NP here. Any feedback on the coaches for the girls 09 teams at these clubs?

Very true. I would argue that coming from Classic, your DD might be able to play on the top team at Rush or Bethesda but if not, the B team might be a strong pathway to the top team. It might take her a year to get used to the speed of play and the physical nature of travel, which is much different than what you have experienced in classic. If they try to push you to the C team, I would give serious thought to FCGB.

As others have said, ask around, look around, and contact coaches to see if your DD can attend practices during the Spring. Attending practices gives you and your DD a good idea of the club culture, the coaches, and the other girls on the team. In addition, if you find a good fit by attending practice, it is more likely that your player would be selected for the team based on her participation, as opposed to attending a cattle call tryout where no one knows her (unless your player is so superior that she would stand out).

One word of caution about the idea of having your daughter start on a second or third team and "working her way up." People here talk about that all the time. Maybe some clubs really do provide opportunities for advancement, but in my years as a soccer parent with multiple kids (both boys and girls), that is the exception rather than the rule. In most clubs, the top half of the top team is really good, and then there is a drop off, even on the top team. The second team will have a handful of players, at most, who would fit in with the lower half of the first team, and then there is a huge drop off in talent. If you are close to top team talent and coming from elsewhere, there is a chance a club will take a chance on you and pick you up for the top team. Once you are on a second or third team, only the biggest, strongest and fastest kids get second looks for advancement. From what I have seen, clubs usually add players from other clubs to their top teams instead of advancing their B and C team players. In some clubs my kids have played for, the age group coaches never communicate at all.

If you get to practice with lower teams, make sure the talent level is consistent and the level of interest exhibited by the team is consistent with your daughter's. It sounds like your daughter wants to "move up" in the soccer world, so you want to be sure the training and environment are worth the extra time and money. I've seen some pretty horrible 2nd, 3rd and 4th teams.

Anonymous wrote:The top U14 teams mentioned above will all have established rosters and may only have room for 1-2 new players. I would contact the coaches and attend some practices now at U13. That is if you want the top team or second Bethesda team. It may be smarter to join now at U13 as spring has not started yet. If you wait until tryouts, you will most likely get on a lower team and have to work your way up if that is what you want. I have seen a bunch of MSI players do it this way.

Rush and SA Columbia second teams are pretty good. BSC has a large drop off between the top and second team. So you may have better changes of getting on BSC second team. It all really depends on the player and position she plays. If one club has a few strong players at your position it might be hard to break into the club. Other clubs maybe looking for players who play your kids positions. Best to check a few clubs and see if it’s a fit- girls, coach, style
, club culture, etc.

Anonymous wrote:Thats right, FC Bordeaux uses a secret player development methodology that is not used anywhere else.

Another moron. You are probably one of the idiot parents who believe that forking out $3,000-4,000/year for your DD to play for Bethesda's D team or Potomac B at u12 will lead to them playing for the ECNL team. The reality is that most of the ECNL players were developed elsewhere.

The top U14 teams mentioned above will all have established rosters and may only have room for 1-2 new players. I would contact the coaches and attend some practices now at U13. That is if you want the top team or second Bethesda team. It may be smarter to join now at U13 as spring has not started yet. If you wait until tryouts, you will most likely get on a lower team and have to work your way up if that is what you want. I have seen a bunch of MSI players do it this way.

Anonymous wrote:Thats right, FC Bordeaux uses a secret player development methodology that is not used anywhere else.

Secret? Are you being sarcastic? They post a few of their practice sessions on YouTube.

Thats right, FC Bordeaux uses a secret player development methodology that is not used anywhere else.

OP here: DD will move from U12 classic team (she is 06) to a U14 travel team in Fall.

FC Girondins de Bordeaux Ol Ned trying to drum up more folks falling for his promise of a division 1 scholarship and not allowing his players to play high school

Anonymous wrote:The Bethesda fields are actually pretty bad. WJ and RM need to be resurfaced. Good coaches at older levels. The ECNL teams are the best in MoCo.

Potomac does have the Good Counsel coaches all in the older groups and do well. Also have the BCC boys coach there. Practice is on the new turf at Bullis and Holy Child.

Boedeaux does not let you play in HS if that is something DD wants to do. But good training.

Rush has the SJC coach and I know a few players have gone there bc of her. I think they play and train at Ridge Road grass fields and St Andrews.

Depending upon the age group, Bethesda’s U12 and lower ages play their home games at the muddy Muldoon Farms fields. It takes over at least a 30 minutes drive from Rockville too.

The Bethesda fields are actually pretty bad. WJ and RM need to be resurfaced. Good coaches at older levels. The ECNL teams are the best in MoCo.

Potomac does have the Good Counsel coaches all in the older groups and do well. Also have the BCC boys coach there. Practice is on the new turf at Bullis and Holy Child.

Boedeaux does not let you play in HS if that is something DD wants to do. But good training.

Rush has the SJC coach and I know a few players have gone there bc of her. I think they play and train at Ridge Road grass fields and St Andrews.

MSI is hit or miss. I believe that one of the age groups, either 05 or 06 is coached by the same coach who coaches McLean's top ECNL teams but outside of that age group, MSI is not in the same league as Rush or Bethesda.

Potomac is inferior to the Potomac boys. I can't think of an age group that is or has ever been competitive.

Bethesda is the big dog in MoCo. They have a deep pool of coaches, including the Director of girl's soccer who coached at the college level and was a 4-time NCAA champion at UNC and won a world cup title. Bethesda plays in the top leagues and practices on quality fields.

Rush is rising. There younger teams are much better more competitive than the older teams but most of the teams are more competitive than what you will find at Potomac or MSI.

If your DS is U13 or old and strong enough to play on Bethesda's top or second best team, I would go there. If younger, I would check out Rush. The key is to find the right environment and to be honest, I think the best team for such a player is FC Girondins de Bordeaux. None of the clubs referenced come close to FCGB to developing. At the younger ages, they don't win much but at the older ages, they are competing with the best.

Avoid getting sucked in the brand-name travel trap. Focus on coaches and development. The reality is that most of the teams at the clubs you referenced focus on winning at the expense of development.

What age group?

For girls soccer-which is better? pros/cons?