BSC is very strong on the both the girls and boys sides but they are not the best in the nation or even the best in the DMV. There are several DMV clubs that are stronger on the girls side. Pipeline, McLean and FCV are comparable to and in some cases better than BSC. I don't want to take away anything from BSC but there are several good options. McLean is just over the bridge and Clyde Watson is recognized as a strong coach.

It’s interesting that two posters have completely different opinions/views about BSC Girls.

Not a BSC parent, but the girls side most likely has the best staff in the area. The 00/01 team has three National Team pool players and two HS All-Americans, they are easily the best team in US when all are there. That coach may cycle back to the younger teams next year. They also have the Churchill coach, the Whitman boys coach, and the Spalding coach, plus others. Spalding reached the US #1 ranking this year. I’d seriously consider BSC if I had a younger daughter.

Not a BSC parent, but the girls side most likely has the best staff in the area. The 00/01 team has three National Team pool players and two HS All-Americans, they are easily the best team in US when all are there. That coach may cycle back to the younger teams next year. They also have the Churchill coach, the Whitman boys coach, and the Spalding coach, plus others. Spalding reached the US #1 ranking this year. I’d seriously consider BSC if I had a younger daughter.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Did not like the coaching--said they were amateurish, egotistical and at times downright mean-spirited. Ex-college players now trying to coach with a bit of an attitude. Tactics were years behind what was being taught in Europe (where we lived until a few years ago).

Yup, that describes most of the Bethesda coaches very well.

Bethesda and FCV should merge clubs. Great culture fit.

Nah, FCV is merging with Loudoun.

Anonymous wrote:I would try out, but hold your acceptance until you find out who the coach is going to be that year and what the practice schedule.

FWIW administratively this year has been a disaster with our three teams at Bethesda. Varying times and locations and days for practices that change every two weeks. Impossible to schedule any other activities during the week due to the dysfunctional scheduling at BSC.

It has been a rough fall schedule-wise for our son's team too, but a lot of that seems to have been due to all the rain outs. Bethesda actually provided indoor make-up sessions for all the practices our kids' team missed, which I am theoretically happy about (I'm ready for a break from soccer at this point).

I would try out, but hold your acceptance until you find out who the coach is going to be that year and what the practice schedule.

FWIW administratively this year has been a disaster with our three teams at Bethesda. Varying times and locations and days for practices that change every two weeks. Impossible to schedule any other activities during the week due to the dysfunctional scheduling at BSC.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Did not like the coaching--said they were amateurish, egotistical and at times downright mean-spirited. Ex-college players now trying to coach with a bit of an attitude. Tactics were years behind what was being taught in Europe (where we lived until a few years ago).

Yup, that describes most of the Bethesda coaches very well.

Bethesda and FCV should merge clubs. Great culture fit.

Is this opinion about the Bethesda coaches the same across all age groups, boys and girls? I’m thinking about having my U11 tryout for them in the spring for their U12 team. Please share your opinion.

Of course not! You have to keep in mind that every big club has good and bad coaches, and the people most likely to be posting on internet forums are, in general, more negative than the average.

We've had 3 kids go through Bethesda, and 2 are still with the program. In our experience, the girls' side is more dysfunctional than the boys', though we liked my DD's last coach there (one of the oldest coaches they have). There are definitely some arrogant boys' coaches, but many dedicated and talented ones as well. They tend to do a good job developing footskills compared to most area clubs, and have impressive college commitments in the older age groups. Like most big clubs, your kid will generally get more attention if he is on the A or B team than if he's on a lower-level one, but you really have to ask around. There are good coaches scattered through each of the age groups at various levels on the boys side. There are also a number of coaches that are polarizing--some kids and families on their teams love them while others are unhappy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Did not like the coaching--said they were amateurish, egotistical and at times downright mean-spirited. Ex-college players now trying to coach with a bit of an attitude. Tactics were years behind what was being taught in Europe (where we lived until a few years ago).

Yup, that describes most of the Bethesda coaches very well.

Bethesda and FCV should merge clubs. Great culture fit.

Is this opinion about the Bethesda coaches the same across all age groups, boys and girls? I’m thinking about having my U11 tryout for them in the spring for their U12 team. Please share your opinion.

Just like any club, there are some better than others.
Unfortunately, from my experience with two kids that went through the program, the higher the team, the less we like the coaches.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Did not like the coaching--said they were amateurish, egotistical and at times downright mean-spirited. Ex-college players now trying to coach with a bit of an attitude. Tactics were years behind what was being taught in Europe (where we lived until a few years ago).

Yup, that describes most of the Bethesda coaches very well.

Bethesda and FCV should merge clubs. Great culture fit.

Is this opinion about the Bethesda coaches the same across all age groups, boys and girls? I’m thinking about having my U11 tryout for them in the spring for their U12 team. Please share your opinion.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Did not like the coaching--said they were amateurish, egotistical and at times downright mean-spirited. Ex-college players now trying to coach with a bit of an attitude. Tactics were years behind what was being taught in Europe (where we lived until a few years ago).

Yup, that describes most of the Bethesda coaches very well.

Bethesda and FCV should merge clubs. Great culture fit.

Anonymous wrote:

Did not like the coaching--said they were amateurish, egotistical and at times downright mean-spirited. Ex-college players now trying to coach with a bit of an attitude. Tactics were years behind what was being taught in Europe (where we lived until a few years ago).

Yup, that describes most of the Bethesda coaches very well.

My kid, who isn't on Bethesda, hated it.

Felt it was a training session for the Bethesda team and all other players were just fodder to help them.

Did not like the coaching--said they were amateurish, egotistical and at times downright mean-spirited. Ex-college players now trying to coach with a bit of an attitude. Tactics were years behind what was being taught in Europe (where we lived until a few years ago).

Kids were formed into teams randomly at beginning of camp and played mini-tournament but little coaching involved during the scrimmages. Felt drills weren't being incorporated into the matches and the drills were "really weak" to use my son's polite language. Felt the drills were poorly organized and they learned "nothing" at the camp they didn't already know before.

Off the field, they were confined to their rooms and not allowed to walk around the dorm and make friends, which was rough for my son who didn't know anyone to begin with.

On the plus side they said some of the food was good at lunch.

They will not attend again.

It has been a few years since our older son did it, but he had a blast. The coaches and kids played from morning to night, and it improved his skills and confidence. It's a pretty drive. The dorms are pretty spartan.

Anyone have feedback on the camp? Or know which week it will be this summer? TIA!