I am the OP. we have started classes and although the first class was a bit chaotic due to too many other classes on at the same time so people took time to find the right class I think it has been an ok experience. Not fantastic but some of that was because quite a few of the other kids weren't great at following instructions and kept running over to parents. Tihis disrupted the flow of the class if I'm honest. But the coach is young and enthusiastic.

We've had terrible experiences with classes (not soccer) that other have been really gushing about. We really didn't like one of the big pre school gym set ups as we didn't like the teacher for the class we tried. Yet we had a fantastic experience with another that a friend didn't like. But we left when the teacher changed as it changed the whole dynamic. All I'm saying is that it's all too easy to just write off an entire set up because of one experience with a bad teacher.

Unfortunately we had a terrible experience with BritAm.
The group was huge and the coach had no control over the kids. I think that it's imperative for coach to know how to work with young kids, the license etc. has nothing to do with that. I felt that the class was very overcrowded and little learning. It was just a massive mess. I took my child out after 2 classes.

Can't speak to others' experiences and I know that anyone can have a bad experience on a good company (and insert a Singapore Air story ...),

But ... as someone who was a volunteer coach with two generations of soccer/hockey/basketball kids and has a child who has gone on to play college soccer, Brit-Am is exceptional.

They used licensed coaches and the top coaches have the highest US licenses. They do staff development and weed out or reassign the ones that don't relate well with kids. Licenses don't guarantee good kid skills, but it means they've at least made an attempt to learn how to work with young kids as the licensing system starts with young players and works up.

As to the original question: good sports "sneakers" are usually fine. If you're kid is really interested you can buy soccer shoes and use them to make practices/game special. They are easy to pass down or donate at the annual shoe exchanges.

Check with the coach regarding shin guards (and put them inside the socks!).

Also, if your child has shoes that come untied a lot .... look for those rubber shoe wraps that cover the laces.

Anonymous wrote:Sorry to hijack a bit but just wondering - at what age do kids start playing games or scrimmages?

My almost 4 year old just started his second season with Takoma soccer and while we like it because it's with our neighbors and friends it is very laid back. They don't seem to be anywhere close to playing real games. A friend's 4 year old is doing soccer with YMCA in another part of the country and they are doing real games already. Interested in hearing others' experiences. Thanks!

takoma soccer is run by parents, not real coaches. Some parents have a clue and others don't know jack about soccer.

We had a terrible experience with Brit Am as well.
The trainer had no control over the kids and I felt as e was asking them to do stuff they were not capable of.
Not good for tots at all.

Anonymous wrote:On that note, we have also used them last fall and I would not recommend it to anyone. The coach was not able to engage with young children, and was late coming to the classes most of the time. When I addressed the issue, I never got a response from them. I feel like "I got what I paid for!". Avoid them.

I think with all these things it's so dependent on the individual. We had a terrible few months at Gymboree due to poor teacher, ditto music classes through the county.

Sorry to hijack a bit but just wondering - at what age do kids start playing games or scrimmages?

My almost 4 year old just started his second season with Takoma soccer and while we like it because it's with our neighbors and friends it is very laid back. They don't seem to be anywhere close to playing real games. A friend's 4 year old is doing soccer with YMCA in another part of the country and they are doing real games already. Interested in hearing others' experiences. Thanks!

I agree. We did not like Brit Am. How can anybody call them a "school". It seemed very amateur to me.

On that note, we have also used them last fall and I would not recommend it to anyone. The coach was not able to engage with young children, and was late coming to the classes most of the time. When I addressed the issue, I never got a response from them. I feel like "I got what I paid for!". Avoid them.

We also use Brit Am. For that age its sneakers not cleats. Shin guards are required. In the classes we went to all the kids wore sneakers only.

At that age regular sneakers and shin guards are typical. They aren't really playing at 3.

Brit Am

What school is it?

Check with the coach. For some leagues they require cleats and shin guards even for the 4 and 5 year olds.

My 3 year old is about to start with one of the big soccer schools in NW DC/Bethesda. Outdoor class on a field at a local park. My OH thinks we should be getting him cleats or at least soccer sneakers. I think that's a waste and he can just d it in his regular sneakers. What do others do?