Serious Soccer, Beat Coaches for U9 boy in Montgomery County/Potomac

[Anonymous]

Hey all! We have a VERY enthusiastic soccer player will be U9 in the spring and needs a team with great coaches and likeminded kids. Where am I taking him? Bethesda Soccer, Potomac Soccer and MD Fusion have ALL been recommended to us. Our kid eats sleeps breathes it and has always played on fun informal Rec teams at MSI and SAM soccer with parent volunteer coaches and lots of touches on ball and game time. What’s the absolute best scenario for him? Bethesda? MD fusion? another team? We are in Potomac near Copenhaver so anywhere in this Potomac to Germantown corridor. Please help us out!!

[Anonymous]

OP: SERIOUS SOCCER AND BEST COACHES!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP: SERIOUS SOCCER AND BEST COACHES!!

Thanks for the correction. I know this country has gone mad but not THAT mad...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: SERIOUS SOCCER AND BEST COACHES!!

Thanks for the correction. I know this country has gone mad but not THAT mad...

Right? That’s what I was thinking.
We have friends in Bethesda soccer who are happy.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, at that age, I doubt anyone on here will have enough information about specific coaches to guide you. I know all three of those clubs well and don't have that level of insight at u9.

Here are a few general thoughts not specific to u9 boys coaching. Bethesda is much stronger teamwise at the top. The top two teams at u9 are very, very good this year, I know that, and play in a better league and tournaments than Potomac. This continues through the u littles. Sometimes it goes past the top two teams where Bethesda is stacked. Then you see more parity (i.e. Bethesda's 3rd-5th teams more on par with Potomac). It's a long way of saying that unless your kid is a superstar, you will end up on lower Bethesda teams that are comparable to Potomac. And you won't have the same coaches as the top, the lower are younger and more inexperienced, but that doesn't mean they are bad coaches for little kids. Also, in the time I've been around there has been tremendous turnaround at the u little coaching at Bethesda and Potomac. For example, I think every coach at u9-11 Boys at Potomac has changed every single year for at least three years running. So you have no idea who may be the coach come fall.

Fusion I have heard runs good programs for the littles. Their big difference is they don't do travel (as far as I know), so it is SAM and then they do MSI Classic starting in 4th grade. Fusion has some fantastic Classic teams that could hang with lower level travel, but it is a totally different experience and level of play. It's also cheaper and closer, so it's really what you want. They won't have games outside of MoCo or tournaments. The u little games and tourneys for Bethesda or Potomac are typically within 30-45 mins, so its not terrible. A lot is NoVa.

My one advice is also think u10 as it is a pain to always jump around. Not that you have to stay, but if joining for spring also be looking towards next year for u10. I'd join something you'd plan to stick with if you like it but don't get too caught up on that. Lots of movement between Potomac and Bethesda.

You have covered your main options IMO. Brit Am also has a lot, and there's a boatload of crossover to Potomac. The owner is the Potomac TD and many coaches double. If you may be more inclined for Classic then travel at u10, Brit Am is like Fusion.

[Anonymous]

Bethesda

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, at that age, I doubt anyone on here will have enough information about specific coaches to guide you. I know all three of those clubs well and don't have that level of insight at u9.

Here are a few general thoughts not specific to u9 boys coaching. Bethesda is much stronger teamwise at the top. The top two teams at u9 are very, very good this year, I know that, and play in a better league and tournaments than Potomac. This continues through the u littles. Sometimes it goes past the top two teams where Bethesda is stacked. Then you see more parity (i.e. Bethesda's 3rd-5th teams more on par with Potomac). It's a long way of saying that unless your kid is a superstar, you will end up on lower Bethesda teams that are comparable to Potomac. And you won't have the same coaches as the top, the lower are younger and more inexperienced, but that doesn't mean they are bad coaches for little kids. Also, in the time I've been around there has been tremendous turnaround at the u little coaching at Bethesda and Potomac. For example, I think every coach at u9-11 Boys at Potomac has changed every single year for at least three years running. So you have no idea who may be the coach come fall.

Fusion I have heard runs good programs for the littles. Their big difference is they don't do travel (as far as I know), so it is SAM and then they do MSI Classic starting in 4th grade. Fusion has some fantastic Classic teams that could hang with lower level travel, but it is a totally different experience and level of play. It's also cheaper and closer, so it's really what you want. They won't have games outside of MoCo or tournaments. The u little games and tourneys for Bethesda or Potomac are typically within 30-45 mins, so its not terrible. A lot is NoVa.

My one advice is also think u10 as it is a pain to always jump around. Not that you have to stay, but if joining for spring also be looking towards next year for u10. I'd join something you'd plan to stick with if you like it but don't get too caught up on that. Lots of movement between Potomac and Bethesda.

You have covered your main options IMO. Brit Am also has a lot, and there's a boatload of crossover to Potomac. The owner is the Potomac TD and many coaches double. If you may be more inclined for Classic then travel at u10, Brit Am is like Fusion.

Not OP but very helpful information. Do Bethesda's lower teams move up if talent permits? For example if OPs kid were placed on team 3, would he move up there with talent?

[Anonymous]

How will your player be U9 in the spring? he must be U9 already.

If you want a reality check to see what is ability level actually is, go to Bethesda and see which team he is placed on and how he does.

[Anonymous]

At U9 I wouldn't want to drive an hour to a game and an hour back. That takes away from practice time and more generally childhood.
I think at U9 if your child is on the taller side I would probably play up to U10 on a team that is practices nearby and has games nearby. If your child has to play on a Classic team that might be okay.

I would also look into playing time and different club philosophies for the younger ages. I know some parents who were pretty upset that at least two of the clubs you mentioned does not try to give all players playing time at the Ulittles. I find that pretty crazy. If you think that's your thing and you're that competitive go for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At U9 I wouldn't want to drive an hour to a game and an hour back. That takes away from practice time and more generally childhood.
I think at U9 if your child is on the taller side I would probably play up to U10 on a team that is practices nearby and has games nearby. If your child has to play on a Classic team that might be okay.

I would also look into playing time and different club philosophies for the younger ages. I know some parents who were pretty upset that at least two of the clubs you mentioned does not try to give all players playing time at the Ulittles. I find that pretty crazy. If you think that's your thing and you're that competitive go for it.

This is not Bethesda. They all play pretty eqally at these ages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey all! We have a VERY enthusiastic soccer player will be U9 in the spring and needs a team with great coaches and likeminded kids. Where am I taking him? Bethesda Soccer, Potomac Soccer and MD Fusion have ALL been recommended to us. Our kid eats sleeps breathes it and has always played on fun informal Rec teams at MSI and SAM soccer with parent volunteer coaches and lots of touches on ball and game time. What’s the absolute best scenario for him? Bethesda? MD fusion? another team? We are in Potomac near Copenhaver so anywhere in this Potomac to Germantown corridor. Please help us out!!

Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Laurel Lions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, at that age, I doubt anyone on here will have enough information about specific coaches to guide you. I know all three of those clubs well and don't have that level of insight at u9.

Here are a few general thoughts not specific to u9 boys coaching. Bethesda is much stronger teamwise at the top. The top two teams at u9 are very, very good this year, I know that, and play in a better league and tournaments than Potomac. This continues through the u littles. Sometimes it goes past the top two teams where Bethesda is stacked. Then you see more parity (i.e. Bethesda's 3rd-5th teams more on par with Potomac). It's a long way of saying that unless your kid is a superstar, you will end up on lower Bethesda teams that are comparable to Potomac. And you won't have the same coaches as the top, the lower are younger and more inexperienced, but that doesn't mean they are bad coaches for little kids. Also, in the time I've been around there has been tremendous turnaround at the u little coaching at Bethesda and Potomac. For example, I think every coach at u9-11 Boys at Potomac has changed every single year for at least three years running. So you have no idea who may be the coach come fall.

Fusion I have heard runs good programs for the littles. Their big difference is they don't do travel (as far as I know), so it is SAM and then they do MSI Classic starting in 4th grade. Fusion has some fantastic Classic teams that could hang with lower level travel, but it is a totally different experience and level of play. It's also cheaper and closer, so it's really what you want. They won't have games outside of MoCo or tournaments. The u little games and tourneys for Bethesda or Potomac are typically within 30-45 mins, so its not terrible. A lot is NoVa.

My one advice is also think u10 as it is a pain to always jump around. Not that you have to stay, but if joining for spring also be looking towards next year for u10. I'd join something you'd plan to stick with if you like it but don't get too caught up on that. Lots of movement between Potomac and Bethesda.

You have covered your main options IMO. Brit Am also has a lot, and there's a boatload of crossover to Potomac. The owner is the Potomac TD and many coaches double. If you may be more inclined for Classic then travel at u10, Brit Am is like Fusion.

Not OP but very helpful information. Do Bethesda's lower teams move up if talent permits? For example if OPs kid were placed on team 3, would he move up there with talent?

Yes, but it ain't easy. You have really good kids coming in each year from the outside too. But if good enough, sure. Also, if joining mid-year, kids often end up on lower teams that need numbers. Stand out on the team you get put on and you will probably move up one at least, at the young ages.

[Anonymous]

We love Potomac. I am told the U9 coach is fantastic, and I think U9s practice at Potomac Community Center which should be very close for you. Seems an obvious choice.

[Anonymous]

We are thrilled with the Potomac U9 coach.