about clubs failing to meet even the most basic commitments they’ve made. Parents invest their time, money, and hopes into these clubs, expecting their children to receive genuine development, not empty promises and self-serving credit-grabbing.
And to suggest that parents should just accept this nonsense or change clubs if they don’t like it? That’s a coward’s response. It’s the club’s responsibility to deliver on what they promise, not to blame parents or players when they don’t. If a club can’t fulfill its role in a player’s development, it has no business taking any credit whatsoever.
The bottom line is this: Clubs that fail to truly invest in their players but still claim credit for their success are nothing more than opportunistic frauds. They don’t deserve your respect, your money, or your time. If a club isn’t delivering, they deserve to be called out, not coddled.
“Parents invest their time, money, and hopes into these clubs, expecting their children to receive genuine development, not empty promises and self-serving credit-grabbing”
Where did the club rep, website, contract, coach, etc EVER say they would take on the responsibility for your time, your hopes, or your opinion of what their portion of your child’s “genuine” development is supposed to look like? Club fees are what? Top $8k a year for some high end mega clubs on the west coast? Development costs at the top end residential (free except R&B) academies are $150-300k for the academy. And, you’re raging claiming that for $48k in fees, but often more like $36k, the club not doing what OL Academy in France does for your kid isn’t your mismatch in expectations?
Man, your kid is being taught all the wrong things about this journey they’re on.
This response is not only condescending but also completely misses the point. First off, bringing up the disparity in costs between a local club and a top-tier academy like OL Academy in France is nothing but a deflection. No one is expecting a $36,000 club to operate like a $300,000 academy. What parents do expect, however, is that clubs deliver on the promises they make, regardless of the fee structure.
When a club markets itself as a development-focused organization, parents have every right to expect a certain level of commitment and quality. It’s not about the exact dollar amount; it’s about the club holding up its end of the bargain. If they promise to develop players, they should be providing more than just the bare minimum. Hiding behind the excuse that “we never said we’d take responsibility for your hopes or opinions” is nothing more than an attempt to dodge accountability.
The argument that club fees are too low to warrant genuine development is disingenuous. Clubs are quick to tout their development programs, post success stories, and use these narratives to attract new players and justify their fees. But when they fail to deliver, suddenly the tune changes to “you’re expecting too much.” It’s a classic bait-and-switch tactic, and it’s unacceptable.
This take is completely outside of reality. If a club says “our program offers 4 practices a week with C licensed coach, and 3 tournaments a year. Plus some opportunities for extra skills sessions, access to a physio, video resources for highlights and game review, off field seminars, and once a year a recruiting workshop” and you’re expecting them to teach whatever “genuine development” means in your mind, you’ve acquired an out of touch expectation.
Your club, I promise, gives your kid an IDP at least once a year, maybe more often if the club is solid. That IDP has a handful of things they excel at, and a few things they need to work on. The club isn’t taking responsibility for your kid to work on those. They’re giving you and your kid the feedback. Your club DOES provide an environment and opportunity for your kid to work on them in practice and games, but not some special extra fertilized training session with a guru on that that fundamental. Take some responsibility bruh.
First, listing out the basics like practices, tournaments, and occasional extras doesn’t excuse a club from fulfilling its core promise: actual player development. You’re treating these standard offerings as if they’re above and beyond, but they’re the bare minimum any decent club should provide. The idea that parents should lower their expectations because the club can only offer what’s on a checklist is absurd. “Genuine development” isn’t some mysterious, unattainable concept—it’s the reason parents choose a club in the first place. If a club markets itself as developmental, then that’s exactly what it should be delivering.
As for the IDP, it’s laughable to act like a once-a-year review is some grand gesture. Giving a kid a few bullet points on what they’re good at and where they need to improve is not the same as actively participating in their development. Handing out feedback and then washing your hands of the responsibility is a cop-out. The club absolutely should be invested in helping players work on those areas, not just ticking a box and leaving the rest up to the player and their parents.
The real issue here is accountability. Clubs want to market themselves as elite development centers, but when it comes time to actually do the work, they deflect responsibility.
If you bought all the marketing hype above the minimum you're a bit gullible.
If you think dropping off you kid and picking them up is enough you're mistaken.
A local grassroots club and team environment isn't private and personal training.
They indeed should be teaching the group as much as they can to facilitate development, but which local club can provide bespoke individual training during team practices?
Wait so this is all Bulls**t?
BETHESDA SC
Developing Professional and Collegiate Soccer Players. We are a development club first.
What do you think that means?
What do you mean when you say “genuine development.”
I think you don’t understand what a development means in a team environment. But I don’t know that, so I’d love to know what YOU think that means the club is supposed to do specifically.
Not the PP, but development obviously means that a player gets better. Sure, a kid should be expected to get touches on their own, juggle, and put in the effort outside of practice to perfect WHAT THEY LEARN IN PRACTICE. To that end, I expect a BSC practice to include more that what a kid can do on his own. I expect a coach to demonstrate, explain, observe, correct, fine-tune, and teach the skills necessary to get to the next level. Kids who have those technical skills at BSC are not getting them from the practices. They're getting them from parents who were past players and can coach them or from private instruction. That's what I've observed. BSC is relying on its MLSN and ECNL to bring in players that were developed elsewhere. New parents don't know this because it's not how the club is advertised. Maybe this is just the way it is, and fine. But let's call a spade a spade.
So I guess the answer is that parents are expecting the team coach to also be a technical trainer?
Or maybe parents are expecting the club to also provide technical training in addition to team training for the same price?
And that technical development is what parents believe is “genuine development?”
If that is the case, and it seems to be considering the remark about BSC relying on earlier age group clubs to provide the technical trainings, I guess I’d still argue that there is a mismatch in expectations, but it’s not totally the parents’ fault per se.
What I mean by that is, most academy / club systems expect a fairly well molded technical player at about age 14/15. You don’t get in or on the team unless you’re at a certain level. So I think this is just a point of ignorance on the parents’ behalf, as well as a point of education the teams can do better.
That said, I do understand the frustration as a kid comes in at 14 very competitive, but the u15 coach doesn’t address the deficiencies because the coach only has them for a year, needs to win, so passes the buck. Now the kid is two years behind correcting a deficiency, etc. I get that. The club needs to not do that, needs to communicate with the kid and family and help plan to close the gap even if the club isn’t owning the deficiency. But again, the work is the kids, not the coaches or the clubs. And no athlete that is working towards being the best they can be waits for a coach to tell them what to do - that is just stupid - AND - not every coach sees things the same way. 🤷♂️
Well if the parents have the wrong expectations, then what does development mean to BSC? It's on their website so it must mean something.
What should the expectation be for parents and kids who are looking at BSC, especially in the early development years?
Is technical development not part of team training? Can you have a winning team without players who can control the ball?
I see coaches putting out cone drills and then standing in the corner until it's scrimmage time. I think most parents expect something in between standing in a corner all of practice and a personalized technical trainer. There is room to do both and if not, then just start the club at MLSNext / ECNL age and tell the parents that winning is prioritized over individual development. Let them save their club fees for private training and try out at the teen levels.
The guy above wrote he complained about coach/kids ratio and was shamed for that by BSC.
Now lets return to development. In European academies usually there are 3 coaches per 18 kids. Coach, assistant coach and technical/tactical/agility coach. The technical/tactical/agility coach can work some time with all kids or with some group of kids etc. Kids get often feedback and homeworks (improve weak foot, shooting, close control etc). Never saw good feedback here.
Here I saw many times 1 coach and 30 kids, top team combine with other coach team. What quality and development you expect?
By the way many coaches in Europe work for peanuts(including academy coaches). Coaching is like a hobby for them.
here it is all about money. The guy who wrote "Many college professors of Freshmen are struggling with this mentality of kids not understanding their responsibilities in contributing to their success." does not understand soccer development. What he said is right about almost everything but not soccer, that's why it sucks here.
"European academies usually there are 3 coaches per 18 kids. Coach, assistant coach and technical/tactical/agility coach. The technical/tactical/agility coach can work some time with all kids or with some group of kids etc. Kids get often feedback and homeworks (improve weak foot, shooting, close control etc)."
Good luck with getting 3 coaches here. Here is all about $$$. They have volunteer team managers working for free and kissing a## so their kid can play on the top team with more playing time, even if they are not quality.. You see this in BSC all the time. There is no interest in getting kids to a higher level of soccer. The club leadership don't do it for the love of soccer but for the love of money. You will see many small kids with no talent on top teams.
Anonymous wrote:The guy above wrote he complained about coach/kids ratio and was shamed for that by BSC.
Now lets return to development. In European academies usually there are 3 coaches per 18 kids. Coach, assistant coach and technical/tactical/agility coach. The technical/tactical/agility coach can work some time with all kids or with some group of kids etc. Kids get often feedback and homeworks (improve weak foot, shooting, close control etc). Never saw good feedback here.
Here I saw many times 1 coach and 30 kids, top team combine with other coach team. What quality and development you expect?
By the way many coaches in Europe work for peanuts(including academy coaches). Coaching is like a hobby for them.
here it is all about money. The guy who wrote "Many college professors of Freshmen are struggling with this mentality of kids not understanding their responsibilities in contributing to their success." does not understand soccer development. What he said is right about almost everything but not soccer, that's why it sucks here.
Some European academies. MOST academies are not dissimilar to what people complain about here. You’re example is of
Cat1 and Cat2. There are a few clubs in the US that get close to meeting the requirements, like indoor fields, etc. but very very few. BSC and most US clubs are closer the Cat 3/4 (sans parents lounges…).
But let’s just take the FIFA guidelines on costs, the “genuine development” in UEFA for a Cat 4 is estimated to be $10k, about 2-3x the cost in the US (and as mentioned above, they’re paying their coaches peanuts because many of the coaches are part time…something about the work hours going into that $10k per kid). In the US, that same Cat is $2k….
The real issue here is that we’re all working with Cat 3/4 academies in the US and complaining that we’re not getting Cat 1 service ($2k vs $90k).
As for what the club means by development, they tell you exactly what they’ll give you, ie 2 hours practices 3-4 times a week, a league with x number of games and friendliest, x number of tournies, etc. If you don’t take them at their word, and expect more, that’s not on them.
Anonymous wrote:Then what sets BSC apart from any other club?
Ah, BSC truly sets a gold standard in youth soccer! Their business model is nothing short of genius—maximize revenue by charging premium fees while offering the unique experience of overcrowded training sessions and inconsistent coaching. They’ve perfected the art of focusing on winning at all cost, ensuring players develop a deep-seated burnout rather than long-term skills. And their approach to player relationships? Exemplary, really—treating young athletes like mere financial assets. But perhaps their most innovative practice is how they maintain such a harmonious environment: by subtly threatening parents with punitive actions against their kids if they dare to question or challenge the status quo. Nothing says ‘elite soccer club’ like a little intimidation to keep everyone in line. It’s an impressive display of how to run a club with an iron fist, all in the name of 'brand development.' Bravo, BSC, for redefining what youth soccer can aspire to be!
The above post is, sadly, pretty spot on. Leadership and coaches at Bethesda are entitled and cocky. They are unapproachable, and they remind me of any empire right before it falls. Walking around confidently until the front lines get dismantled.
Ah, BSC truly sets a gold standard in youth soccer! Their business model is nothing short of genius—maximize revenue by charging premium fees while offering the unique experience of overcrowded training sessions and inconsistent coaching. They’ve perfected the art of focusing on winning at all cost, ensuring players develop a deep-seated burnout rather than long-term skills. And their approach to player relationships? Exemplary, really—treating young athletes like mere financial assets. But perhaps their most innovative practice is how they maintain such a harmonious environment: by subtly threatening parents with punitive actions against their kids if they dare to question or challenge the status quo. Nothing says ‘elite soccer club’ like a little intimidation to keep everyone in line. It’s an impressive display of how to run a club with an iron fist, all in the name of 'brand development.' Bravo, BSC, for redefining what youth soccer can aspire to be!
Anonymous wrote:Then what sets BSC apart from any other club?
Ah, BSC truly sets a gold standard in youth soccer! Their business model is nothing short of genius—maximize revenue by charging premium fees while offering the unique experience of overcrowded training sessions and inconsistent coaching. They’ve perfected the art of focusing on winning at all cost, ensuring players develop a deep-seated burnout rather than long-term skills. And their approach to player relationships? Exemplary, really—treating young athletes like mere financial assets. But perhaps their most innovative practice is how they maintain such a harmonious environment: by subtly threatening parents with punitive actions against their kids if they dare to question or challenge the status quo. Nothing says ‘elite soccer club’ like a little intimidation to keep everyone in line. It’s an impressive display of how to run a club with an iron fist, all in the name of 'brand development.' Bravo, BSC, for redefining what youth soccer can aspire to be!
Best description of BSC ever. Can’t be more accurate
Explain it to me like I'm five: why aren't there more club options with MLSN or ECNL? That seems to be the only thing that BSC has over its competition locally. How do clubs get admitted to those leagues?
Anonymous wrote:Then what sets BSC apart from any other club?
Ah, BSC truly sets a gold standard in youth soccer! Their business model is nothing short of genius—maximize revenue by charging premium fees while offering the unique experience of overcrowded training sessions and inconsistent coaching. They’ve perfected the art of focusing on winning at all cost, ensuring players develop a deep-seated burnout rather than long-term skills. And their approach to player relationships? Exemplary, really—treating young athletes like mere financial assets. But perhaps their most innovative practice is how they maintain such a harmonious environment: by subtly threatening parents with punitive actions against their kids if they dare to question or challenge the status quo. Nothing says ‘elite soccer club’ like a little intimidation to keep everyone in line. It’s an impressive display of how to run a club with an iron fist, all in the name of 'brand development.' Bravo, BSC, for redefining what youth soccer can aspire to be!
Best description of BSC ever. Can’t be more accurate
+1 and add that if the coaches want to do better, they get fired
Anonymous wrote:Explain it to me like I'm five: why aren't there more club options with MLSN or ECNL? That seems to be the only thing that BSC has over its competition locally. How do clubs get admitted to those leagues?
Word of mouth is the JC has very strong ties with them and blocks everyone trying to get in. I personally don’t believe it, but that’s what many people say
Anonymous wrote:Then what sets BSC apart from any other club?
Ah, BSC truly sets a gold standard in youth soccer! Their business model is nothing short of genius—maximize revenue by charging premium fees while offering the unique experience of overcrowded training sessions and inconsistent coaching. They’ve perfected the art of focusing on winning at all cost, ensuring players develop a deep-seated burnout rather than long-term skills. And their approach to player relationships? Exemplary, really—treating young athletes like mere financial assets. But perhaps their most innovative practice is how they maintain such a harmonious environment: by subtly threatening parents with punitive actions against their kids if they dare to question or challenge the status quo. Nothing says ‘elite soccer club’ like a little intimidation to keep everyone in line. It’s an impressive display of how to run a club with an iron fist, all in the name of 'brand development.' Bravo, BSC, for redefining what youth soccer can aspire to be!
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