Anonymous wrote:We just finished taking soccer with Marcel. I wasn't thrilled with his coaching style--I don't think that he really relates to the kids at all or engages them--but he was really doing actual soccer skills, not just running around kicking the ball. Not sure about all the rants, etc, but I didn't think he was awful. Just don't want him completely trashed. He's been doing this for 20 years.

He may have been doing this for twenty years and have actual soccer skills but that's not really the point. I don't think he should be teaching kids, particularly the younger ones. Let him go coach college or professionals or something if he's so awesome. He is misogynistic and he has an anger management problem. Furthermore, I think his company is part sham since he has a nasty habit of cancelling classes and then refusing to issue refunds.

We just finished taking soccer with Marcel. I wasn't thrilled with his coaching style--I don't think that he really relates to the kids at all or engages them--but he was really doing actual soccer skills, not just running around kicking the ball. Not sure about all the rants, etc, but I didn't think he was awful. Just don't want him completely trashed. He's been doing this for 20 years.

Anonymous wrote:We love Coach John. PP, don't know why you'd day to avoid him. He's great with the kids - my children love him.

We love him too. I'm guessing that about 90 percent of Georgetown children take soccer and tee-ball with him. I've never heard anything but good things from everyone.

We love Coach John. PP, don't know why you'd day to avoid him. He's great with the kids - my children love him.

Anonymous wrote:Is Marcel the guy who teaches children soccer at Volta Park? That guy is TERRIBLE too.

As for good classes, Coach John in G'town is great!

I disagree about Coach John. To be avoided.

My son is only just two, but we have had great experience w/ SoccerTots. We're in the District and are in our second session at Trinity Univ with Coach Becco and Coach Len. They are great, and the classes are really fun. You can check out their website, I know they have classes elsewhere in the area.

Darryl Gee Soccertots has been good in the past. 3 of our kids have had good first sports experiences with them. http://www.darrylgeesoccer.com/

Is Marcel the guy who teaches children soccer at Volta Park? That guy is TERRIBLE too.

As for good classes, Coach John in G'town is great!

Had a great experience with BRIT-AM

I considered signing my son up for KidsPro, so thanks so much for the warning.

Any good soccer programs out there for the 3-5 set? Fun, running around, basic skills, kind instructors?

New poster here. Absolutely, at all costs AVOID KIDS PRO SOCCER and have nothing to do with Marcel Nkoulou. He claims to be a former pro player in France but I could not find any information on his pro career. A parent at our preschool organized a team so I signed up online. When I received no confirmation of my registration, I telephoned to confirm the class was still on. Instead of helping me, he bizarrely started verbally abusing me. He claimed to have no record of us at all and said we did not pay (although I had the charge on my credit card.) He started screaming at me in French. So I disputed the charge with the cc company but he has put a lot of effort into claiming that I simply never showed up for class. Makes no sense. I am still discussing this with the cc company. They said they are aware of this guy and have had many complaints but are not the merchant-I need to appeal to Visa/Mastercard to try and get his merchant account revoked. I have also filed a complaint with the BBB. I hope other parents who have had trouble getting refunds will also contact the BBB. The BBB consultant name that appeared on the response letter I got is Theodore Thompson and his email is tthompson@mybbb.org. You can also go online to the BBB and file a complaint. I'm sure Marcel will continue to resurface under different business names, but make sure you check these soccer clubs out. The card services manager I am talking to at my cc company said she's heard of him over the years, apparently he was operating a business on the West Coast for a while and had a bunch of complaints out there.

Their refund policy is also ridiculous - i.e. there is none. We enrolled my 3 year old son in a class last year and he HATED it - cried the whole time and did not want to do anything. Unfortunately, once we took that first class, we could get none of our money back. I thought maybe we could have another person "buy" our spot for the remainder of the classes and they wouldn't do that either. And they told me if I wanted to switch locations in the same session, it was a $20 fee which I thought was ridiculous.

Wow, our NoVa preschool just had a similar bad experience. He'd show up late and not schedule make-up classes, use harsh discipline on our kids, etc. I second the reommendation to avoid this program and find a more professional company.

thank you, I was just considering a soccer class for my 4yo, but hesitant as I know nothing about the instructors and at this age, it's ALL about their personality and ability to connect, nurture young kids-who cares really about actual soccer skill... thx for tip off

Just a tip, we have been working with "Marcel" at Kids Pro Soccer and it has been ENDLESS frustration. He is mean to the kids (ages 3-5), rude to women (mothers beware) and is completely unprofessional and incompetent. I am involved with a group of 20+ parents in NW DC and this is a unanimous sentiment. So I'm posting our poor review to save others from all the grief we have suffered. Buyers beware...