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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I have the sense from reading the massive NoVa soccer thread that there aren't many of us from Maryland around here. I've followed that thread from the beginning and posted quite a bit too.  One takeaway for me is that we are extremely lucky in MoCo to have MSI, and I think they do a fabulous job of running an orderly and affordable rec program.  My husband played MSI rec all the way through high school and one of our kids has as well. It's so nice that we have a county-wide option v the confusing patchwork of club-based house and development leagues parents have to navigate through in NoVa.

We have two kids at Bethesda now, one in the younger age groups and a high-schooler. We've been very happy there, and I would definitely recommend the club for anyone whose kids are serious about soccer. They emphasize foot skills a ton in the early ages, which we really appreciate.  We have liked some coaches better than others (loved most), but they all take soccer seriously--we've never had one who seemed to be mailing it in. I should note we have boys. I have heard complaints from girls' parents through the years, but hopefully things are improving since they brought in new staff a couple years ago. [/quote]

How old were your kids when they started and what are the schedules like for the youngest kids?  (Have a nearly 6 yr old who's very into soccer and pretty good, but not sure how realistic it is to put a K'er in anything beyond MSI / Brit Am at this point).[/quote]

My older child started travel soccer in second grade at a different club, then moved to Bethesda a couple years later.  He did MSI in kindergarten and first.  My youngest started with Bethesda in 1st grade as a U8.  For him, practices are 2 times a week plus a low-key game on the weekend.  It's a very flexible program at that age, and kids who are interested have the opportunity to play additional games on the weekend or join other U8 practices.  It's much more of an academy-style program than it was a few years ago.

Our oldest son could have handled focused soccer in kindergarten, but that would have been too much for the younger one.  We were told years ago by one of our favorite coaches that the key ages for laying the foundation for foot skills and other techniques is 8-12, so that has been our guideline.  We have another child who didn't move to travel soccer until middle school, and it is very hard (if not impossible) for a kid to catch-up skill-wise at that point, though this is not an issue if you have skilled family members who can train a kid at home.  [/quote]

Thanks - this is really helpful.  My son will be 6 in a few weeks and is very focused (also small and not the technically best player, maybe, but can handle and soaks up instruction).  MSI is too easy for him, but at 6 it seems crazy to do twice a week practices etc.  My younger son will happily stare at the grass for 45 mins.[/quote]

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