I forgot to add Liverpool FC.

So clubs like Takoma Park Friends or Takoma Park Grasp are not actually connected, and barely connected to Takoma Park Soccer Club. Friends and Grasp are organizations that are team based and don't have enough resources/interest/etc. to field teams at all age groups. In fact, almost all have very little online presence and tend to be word of mouth. In order to register their teams in EDP, they have to be housed by a soccer club like Takoma Park SC. There are others as well, just look at EDP and NCSL and see all the teams that start with Takoma Park (e.g., http://www.ncsl-soccer.com/_element_display/#%2F80738%2Fteams%2Fclub%2F15599475.html%3Frnd%3D1687974702999). You have to reach out to the contact for the specific team and not to Takoma Park in general.

That said, Takoma Park Friends 2010 definitely had a team in the spring as our club played them in EDP. Maybe try to find their contact on the NCSL or EDP website?

Here are more clubs to look into that may be close-ish and where I think they practice. They all play in EDP so you can probably go to the EDP website and see what divisions they play at and the contact person, or just do a Google search. Some of these may be further out but are clubs to look into if you're avoiding the bigger clubs with many teams at each age group. Except for BSC and Maryland United, I think the clubs below either have only 1, at most 2, teams per age group. Good luck!

DC:

City Sporting Club (NE DC)
DCXI (NW DC)
Achilles (MLSNext) (NW DC)

MD:

Bethesda SC (Chevy Chase and Bethesda area)
ROSA (Rockville Olney Soccer) (Rockville)
Total Futbol Club (the one in MD, not VA) (no idea where they practice)
Cerritos Academy (Silver Spring and Burtonsville, MD)
Maryland International (Takoma)
Soccer Dome (Harmons and Jessup, MD)
Next Level Soccer
Laurel Soccer Club
Touch Kings
Maryland United (ECNL)

I realize the National Academy League (NAL) hasn’t started yet but wondering if one can play on a NAL team and also be rostered on an EDP team?

Or can someone be rostered on an EDP team and an NCSL team?

Thanks!

For Achilles, it’s been usually 2 out of 3 practices that is at SJC, at least for the academy teams. No idea whether that’s true for the second teams. The other locations used are in Silver Spring but convenient to DC (near downtown SS).

My friend says PPA practices in the Bethesda/Chevy Chase area and BSC does too.

If you are invited to Achilles’ second team and decide to take it, make sure you’re advocating for your child and asking for opportunities to practice with the first team.

As for extra training, if you or your child are motivated to scour YouTube for individual skills exercises and do them regularly, that is an option. I don’t know if most kids on the top teams do addl training but I know many do. A lot of coaches at clubs train on the side so just ask, and u can also find one on CoachUp.

I think all clubs with MLSNext and ECNL teams are cutthroat at least with their top teams. We have played against many of them and the kids and coaches are intense! Parents are too.

So def if your kid is ever in the position to be good enough to be considered for a top team, make sure you go to a few practices beforehand to see whether your kid is ok with the coaching style.

If money is no object, sure it’s worth it esp if your kid is determined to make the top team (e.g. does stuff on his own to catch up on skills, etc.).

But if finances are a concern, no. But I would say that about all the clubs. The B team on huge clubs maybe worth it. I think you’ll be fine with the other clubs mentioned on this thread.

To put it in perspective, I know your son is only 8ish if he’s a 2015 but around here, most of the kids playing on the top teams have been playing as early as 2 (with friends and family) and in the club setting as early as they could (usually 4-5).

We have played against SYCs top 2011 and 2012 boys teams and they are very good. You have to be more than a skilled player to make those teams.

We found a coach on CoachUp, who used to coach at one of the bigger clubs in the area.

For one of my kids, we supplemented so he could be a more confident player. Doing additional skill development made him more confident during games. It worked and he gets plenty of playing time now.

For my other kid, he just wants to be better all the time.

The prices mentioned are on point ($50-80 per session).

There are also small group classes that you can join run by great coaches at local clubs (e.g., NextStar, Technician Football)

My understanding is that the academy (top) teams practice at the same time. While the B teams practice at a different time. If you have not seen Vince or Sal at a practice, it’s likely your child is practicing with the second team.

Before you register, ask which team your child is on. The academy teams will get Vince or Sal (depending on age group) and the second teams will get someone else.

I’d go with the team where your kid is going to get the most playing time, and then the team that plays at a higher division level. It seems current coach is developing the kids’ skills but not game time IQ? There’s plenty of time for that to develop esp if your kid is getting playing time. And it sounds like you know a lot about the game so that’s something you can discuss postgame and when watching soccer matches together, etc., assuming your kid wants too as well. Good luck!

I thought of a couple more. Takoma Soccer and DCXI Project.

Try DeMatha FC (Hyattsville) and Brookland FC.

Probably a lesser time commitment (twice a week practice) but professional coaches. Their teams aren't the most competitive (lower levels of NCSL) but probably shouldn't care too much about that at that age.

May I ask how soon after you tried out at Achilles did you get the invitation?

Thanks!

Hi! OP here.

Has anyone had any luck contacting Achilles or practicing with Achilles? Every major club we’ve contacted has been very responsive (within 24 hours) but I’m getting crickets from Achilles and I emailed Coach Sal directly on the email he has on their website. Should I try their social media? It just seems weird not to be as responsive esp when they’re not as big as other clubs but are competing for the same kids.

Thanks!

OP here. Thank you everyone!

So it sounds like big clubs are responsive to an email asking to practice? We know a former coach at one of the clubs we're interested and he said he'll arrange it for us but the other ones, we have no contacts/connection. I assume they get lots of similar emails and I was wondering what information they need to see in these emails? I'm assuming where the kid currently plays at and what their soccer background is? Any thing else? Do they care what the kids' goals are, etc.? For context, I have one kid who is hoping to make it to a top team and another who is likely going to be on a B/C squad depending on how many teams the age group fields.

For those whose kids are in bigger clubs (e.g., those with ECNL and MLSNext programs), are your clubs open to kids coming on to practice a couple of times? Will this depend on how good the kid is? That is, if they allow it, will they just throw the kid into the lowest team practice or do they ask what level your kid is?

We are currently at a small club and the plan has always been to move to a bigger club if the kids wanted to play in MLSNext or ECNL. While we intend to try out during tryouts in spring, I would at least like the kids to be exposed to the coaching and team dynamics and have some opinion as to where the think they will thrive more. For what it's worth, at least one kid will be trying out for a few teams he is already playing against so he has had the opportunity to observe the coaching and team dynamics during games. Thanks in advance for any helpful input!

Dcum1300 wrote:OP here. Thank you all for your perspectives and own personal experiences. Although it seems that there is no one size fits all solution here, it seems sticking with their team may be the way to go. Increased confidence will need to be earned. We just hope they don’t lose joy for the game in the process.

I should have added above that a private soccer coach has done wonders for my average travel soccer player, both in skill and confidence. I got the coach for him specifically but he does the sessions with his brother. I see them use the skills they just learned during matches and it's been very cool to see them get better immediately. They only do it every other week and it still makes as a difference. They even incorporate the skills they use when just goofing off and playing in the backyard. So if you are staying on the tougher team and you can afford to, I think private coaching could do wonders for any player, regardless of level, and even for just a little bit. I think more playing time is always good too so maybe ask if he can play on the B team in your club? Or maybe have him play in your local rec league? Good luck!