"pretty easy/quick drive"

We live on Capitol Hill and my daughter has been playing with WCU (Washington Capitol United) for several years. It is a great little club - the director is top notch. There are many families that live in Maryland that play with the club - I think it is a fairly drive in from close in Maryland to RFK (where most practices are held). I recommend you take a closer look!

workingmomma wrote:I'm with MD United and it's a great club. Considering how far passed tryouts it is, your DS likely wouldn't get placed on a top team, but I'd encourage you yo keep it on your radar for the longer term. The coaches are always open to having players join trainings, so maybe reach out and try to hop in a summer session? We never really stop practicing.

Depending on where in College Park you live, MD United practices wouldn't necessarily be 50 minutes away. Maybe 35. Indian Creek School is not far from exit 16 on rt 50 and there are practices also held at Liberty Sports Park not too far from exits 11 and 13 off 50.

Potomac and Bethesda, while great clubs, actually seem further away given traffic in the area.

Thanks! We will keep it on the radar.

dcu13 wrote:

realdmv wrote:Why would you go all the way to MD United? Achilles, Bethesda, Potomac and DC Soccer are all closer and you can probably find something better than driving 50 minutes one way for practice.

A couple other kids in our neighborhood are joining MD United so we would at least be able to carpool sometimes to practice. But you're right, those others are closer.

I'm with MD United and it's a great club. Considering how far passed tryouts it is, your DS likely wouldn't get placed on a top team, but I'd encourage you yo keep it on your radar for the longer term. The coaches are always open to having players join trainings, so maybe reach out and try to hop in a summer session? We never really stop practicing.

Depending on where in College Park you live, MD United practices wouldn't necessarily be 50 minutes away. Maybe 35. Indian Creek School is not far from exit 16 on rt 50 and there are practices also held at Liberty Sports Park not too far from exits 11 and 13 off 50.

Potomac and Bethesda, while great clubs, actually seem further away given traffic in the area.

realdmv wrote:Why would you go all the way to MD United? Achilles, Bethesda, Potomac and DC Soccer are all closer and you can probably find something better than driving 50 minutes one way for practice.

A couple other kids in our neighborhood are joining MD United so we would at least be able to carpool sometimes to practice. But you're right, those others are closer.

dcu13 wrote:

NosyParker wrote:For 2010 age group, Laurel soccer club just won MD State Cup.

I looked into Laurel Lions and as far as a I can tell, despite their name, they are based in Potomac - https://www.thelionssoccer.com/.

NosyParker wrote:If you are not looking for division 1 teams and looking for a team where you son gets a lot of playing time, you should check our Coach Sona Walla's Takoma Park GraspYouth 2010 team. They practice in MD/DC border around 16th street area, might be a 15-20 minutes drive from College Park, MD.

Thanks. I actually contacted Takoma Park Friends United and they said they don't have a 2010 team. Is Takoma Park Grasp a different club than Takoma Park Friends United?

Yes, Lauren Lions trains primarily in Rockville area.

I think another poster mentioned, Takoma Park Friends and GraspYouth are different. You can get the coach's phone # and email here. http://www.ncsl-soccer.com/_element_display/#%2F80738%2Fteams%2F109711683%2F100409891-109711784%2FTEAM.html%3Frnd%3D1687978758398

Coach Sona is really good and an amazing teacher. I wished we were closer to DC. We couldn't make the commute work but we have nothing but positive things to say about his coaching style.

dcu13 wrote:

Mdmom22 wrote:Here are more clubs...

Thanks for much for compiling this list. Really helpful. I knew of some of these clubs but not all.

I'm actually fine with a larger club, there just aren't any immediately near us. I think a larger club would offer more stability. If just a few coaches leave a smaller club it has a major (potentially fatal) impact.

We may take a look at MD United for 2024-25 if my son continues to show interest/dedication. It's a big commitment and he has a little sister who has decided she wants to get into horseback riding ($$$$$).

Anyway, thanks again!

Why would you go all the way to MD United? Achilles, Bethesda, Potomac and DC Soccer are all closer and you can probably find something better than driving 50 minutes one way for practice.

Mdmom22 wrote: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?

That is very helpful. That club (and its team names) has always been a mystery to me. It makes more sense now!

They told me that the Friends 2010 team is actually composed of 2011 kids who were all playing up. I guess they want to keep that way.

I've never understood why the "nuclear free zone" hasn't built out an actual travel club. I know they have a pretty large rec operation.

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?

NosyParker wrote:For 2010 age group, Laurel soccer club just won MD State Cup.

I looked into Laurel Lions and as far as a I can tell, despite their name, they are based in Potomac - https://www.thelionssoccer.com/.

NosyParker wrote:If you are not looking for division 1 teams and looking for a team where you son gets a lot of playing time, you should check our Coach Sona Walla's Takoma Park GraspYouth 2010 team. They practice in MD/DC border around 16th street area, might be a 15-20 minutes drive from College Park, MD.

Thanks. I actually contacted Takoma Park Friends United and they said they don't have a 2010 team. Is Takoma Park Grasp a different club than Takoma Park Friends United?

Mdmom22 wrote:Here are more clubs...

Thanks for much for compiling this list. Really helpful. I knew of some of these clubs but not all.

I'm actually fine with a larger club, there just aren't any immediately near us. I think a larger club would offer more stability. If just a few coaches leave a smaller club it has a major (potentially fatal) impact.

We may take a look at MD United for 2024-25 if my son continues to show interest/dedication. It's a big commitment and he has a little sister who has decided she wants to get into horseback riding ($$$$$).

Anyway, thanks again!

For 2010 age group, Laurel soccer club just won MD State Cup. If you are not looking for division 1 teams and looking for a team where you son gets a lot of playing time, you should check our Coach Sona Walla's Takoma Park GraspYouth 2010 team. They practice in MD/DC border around 16th street area, might be a 15-20 minutes drive from College Park, MD.

Great list above. My son switched clubs this summer and it's such a hard choice and transition. I feel for you and I'm finding out that it's a common occurrence. Good luck with the process and I'm sure you'll find a good landing spot.

Just being somewhat aware of the landscape, I've always wondered about Laurel, Cerritos, and Total Futbol. The first two have accomplished international players as their heads and Total Futbol and Laurel do well in their respective leagues.

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)

My son's club is scaling back due to an unexpected loss of coaches and lower than expected interest from parents/players. The 2010s and 2011s were dropped (at least for the fall). Not great timing when finding another club considering that tryout season is long over.

My son is a 2010 and was told he has a spot on the 2009s but realistically I don't think he will get much playing time. He's never going to go pro. I would rather he had a good chance at playing time even on a lesser team vs. riding the pine and possibly quitting the sport.

We live near the University of Maryland.

I've looked at

- DeMatha
- Takoma Park Friends United
- Brookland FC (aka DCSC-Brookland)
- Washington Capital United

Other clubs I've seen in PG County or NE DC all seem very small.

I'd rather not commit to driving to MoCo, Howard, AA or NoVa a few times a week if there are other options.


Any suggestions?