We're at BRYC on the girls side and administration is just fine. Coach is responsive, communicative and organized; parent team manager does a great job pushing out info. No complaints. Coaching staff (current and next year's) held a parent meeting a few weeks ago - also attended by club management - and shared clear, specific information about next year, answered questions, and seem to have a well-organized plan moving forward. No complaints.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was talking to some DA parents the other day about their club and the one feedback they gave me was that administratively, their club was basically a disaster. Last minute practice changes, team roster shuffles without announcements (even after parents had left for the field), travel requirements to games with less than 24 hours notice (even those requiring kids to miss a school day).

How would you rate your club? Our kids are at Bethesda and it's been quite a nightmare held together only by a very very dedicated parent manager who really goes the extra effort to keep things on an even keel. Was wondering how your team is doing with things like schedules, practice changes, communication etc.

Our club’s administration is being run by a 25 year old who still lives at home with mommy and daddy. How the F do you think we feel? Parents and players are treated like trash.

Where?

Assuming this poster is talking about BRYC. IMO this poster could not be more wrong, we have never had problems with the coach mentioned, in fact he has gone above and beyond for my daughter. Also mentioning someone's living situation?? Really, there are not many unhappy people at BRYC that would know where he lives. Made it very obvious who this is.

All the coaches and clubs in Virginia knows who he is and who he lives with. Ask anyone at your club or at other clubs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was talking to some DA parents the other day about their club and the one feedback they gave me was that administratively, their club was basically a disaster. Last minute practice changes, team roster shuffles without announcements (even after parents had left for the field), travel requirements to games with less than 24 hours notice (even those requiring kids to miss a school day).

How would you rate your club? Our kids are at Bethesda and it's been quite a nightmare held together only by a very very dedicated parent manager who really goes the extra effort to keep things on an even keel. Was wondering how your team is doing with things like schedules, practice changes, communication etc.

Our club’s administration is being run by a 25 year old who still lives at home with mommy and daddy. How the F do you think we feel? Parents and players are treated like trash.

From that post you are the one that sounds like trash. Don't say "we" because the way you feel is not how most of the parents feel.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was talking to some DA parents the other day about their club and the one feedback they gave me was that administratively, their club was basically a disaster. Last minute practice changes, team roster shuffles without announcements (even after parents had left for the field), travel requirements to games with less than 24 hours notice (even those requiring kids to miss a school day).

How would you rate your club? Our kids are at Bethesda and it's been quite a nightmare held together only by a very very dedicated parent manager who really goes the extra effort to keep things on an even keel. Was wondering how your team is doing with things like schedules, practice changes, communication etc.

Our club’s administration is being run by a 25 year old who still lives at home with mommy and daddy. How the F do you think we feel? Parents and players are treated like trash.

Where?

Assuming this poster is talking about BRYC. IMO this poster could not be more wrong, we have never had problems with the coach mentioned, in fact he has gone above and beyond for my daughter. Also mentioning someone's living situation?? Really, there are not many unhappy people at BRYC that would know where he lives. Made it very obvious who this is.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was talking to some DA parents the other day about their club and the one feedback they gave me was that administratively, their club was basically a disaster. Last minute practice changes, team roster shuffles without announcements (even after parents had left for the field), travel requirements to games with less than 24 hours notice (even those requiring kids to miss a school day).

How would you rate your club? Our kids are at Bethesda and it's been quite a nightmare held together only by a very very dedicated parent manager who really goes the extra effort to keep things on an even keel. Was wondering how your team is doing with things like schedules, practice changes, communication etc.

Our club’s administration is being run by a 25 year old who still lives at home with mommy and daddy. How the F do you think we feel? Parents and players are treated like trash.

Where?

Been at 5 clubs with multiple kids. From rec, to normal travel, to DA. They all could be improved administratively and from a customer management perspective. Doesn’t seem to make much of a difference between volunteers and paid employees, in fact volunteers tend to be better. A fair amount of poor communication, poorly planned field allocations, and obfuscated costs (which I know to expect now, but many newbies don’t).

Also, let’s focus on soccer and teaching kids soccer and not try to be a church or a charitable organization with casino nights and golf tournaments. There are plenty of those orgs around in the DC area that families already participate with. Clubs should focus on what they’re supposed to be good at (soccer) and the trifecta of personnel interactions: players, parents, coaches. Nothing is dumber than the standard approach of putting a volunteeer parent in place as a team manager and then have them be the main communication point to parents. Wasted CRM opportunity and immediately creates a disconnect via the middleman approach, all under the guise of “freeing up coaches’ time.” Just not smart.

Our club's top-level admin is moribund—but our team manager is excellent, so it hardly matters. Both coach and TM communicate on a regular basis. Very smooth.

Been at 2 clubs, all the same shit show. At VYS now and it's the worst.

Anonymous wrote:Was talking to some DA parents the other day about their club and the one feedback they gave me was that administratively, their club was basically a disaster. Last minute practice changes, team roster shuffles without announcements (even after parents had left for the field), travel requirements to games with less than 24 hours notice (even those requiring kids to miss a school day).

How would you rate your club? Our kids are at Bethesda and it's been quite a nightmare held together only by a very very dedicated parent manager who really goes the extra effort to keep things on an even keel. Was wondering how your team is doing with things like schedules, practice changes, communication etc.

Our club’s administration is being run by a 25 year old who still lives at home with mommy and daddy. How the F do you think we feel? Parents and players are treated like trash.

Anonymous wrote:Also not DA but Vienna seems to be very well organized. They have already announced coaching slate before tryouts and said coaches will be attending tryouts for the teams they plan to coach so you can meet them beforehand.

+1
very impressed with VYS communication to parents

Also not DA but Vienna seems to be very well organized. They have already announced coaching slate before tryouts and said coaches will be attending tryouts for the teams they plan to coach so you can meet them beforehand.

Obviously not DA, but we’ve been happy adminstratively with Potomac. We do occasionally have game cancellations but those are due to field closures beyond the clubs control. Practices are rarely canceled unless there’s lightning/thunder or a torrential downpour. Our team always manages to find a field to move to if it’s just grass fields being closed due to being wet.

PPA - ugh, information last-minute, cancellations last-minute, website a mess originally but has improved recently. Stoddert Travel was better.

Been in Bethesda DA for the last 3 years...the DA teams do not have a parent manager. The coach and/or office staff take on the team manager duties. Have not experienced what you are describing.

Was talking to some DA parents the other day about their club and the one feedback they gave me was that administratively, their club was basically a disaster. Last minute practice changes, team roster shuffles without announcements (even after parents had left for the field), travel requirements to games with less than 24 hours notice (even those requiring kids to miss a school day).

How would you rate your club? Our kids are at Bethesda and it's been quite a nightmare held together only by a very very dedicated parent manager who really goes the extra effort to keep things on an even keel. Was wondering how your team is doing with things like schedules, practice changes, communication etc.