DC Soccer Club

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The issue is that the kids are all mixed up in all the different teams, so kids from Brookland aren't necessarily on Brookland/East teams, and kids from NW are often put on Brookland/East teams - which means its a big mess for everyone to get to their fields.

At least for this season, if you’re on a Brookland team it’s because that’s the team you tried out for, right? I didn’t think there were “involuntary”/random assignments. Next year might be a different story.

[Anonymous]

Our team, at least, was a random group of girls, all but two of whom live west of rock creek.

[Anonymous]

I will hate to see Tom go. He was a great coach IMO. We’re still trying to decide which Brookland team to try out for living in Takoma DC.

My son loves the game, a decent player and is on the blue team, but in no way are we looking for recruitments so to speak. He loves the game and can play, but don't want to turn it into a chore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone put the email here. Thinking about DCSC east for my kid but we are in Ward 5 as well.

Hi all,
I am reaching out to let you know that I (along with multiple Brookland Coaches) will be leaving the DC Soccer Club at the end of this spring season. The relationship has been extremely challenging.
I am reaching out to all of you as a courtesy so you can decide what you would like to do next year. I will be coaching in DC next year; however, I must wait for the attorneys to let me know what is feasible for us.
Ryan and I have thoroughly enjoyed creating Brookland FC and we love being a part of the Brookland Community.
We will keep you posted as soon as we can in regards to new details!
Best,
Tom

I will know within the next 3 weeks whether this is true or not. I "believe" that there is an issue with Tom and the Brookland crew with DCSC but hearsay at this point. Not sure if it has reached this level but I will check it out.

This is NOT new for DCSC as they have a history of lawsuits over the years in the academy with coaches. I have no idea what they have going on over there but not impressed with what I have been exposed to.

I would pursue DC XI, WCU, PPA, City Sports, DCYFC and DC Way if you want travel level ball in DC.

If you are complaining about going from NW to NE for competitive soccer, stay in the rec league as you don't belong in this space as a parent. Seriously. Nobody wants your complaining. Save your money. Stay in rec so we can elevate this space. Make your team play up a year to get more competitive. This space is not made for you.

The serious DC players have been traveling to Alexandria, Arlington and Bethesda for years. I would like DC to grow up eventually and put something serious together in the District. The District has the talent.

FYI, most of DSCS is rec level and provides this important service for the masses. (Not a criticism.) No need to attack those that don't have the time and resources and motivation to get across the city around afternoon rush. Could be 3 bus transfers to get to some of these fields.

There are different levels of travel and different commitments based on ages. Having practices close to home can make soccer doable for many but yes, fields are tough to come by. End of story.

[Anonymous]

We do travel DCSC (in NW) and are happy with it. The coaching has been great. FWIW, the programming this year when Tom was point person seemed more disorganized than other programming. So I'd at least reserve judgment on who is right or wrong in this split.

It's too bad to see but I don't think people west of the park should worry about participating in DCSC travel. For east of the park, maybe do tryouts but ask questions about what they plan to do to have coaches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue is that the kids are all mixed up in all the different teams, so kids from Brookland aren't necessarily on Brookland/East teams, and kids from NW are often put on Brookland/East teams - which means its a big mess for everyone to get to their fields.

At least for this season, if you’re on a Brookland team it’s because that’s the team you tried out for, right? I didn’t think there were “involuntary”/random assignments. Next year might be a different story.

For the announced tryouts for next year, DCSC will have an East division and a West division. Players can try out for either or both, but they generally are recommending that people who live west of 16th Street try out for West and east of 16th Street for East. East basically combines the current Brookland and Petworth teams, since right now sometimes DCSC has a Brookland Blue and a Petworth Blue, maybe even other colors too, versus in what's now called West (west of the park mostly), there are multiple teams from top to bottom, varying in numbers between ages and boys/girls. So someone who wants practices west of the park will get them and someone who wants practices east of the park can get them.

[Anonymous]

That sounds smart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone put the email here. Thinking about DCSC east for my kid but we are in Ward 5 as well.

Hi all,
I am reaching out to let you know that I (along with multiple Brookland Coaches) will be leaving the DC Soccer Club at the end of this spring season. The relationship has been extremely challenging.
I am reaching out to all of you as a courtesy so you can decide what you would like to do next year. I will be coaching in DC next year; however, I must wait for the attorneys to let me know what is feasible for us.
Ryan and I have thoroughly enjoyed creating Brookland FC and we love being a part of the Brookland Community.
We will keep you posted as soon as we can in regards to new details!
Best,
Tom

I will know within the next 3 weeks whether this is true or not. I "believe" that there is an issue with Tom and the Brookland crew with DCSC but hearsay at this point. Not sure if it has reached this level but I will check it out.

This is NOT new for DCSC as they have a history of lawsuits over the years in the academy with coaches. I have no idea what they have going on over there but not impressed with what I have been exposed to.

I would pursue DC XI, WCU, PPA, City Sports, DCYFC and DC Way if you want travel level ball in DC.

If you are complaining about going from NW to NE for competitive soccer, stay in the rec league as you don't belong in this space as a parent. Seriously. Nobody wants your complaining. Save your money. Stay in rec so we can elevate this space. Make your team play up a year to get more competitive. This space is not made for you.

The serious DC players have been traveling to Alexandria, Arlington and Bethesda for years. I would like DC to grow up eventually and put something serious together in the District. The District has the talent.

FYI, most of DSCS is rec level and provides this important service for the masses. (Not a criticism.) No need to attack those that don't have the time and resources and motivation to get across the city around afternoon rush. Could be 3 bus transfers to get to some of these fields.

There are different levels of travel and different commitments based on ages. Having practices close to home can make soccer doable for many but yes, fields are tough to come by. End of story.

Key words: Competitive and rec level. People on DCUM are not taking buses. My life is much closer to those on the socio economic scale so we do need your guilt tears. Harsh reality is the typical “soccer” mom and dad do not want to venture out of NW so there is no field issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone put the email here. Thinking about DCSC east for my kid but we are in Ward 5 as well.

Hi all,
I am reaching out to let you know that I (along with multiple Brookland Coaches) will be leaving the DC Soccer Club at the end of this spring season. The relationship has been extremely challenging.
I am reaching out to all of you as a courtesy so you can decide what you would like to do next year. I will be coaching in DC next year; however, I must wait for the attorneys to let me know what is feasible for us.
Ryan and I have thoroughly enjoyed creating Brookland FC and we love being a part of the Brookland Community.
We will keep you posted as soon as we can in regards to new details!
Best,
Tom

I will know within the next 3 weeks whether this is true or not. I "believe" that there is an issue with Tom and the Brookland crew with DCSC but hearsay at this point. Not sure if it has reached this level but I will check it out.

This is NOT new for DCSC as they have a history of lawsuits over the years in the academy with coaches. I have no idea what they have going on over there but not impressed with what I have been exposed to.

I would pursue DC XI, WCU, PPA, City Sports, DCYFC and DC Way if you want travel level ball in DC.

If you are complaining about going from NW to NE for competitive soccer, stay in the rec league as you don't belong in this space as a parent. Seriously. Nobody wants your complaining. Save your money. Stay in rec so we can elevate this space. Make your team play up a year to get more competitive. This space is not made for you.

The serious DC players have been traveling to Alexandria, Arlington and Bethesda for years. I would like DC to grow up eventually and put something serious together in the District. The District has the talent.

Yes, but my U10 kid on the 5th-tier team is in no danger of ever playing college soccer unless he really improves a lot, which I don't think is likely -- and his rec team evaporated last year because all of his friends moved to travel, at various clubs and various levels, so it was either move to travel, too, or stop playing soccer at all. And I don't see any reason to haul a 10-year-old who's not in the top two tiers for his age across the city multiple times a week for practice, so I'm perfectly happy with their plans to split into east and west. I haven't complained to the club about practice sites in NE, but I also won't mind if he doesn't have any next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone put the email here. Thinking about DCSC east for my kid but we are in Ward 5 as well.

Hi all,
I am reaching out to let you know that I (along with multiple Brookland Coaches) will be leaving the DC Soccer Club at the end of this spring season. The relationship has been extremely challenging.
I am reaching out to all of you as a courtesy so you can decide what you would like to do next year. I will be coaching in DC next year; however, I must wait for the attorneys to let me know what is feasible for us.
Ryan and I have thoroughly enjoyed creating Brookland FC and we love being a part of the Brookland Community.
We will keep you posted as soon as we can in regards to new details!
Best,
Tom

I will know within the next 3 weeks whether this is true or not. I "believe" that there is an issue with Tom and the Brookland crew with DCSC but hearsay at this point. Not sure if it has reached this level but I will check it out.

This is NOT new for DCSC as they have a history of lawsuits over the years in the academy with coaches. I have no idea what they have going on over there but not impressed with what I have been exposed to.

I would pursue DC XI, WCU, PPA, City Sports, DCYFC and DC Way if you want travel level ball in DC.

If you are complaining about going from NW to NE for competitive soccer, stay in the rec league as you don't belong in this space as a parent. Seriously. Nobody wants your complaining. Save your money. Stay in rec so we can elevate this space. Make your team play up a year to get more competitive. This space is not made for you.

The serious DC players have been traveling to Alexandria, Arlington and Bethesda for years. I would like DC to grow up eventually and put something serious together in the District. The District has the talent.

Yes, but my U10 kid on the 5th-tier team is in no danger of ever playing college soccer unless he really improves a lot, which I don't think is likely -- and his rec team evaporated last year because all of his friends moved to travel, at various clubs and various levels, so it was either move to travel, too, or stop playing soccer at all. And I don't see any reason to haul a 10-year-old who's not in the top two tiers for his age across the city multiple times a week for practice, so I'm perfectly happy with their plans to split into east and west. I haven't complained to the club about practice sites in NE, but I also won't mind if he doesn't have any next year.

This. There is and there should be soccer available for all kids of all levels and interests. Rec is ok when they are tiny, but rec requires parent coaching and there's no real soccer learning happening unless you happen to have a unique coach. "Travel" soccer indeed should be available to those willing to put in 10 extra hours a week and travel hours for practice, and those who enjoy the sport, like learning and growing, but who aren't interested in making it the overall priority. Smaller clubs and lower-level teams are perfect for this and are just as valid as big, branded clubs and teams that lead to college and beyond.

There's a funny thing in DCUM (and maybe DC) where if it's not at the tippy top of the achievement pyramid, it doesn't count, should be demeaned, etc. But the OVERWHELMING majority of kids playing travel soccer are not playing on MLS Next teams. They are playing on lower levels teams or in lower level leagues -- and they also deserve to get what they want out of it. If DCSC has your kid on the 5th team, I think its reasonable to expect a relatively close field. Getting to Edgewood or JFK can take 40-60 minutes from upper NW during rush hour and that's not what many parents are willing to do.

[Anonymous]

sucks for you guys. Can't you get your au pair or nanny to drive them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue is that the kids are all mixed up in all the different teams, so kids from Brookland aren't necessarily on Brookland/East teams, and kids from NW are often put on Brookland/East teams - which means its a big mess for everyone to get to their fields.

At least for this season, if you’re on a Brookland team it’s because that’s the team you tried out for, right? I didn’t think there were “involuntary”/random assignments. Next year might be a different story.

For the announced tryouts for next year, DCSC will have an East division and a West division. Players can try out for either or both, but they generally are recommending that people who live west of 16th Street try out for West and east of 16th Street for East. East basically combines the current Brookland and Petworth teams, since right now sometimes DCSC has a Brookland Blue and a Petworth Blue, maybe even other colors too, versus in what's now called West (west of the park mostly), there are multiple teams from top to bottom, varying in numbers between ages and boys/girls. So someone who wants practices west of the park will get them and someone who wants practices east of the park can get them.

We are torn between which team to try out for as we live EOTP but our child attends school WOTP. We’re in Manor Park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:sucks for you guys. Can't you get your au pair or nanny to drive them?

No, we spent our whole nanny budget in travel fees

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone put the email here. Thinking about DCSC east for my kid but we are in Ward 5 as well.

Hi all,
I am reaching out to let you know that I (along with multiple Brookland Coaches) will be leaving the DC Soccer Club at the end of this spring season. The relationship has been extremely challenging.
I am reaching out to all of you as a courtesy so you can decide what you would like to do next year. I will be coaching in DC next year; however, I must wait for the attorneys to let me know what is feasible for us.
Ryan and I have thoroughly enjoyed creating Brookland FC and we love being a part of the Brookland Community.
We will keep you posted as soon as we can in regards to new details!
Best,
Tom

I will know within the next 3 weeks whether this is true or not. I "believe" that there is an issue with Tom and the Brookland crew with DCSC but hearsay at this point. Not sure if it has reached this level but I will check it out.

This is NOT new for DCSC as they have a history of lawsuits over the years in the academy with coaches. I have no idea what they have going on over there but not impressed with what I have been exposed to.

I would pursue DC XI, WCU, PPA, City Sports, DCYFC and DC Way if you want travel level ball in DC.

If you are complaining about going from NW to NE for competitive soccer, stay in the rec league as you don't belong in this space as a parent. Seriously. Nobody wants your complaining. Save your money. Stay in rec so we can elevate this space. Make your team play up a year to get more competitive. This space is not made for you.

The serious DC players have been traveling to Alexandria, Arlington and Bethesda for years. I would like DC to grow up eventually and put something serious together in the District. The District has the talent.

Yes, but my U10 kid on the 5th-tier team is in no danger of ever playing college soccer unless he really improves a lot, which I don't think is likely -- and his rec team evaporated last year because all of his friends moved to travel, at various clubs and various levels, so it was either move to travel, too, or stop playing soccer at all. And I don't see any reason to haul a 10-year-old who's not in the top two tiers for his age across the city multiple times a week for practice, so I'm perfectly happy with their plans to split into east and west. I haven't complained to the club about practice sites in NE, but I also won't mind if he doesn't have any next year.

My kid only received a “Black” team offer for DCSC for U10 (5th+ ?) and was recruited to Bethesda SC A team in two years. Be careful of the judgment you place on your kids so early. Depends on the kid and how much they want to like to play.


My kids played Takoma and you can always build a team in DCSC rec or become a free agent. Please don’t complain about the lack of options for such a 1st world privilege.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone put the email here. Thinking about DCSC east for my kid but we are in Ward 5 as well.

Hi all,
I am reaching out to let you know that I (along with multiple Brookland Coaches) will be leaving the DC Soccer Club at the end of this spring season. The relationship has been extremely challenging.
I am reaching out to all of you as a courtesy so you can decide what you would like to do next year. I will be coaching in DC next year; however, I must wait for the attorneys to let me know what is feasible for us.
Ryan and I have thoroughly enjoyed creating Brookland FC and we love being a part of the Brookland Community.
We will keep you posted as soon as we can in regards to new details!
Best,
Tom

I will know within the next 3 weeks whether this is true or not. I "believe" that there is an issue with Tom and the Brookland crew with DCSC but hearsay at this point. Not sure if it has reached this level but I will check it out.

This is NOT new for DCSC as they have a history of lawsuits over the years in the academy with coaches. I have no idea what they have going on over there but not impressed with what I have been exposed to.

I would pursue DC XI, WCU, PPA, City Sports, DCYFC and DC Way if you want travel level ball in DC.

If you are complaining about going from NW to NE for competitive soccer, stay in the rec league as you don't belong in this space as a parent. Seriously. Nobody wants your complaining. Save your money. Stay in rec so we can elevate this space. Make your team play up a year to get more competitive. This space is not made for you.

The serious DC players have been traveling to Alexandria, Arlington and Bethesda for years. I would like DC to grow up eventually and put something serious together in the District. The District has the talent.

Yes, but my U10 kid on the 5th-tier team is in no danger of ever playing college soccer unless he really improves a lot, which I don't think is likely -- and his rec team evaporated last year because all of his friends moved to travel, at various clubs and various levels, so it was either move to travel, too, or stop playing soccer at all. And I don't see any reason to haul a 10-year-old who's not in the top two tiers for his age across the city multiple times a week for practice, so I'm perfectly happy with their plans to split into east and west. I haven't complained to the club about practice sites in NE, but I also won't mind if he doesn't have any next year.

This. There is and there should be soccer available for all kids of all levels and interests. Rec is ok when they are tiny, but rec requires parent coaching and there's no real soccer learning happening unless you happen to have a unique coach. "Travel" soccer indeed should be available to those willing to put in 10 extra hours a week and travel hours for practice, and those who enjoy the sport, like learning and growing, but who aren't interested in making it the overall priority. Smaller clubs and lower-level teams are perfect for this and are just as valid as big, branded clubs and teams that lead to college and beyond.

There's a funny thing in DCUM (and maybe DC) where if it's not at the tippy top of the achievement pyramid, it doesn't count, should be demeaned, etc. But the OVERWHELMING majority of kids playing travel soccer are not playing on MLS Next teams. They are playing on lower levels teams or in lower level leagues -- and they also deserve to get what they want out of it. If DCSC has your kid on the 5th team, I think its reasonable to expect a relatively close field. Getting to Edgewood or JFK can take 40-60 minutes from upper NW during rush hour and that's not what many parents are willing to do.

PPA has a rec league with a professional coach option so get rec+.