In Bethesda, the 1st and 2nd teams normally practice together, so even if you're on the 2nd team, you're still getting the top training.

Anonymous wrote:Just start off in a local rec league with a volunteer parent coach who has never played soccer but is passionate about the game. Sometime after puberty hits, the skills will develop naturally and you can switch over to DC United or get scouted to play somewhere that is a good fit.

Yep maybe go and play in Europe straight from a rec team.

Bethesda's 2006s (current U13s) Blue (i.e. the team one below the DA) had a horrible year last year as U12s with a crazy coach that drove most of the boys off the team and resulted in a really bad experience and low rating. This year they have a new coach who is good and they are playing quite well at the EDP regional level (DC/MD/VA and PA/NJ).

Personally though if not at the DA level I'd stay with a club closer to your home with your son's friends. I don't see that much difference between BSC team 2-> and the local clubs teams. Your son might enjoy being on team 1 at Potomac or Achilles rather than team 2 at Bethesda.

Just start off in a local rec league with a volunteer parent coach who has never played soccer but is passionate about the game. Sometime after puberty hits, the skills will develop naturally and you can switch over to DC United or get scouted to play somewhere that is a good fit.

Anonymous wrote:I have a U13 boy. He is not going to make 1st team on any club but probably 2nd team. We're trying out at Potomac, Achilles, and Stoddard right now. I heard that the quality of play drops after the first team, but are the coaches still good and do the kids develop and have fun?

I have heard the same and witnessed the same. Despite what clubs say about development, they can’t seem to help but tie their self-worth to the first team and often start to neglect the other teams. There is such a need for a club that can cultivate 2nd teams. Not everyone can play on the first teams at present, but this is it not to say that they can’t a year or two on.

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the coach your child ends up with. There are some very good coaches on "lower" teams and some not so good ones as well.

Yup. This was a few years ago, but my kid had a better experience on a C team at Bethesda than on the A team at another club. The coach was very focused on technique and extremely passionate about soccer. Some of the other C and D team coaches weren't so good. My youngest son is on a B team at Bethesda now, and we've loved the experience.

our kid at that age was on the bottom team but had the best coach. Today, many of the top team players then are no longer playing the game while my kid is playing on the top team.

A lot can change, find the best coach not a fancy named club that plays in some fancy league.

Depends on the coach your child ends up with. There are some very good coaches on "lower" teams and some not so good ones as well.

Anonymous wrote:Question: Bethesda's U12 goes from elite soccer to one of the bottom divisions of NCSL. I read the other thread that the DC leagues, Achilles, and Juoan, go from EDP to SAM select. How would a 2nd team kid ever make it to the first team in those scenarios?

hard work and training outside of club, maybe?

I would not get too caught up in the leagues. MSI Classic and Sams Select can be just as competitive if not more so than the lower NCSL and EDP divisions. As a matter of fact, my son played classic and travel throughout middle-school and high school. IF I had it to do over, I would have left him in MSI Classic until 7th/8th grade. We had a solid Classic coach who was focused on development. U13 is the transition year but if you can find a great classic coach who puts the kids in tournaments, you are better putting your kid with the coach and savig yourself $1,500 and hours of travel all over the region to play on the B team of a club like Bethesda.

A lot can change for a teen when they hit puberty.

Question: Bethesda's U12 goes from elite soccer to one of the bottom divisions of NCSL. I read the other thread that the DC leagues, Achilles, and Juoan, go from EDP to SAM select. How would a 2nd team kid ever make it to the first team in those scenarios?

Of course the quality of play drops, but I've found the coaches are excellent in the lower teams as well. In fact, I've been happier with some of the lower coaches than the higher, since many of the "best" coaches are those that simply win the most, not the ones that are the best player developers.

I can’t speak to Bethesda but I’ve heard this time and again and it’s kept us away from trying out. I think you’ll be happy at Potomac. My son (younger age group) plays on the B team and the coaching has been good. We don’t feel like he is treated as a second class citizen by the club.

I have a U13 boy. He is not going to make 1st team on any club but probably 2nd team. We're trying out at Potomac, Achilles, and Stoddard right now. I heard that the quality of play drops after the first team, but are the coaches still good and do the kids develop and have fun?