I am very confused please help about next steps

[Anonymous]

Justs back to the initial poster's concerns as the thread has moved on:

I agree what you are looking for is a team that works for your family and your kid in terms of time and dollars. And then -- what is a decent fit for your kid -- not making your kid the top player on the team, or one of the worst.

The key factor that makes the fit work is first, second and third -- the coach. Then fourth -- the club. As a player and parent you do not really have much contact, if any, with anyone but the coach so some grand club philosophy means pretty much zero to you and your kid.

Will your kid have fun? Will your kid learn? Those are the key factors at all ages and levels until your kid is off to college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bethesda is over-rated. It is more than a status symbol than anything. Rush, FC Bordeaux, and MSI (depending on age group) offer more than Bethesda does. Hell, Bethesda realized that its u14/rising u14 sucked so it brought over the Rush coach and his players to take over the top team. I understand that barely five girls from the original Bethesda ECNL team were offered spots. That says a great deal about how weak the development is at Bethesda. Compare Bethesda to Mclean, FCV, Pipeline and youwill see that Bethesda is now a 2nd tier club.

A lot of that can be blamed on the TD for the u9-u12 group over the past few years. Her results were very poor, big time yeller and kids left. The 08’s(u11rising u12) are in the same boat with poor result and only had two teams in the age group. You need a larger pool players at that age group or you will have to seek players from outside the club. I know BSC was activity recruiting in that age group. Anyone know how the tryouts went? Did they have a good showing with new players?

I think the clubs on the girls side was/is suffering a malaise. The upper management not really paying attention to what was happening in the lower age groups and just relying on the rep of two good class years who are now aging out. The boys side seems strong. I heard they have changed up a few coaches and staff on the girls side. Can anyone talk about the new director and new coaches?

There's no new Girls YDP Director or Girls DC. A few coaches have left for personal reasons. There is a lot of new front office staff; apparently it takes a village to replace Brad Roos and the one admin they used to have. (But, perhaps not surprisingly, the only notable improvement in management is the look of the web site.)

Did Roos not care or focus on the girls side? The boys side is huge while the girls side is pretty small.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Will your kid have fun? Will your kid learn? Those are the key factors at all ages and levels until your kid is off to college.

We're taking that advice to heart! Based on what I'd read on this board, we skipped tryouts this spring, and instead I took my daughter to join practices with a few different teams.

After the latest practice, the coach chatted with her afterwards and asked, "Did you have fun? Did you meet new people? Did you learn something new?"

That's how I knew we'd found our team. (Well-regarded but not elite travel)

It wasn't the "best" of the teams that were options, but I think it will be best for her, and for our family.

[Anonymous]

Bethesda has always had a near-monopoly on girls talent on the Maryland side. They used to have a strong national-level reputation with girls older age groups - youth national team players, national championships year in and year out, and some of the best coaches in the area. At that time, there were not too many other places that coaches could go and develop strong teams.

Now it is much more diluted with better coaching in the area, more clubs that have their act together, and players aren't leaving their own programs to go to BSC anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

These would be my priorities. Although I will add no way would I pay Potomac or Bethesda fees for a third string team. Maybe not even a second string team at this age. Maybe when older. Maybe.

How do others feel about this? DD got an offer from green (third team) Bethesda and I’m not sure it’s worth it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

These would be my priorities. Although I will add no way would I pay Potomac or Bethesda fees for a third string team. Maybe not even a second string team at this age. Maybe when older. Maybe.

How do others feel about this? DD got an offer from green (third team) Bethesda and I’m not sure it’s worth it?

Worth it financially? In terms of time and energy?

For me it would depend on what the other options are, how close/far practices are, ability to pay (for some the cost is a huge stretch and commitment, while for some the cost just isn't that significant, all things considered,) where DD is coming from and what her/your overall goals are. How much you like the coach, overall vibe...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

These would be my priorities. Although I will add no way would I pay Potomac or Bethesda fees for a third string team. Maybe not even a second string team at this age. Maybe when older. Maybe.

How do others feel about this? DD got an offer from green (third team) Bethesda and I’m not sure it’s worth it?

Worth it financially? In terms of time and energy?

For me it would depend on what the other options are, how close/far practices are, ability to pay (for some the cost is a huge stretch and commitment, while for some the cost just isn't that significant, all things considered,) where DD is coming from and what her/your overall goals are. How much you like the coach, overall vibe...

If the goal is to be on the top team at Bethesda or similar club someday, it depends on the age, but it's a steep climb from within. "Dazzling" outside players will always get priority over promotion from within at BSC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

These would be my priorities. Although I will add no way would I pay Potomac or Bethesda fees for a third string team. Maybe not even a second string team at this age. Maybe when older. Maybe.

How do others feel about this? DD got an offer from green (third team) Bethesda and I’m not sure it’s worth it?

Worth it financially? In terms of time and energy?

For me it would depend on what the other options are, how close/far practices are, ability to pay (for some the cost is a huge stretch and commitment, while for some the cost just isn't that significant, all things considered,) where DD is coming from and what her/your overall goals are. How much you like the coach, overall vibe...

If the goal is to be on the top team at Bethesda or similar club someday, it depends on the age, but it's a steep climb from within. "Dazzling" outside players will always get priority over promotion from within at BSC.

It depends on the age group. I heard the 08 girls had a low number of kids at tryout and are having problems fill out a 2nd team. Can anyone talk about that? I thought there would be demand for the pre ECNL? Is there a cost difference with pre ECNL? I know there will be a lot more travel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

These would be my priorities. Although I will add no way would I pay Potomac or Bethesda fees for a third string team. Maybe not even a second string team at this age. Maybe when older. Maybe.

How do others feel about this? DD got an offer from green (third team) Bethesda and I’m not sure it’s worth it?

Worth it financially? In terms of time and energy?

For me it would depend on what the other options are, how close/far practices are, ability to pay (for some the cost is a huge stretch and commitment, while for some the cost just isn't that significant, all things considered,) where DD is coming from and what her/your overall goals are. How much you like the coach, overall vibe...

All good questions. I think timing and financially. We would have to make it work financially and we are willing to do that if the team and coaching are worth it but it would be tight. Locations we live in Rockville so assuming practices will be close by.

[Anonymous]

OP--we were in the same boat this spring. Have a 2009 girl who loves soccer and is pretty good. This past year she played on a professionally coached Classic team and loved it. Loved her coach. Training seemed good-- twice a week for 90 mins, various extra training opportunities (striker clinic, etc), indoor winter conditioning (twice a week at peak, though at beginning and end of winter was once/week). In the summer, they run pick up games for people who are around.

After reading this board for a while, we decided to stick with it one more year and look at Bethesda/Potomac next spring. If she still loves soccer 6 or 9 months from now, we may add some clinics or training to get her ready for U12 tryouts.

Why? It seems like the improvement of training at this age is hit or miss based on coach. Practice is super close to home. Games are all on turf and not too far from the house. Plus, she likes the coach and the team. We have a friend who was on MSI academy last year and was fed up by how far away practices and games were, and is trying out for our Classic team this spring.

Folks on this board offer mixed advice. Some say that by U11 you really ought to be on a travel team if you want to "make it." Others say that can wait a year or two beyond U11. (I should mention that we have no ambitions for our dd to play in college, so maybe the stakes are lower for us-- she would really like to eventually make the HS team, though...)

Good luck with your decision, but if she doesn't make Potomac/Bethesda, it's not the end of the world to look for good training in Classic.

[Anonymous]

+1
Did a lot of research and realized practice times for travel teams are constantly changing, locations for games and practices really far away and the level of training/competition is not that different unless your child is on the very top team. They money was less of an issue. It's about time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

These would be my priorities. Although I will add no way would I pay Potomac or Bethesda fees for a third string team. Maybe not even a second string team at this age. Maybe when older. Maybe.

How do others feel about this? DD got an offer from green (third team) Bethesda and I’m not sure it’s worth it?

Worth it financially? In terms of time and energy?

For me it would depend on what the other options are, how close/far practices are, ability to pay (for some the cost is a huge stretch and commitment, while for some the cost just isn't that significant, all things considered,) where DD is coming from and what her/your overall goals are. How much you like the coach, overall vibe...

If the goal is to be on the top team at Bethesda or similar club someday, it depends on the age, but it's a steep climb from within. "Dazzling" outside players will always get priority over promotion from within at BSC.

It depends on the age group. I heard the 08 girls had a low number of kids at tryout and are having problems fill out a 2nd team. Can anyone talk about that? I thought there would be demand for the pre ECNL? Is there a cost difference with pre ECNL? I know there will be a lot more travel.

At least 60+ 08s at tryouts.....so whoever told you that was wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP--we were in the same boat this spring. Have a 2009 girl who loves soccer and is pretty good. This past year she played on a professionally coached Classic team and loved it. Loved her coach. Training seemed good-- twice a week for 90 mins, various extra training opportunities (striker clinic, etc), indoor winter conditioning (twice a week at peak, though at beginning and end of winter was once/week). In the summer, they run pick up games for people who are around.

After reading this board for a while, we decided to stick with it one more year and look at Bethesda/Potomac next spring. If she still loves soccer 6 or 9 months from now, we may add some clinics or training to get her ready for U12 tryouts.

Why? It seems like the improvement of training at this age is hit or miss based on coach. Practice is super close to home. Games are all on turf and not too far from the house. Plus, she likes the coach and the team. We have a friend who was on MSI academy last year and was fed up by how far away practices and games were, and is trying out for our Classic team this spring.

Folks on this board offer mixed advice. Some say that by U11 you really ought to be on a travel team if you want to "make it." Others say that can wait a year or two beyond U11. (I should mention that we have no ambitions for our dd to play in college, so maybe the stakes are lower for us-- she would really like to eventually make the HS team, though...)

Good luck with your decision, but if she doesn't make Potomac/Bethesda, it's not the end of the world to look for good training in Classic.

Thank you this is so helpful. She has an offer from the Bethesda green team but we are leaning towards staying in classic (MSI) or potentially doing MSI Academy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:+1
Did a lot of research and realized practice times for travel teams are constantly changing, locations for games and practices really far away and the level of training/competition is not that different unless your child is on the very top team. They money was less of an issue. It's about time.

PP are you in MSI classic? Do you think MSI academy is less of a commitment than a Bethesda?

[Anonymous]

What age? We're very happy at MSI Academy 2008. Practices next year should be at West, so convenient to Rockville. No big tryout sessions -- just contact the coach and come join a practice and see how you like it. It's a bit less expensive than Bethesda, I believe, and not a lower level of play.