Anonymous
05/21/2019 16:02
Subject: I am very confused please help about next steps
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Since you are already with MSI, at least take a look at trying out for MSI Academy. They are a travel team too. Not that I’m not trying to concern you about Bethesda or Potomac but these two clubs plays their home games at Muldoon Farms in Poolesville. It’s a horrible grass field and quite a long drive unless you live in Poolesvile, MD. MSI plays their home games at Germantown SoccerPlex. SoccerPlex has best fields (grass & turf) by far in the area. There’s a thread specifically dedicated to discussing how bad Muldoon Fields are.
The PP is absolutely correct about Muldoon. Here’s the thread:
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/796923.page
Muldoon's has terrible fields, but that would be an extremely silly reason to pick MSC (MSI's travel team) over Bethesda or even Potomac. Both those clubs will offer a much better training environment for a serious player than MSI/MSC, and kids on Bethesda and Potomac only play at Muldoon's a few times a year (fewer for Potomac girls, since the Potomac tournament doesn't field girls' teams). No one practices there.
Verify your info before posting. Unless your DC gets accepted to the Blue Team (A Team) for Bethesda or Potomac at U10-U12, they are in the NCSL lowest division. Bethesda and Potomac U11 Girls (2008) teams are in the NCSL Division 4:
http://ncsl-soccer.com/_element_display/#%2F80738%2Fschedules%2FSpring2019%2F95204632.html%3Fdummy%3D1558466529506
What does that have to do with anything? Both Bethesda and Potomac will offer good skills training for kids that age, and more advancement potential than MSC regardless of what level the girls start out in. MSC has some good coaches and strong age groups from time to time, but it's not a real club-type set up.
Holly Smokes. I have 3 neighbors that moved their DD from Bethesda to MSI. They said all of the attention is focused on the “A Team” and the coaches are tellers/screamers during practices and games. They couldn’t stand listening to that abuse and training sucks. I felt bad cause I was the one that originally recommended them to BSC based upon my niece playing there years ago. The only good club for training & development in MoCo is FC Bordeaux.
Anonymous
05/21/2019 15:52
Subject: I am very confused please help about next steps
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Since you are already with MSI, at least take a look at trying out for MSI Academy. They are a travel team too. Not that I’m not trying to concern you about Bethesda or Potomac but these two clubs plays their home games at Muldoon Farms in Poolesville. It’s a horrible grass field and quite a long drive unless you live in Poolesvile, MD. MSI plays their home games at Germantown SoccerPlex. SoccerPlex has best fields (grass & turf) by far in the area. There’s a thread specifically dedicated to discussing how bad Muldoon Fields are.
The PP is absolutely correct about Muldoon. Here’s the thread:
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/796923.page
Muldoon's has terrible fields, but that would be an extremely silly reason to pick MSC (MSI's travel team) over Bethesda or even Potomac. Both those clubs will offer a much better training environment for a serious player than MSI/MSC, and kids on Bethesda and Potomac only play at Muldoon's a few times a year (fewer for Potomac girls, since the Potomac tournament doesn't field girls' teams). No one practices there.
Verify your info before posting. Unless your DC gets accepted to the Blue Team (A Team) for Bethesda or Potomac at U10-U12, they are in the NCSL lowest division. Bethesda and Potomac U11 Girls (2008) teams are in the NCSL Division 4:
http://ncsl-soccer.com/_element_display/#%2F80738%2Fschedules%2FSpring2019%2F95204632.html%3Fdummy%3D1558466529506
What does that have to do with anything? Both Bethesda and Potomac will offer good skills training for kids that age, and more advancement potential than MSC regardless of what level the girls start out in. MSC has some good coaches and strong age groups from time to time, but it's not a real club-type set up.
Anonymous
05/21/2019 15:23
Subject: I am very confused please help about next steps
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Since you are already with MSI, at least take a look at trying out for MSI Academy. They are a travel team too. Not that I’m not trying to concern you about Bethesda or Potomac but these two clubs plays their home games at Muldoon Farms in Poolesville. It’s a horrible grass field and quite a long drive unless you live in Poolesvile, MD. MSI plays their home games at Germantown SoccerPlex. SoccerPlex has best fields (grass & turf) by far in the area. There’s a thread specifically dedicated to discussing how bad Muldoon Fields are.
The PP is absolutely correct about Muldoon. Here’s the thread:
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/796923.page
Muldoon's has terrible fields, but that would be an extremely silly reason to pick MSC (MSI's travel team) over Bethesda or even Potomac. Both those clubs will offer a much better training environment for a serious player than MSI/MSC, and kids on Bethesda and Potomac only play at Muldoon's a few times a year (fewer for Potomac girls, since the Potomac tournament doesn't field girls' teams). No one practices there.
Verify your info before posting. Unless your DC gets accepted to the Blue Team (A Team) for Bethesda or Potomac at U10-U12, they are in the NCSL lowest division. Bethesda and Potomac U11 Girls (2008) teams are in the NCSL Division 4:
http://ncsl-soccer.com/_element_display/#%2F80738%2Fschedules%2FSpring2019%2F95204632.html%3Fdummy%3D1558466529506
Anonymous
05/21/2019 15:12
Subject: I am very confused please help about next steps
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Since you are already with MSI, at least take a look at trying out for MSI Academy. They are a travel team too. Not that I’m not trying to concern you about Bethesda or Potomac but these two clubs plays their home games at Muldoon Farms in Poolesville. It’s a horrible grass field and quite a long drive unless you live in Poolesvile, MD. MSI plays their home games at Germantown SoccerPlex. SoccerPlex has best fields (grass & turf) by far in the area. There’s a thread specifically dedicated to discussing how bad Muldoon Fields are.
The PP is absolutely correct about Muldoon. Here’s the thread:
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/796923.page
Muldoon's has terrible fields, but that would be an extremely silly reason to pick MSC (MSI's travel team) over Bethesda or even Potomac. Both those clubs will offer a much better training environment for a serious player than MSI/MSC, and kids on Bethesda and Potomac only play at Muldoon's a few times a year (fewer for Potomac girls, since the Potomac tournament doesn't field girls' teams). No one practices there.
Thank you! I don’t know that much to know about being concerned about the field. I do know that my dd is a serious player (I guess her skills will be checked out at tryouts since I’m not a good gauge of her skill level). She lives and breathes soccer and I want her to try to get into a team that will provide her with the skills. MSI academy may be an option but to be honest the classic hasn’t really helped that much.
Anonymous
05/21/2019 15:00
Subject: I am very confused please help about next steps
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What you are looking for is a team:
1. That works for your family in terms of cost and location. You have to get your kid to their practice field 2-3 times a week. It has to work for your family. The total dollars also need to work.
2. That has a good likable coach. 10-11 year olds need to like their coach and not be scared of him or her. The coach needs to have some experience with coaching younger kids, or be very experienced over all. You likely will not know but do check club websites for experience levels and try to talk to parents if you can.
3. Emphasize that tryouts for your kid are a ton about effort and speed. That does not mean run around like a headless chicken. It does mean listen and run/play as hard and as fast as she can while staying in control. Always be moving. Talk (not scream) often. Move. Move. Move. (Juggle - a 10/12 girl who shows up 60 mins early - gets checked in and then warms up by juggling 20-50 times - on a team. Coaches will notice. If she does not juggle don’t do it at a warm up but do get her starting to learn ASAP. An aside: my daughter’s college coach decided he needed to make an offer after watching her pre-game warmup before a high school game. He left super early so I figured no interest. Coaches at a tryout will watch what is going on before the tryout starts).
Run as hard and as fast as she can while staying in control.
4. Tryout for a couple teams. Look for a team where she can be a good player. She does not have to be the best kid, but you do not want to be bottom 5 either if you can avoid it. Middle of the pack is fine. You want her challenged regularly but not always struggling.
I’m not the OP but this very sound advise, particularly showing up early to do warm ups and juggling/dribbling drills on her own.
Thank you! I’m the OP and this is excellent info.
Anonymous
05/21/2019 14:34
Subject: I am very confused please help about next steps
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Since you are already with MSI, at least take a look at trying out for MSI Academy. They are a travel team too. Not that I’m not trying to concern you about Bethesda or Potomac but these two clubs plays their home games at Muldoon Farms in Poolesville. It’s a horrible grass field and quite a long drive unless you live in Poolesvile, MD. MSI plays their home games at Germantown SoccerPlex. SoccerPlex has best fields (grass & turf) by far in the area. There’s a thread specifically dedicated to discussing how bad Muldoon Fields are.
The PP is absolutely correct about Muldoon. Here’s the thread:
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/796923.page
Muldoon's has terrible fields, but that would be an extremely silly reason to pick MSC (MSI's travel team) over Bethesda or even Potomac. Both those clubs will offer a much better training environment for a serious player than MSI/MSC, and kids on Bethesda and Potomac only play at Muldoon's a few times a year (fewer for Potomac girls, since the Potomac tournament doesn't field girls' teams). No one practices there.
Anonymous
05/21/2019 14:22
Subject: I am very confused please help about next steps
Anonymous wrote:What you are looking for is a team:
1. That works for your family in terms of cost and location. You have to get your kid to their practice field 2-3 times a week. It has to work for your family. The total dollars also need to work.
2. That has a good likable coach. 10-11 year olds need to like their coach and not be scared of him or her. The coach needs to have some experience with coaching younger kids, or be very experienced over all. You likely will not know but do check club websites for experience levels and try to talk to parents if you can.
3. Emphasize that tryouts for your kid are a ton about effort and speed. That does not mean run around like a headless chicken. It does mean listen and run/play as hard and as fast as she can while staying in control. Always be moving. Talk (not scream) often. Move. Move. Move. (Juggle - a 10/12 girl who shows up 60 mins early - gets checked in and then warms up by juggling 20-50 times - on a team. Coaches will notice. If she does not juggle don’t do it at a warm up but do get her starting to learn ASAP. An aside: my daughter’s college coach decided he needed to make an offer after watching her pre-game warmup before a high school game. He left super early so I figured no interest. Coaches at a tryout will watch what is going on before the tryout starts).
Run as hard and as fast as she can while staying in control.
4. Tryout for a couple teams. Look for a team where she can be a good player. She does not have to be the best kid, but you do not want to be bottom 5 either if you can avoid it. Middle of the pack is fine. You want her challenged regularly but not always struggling.
I’m not the OP but this very sound advise, particularly showing up early to do warm ups and juggling/dribbling drills on her own.
Anonymous
05/21/2019 14:11
Subject: I am very confused please help about next steps
Anonymous wrote:Since you are already with MSI, at least take a look at trying out for MSI Academy. They are a travel team too. Not that I’m not trying to concern you about Bethesda or Potomac but these two clubs plays their home games at Muldoon Farms in Poolesville. It’s a horrible grass field and quite a long drive unless you live in Poolesvile, MD. MSI plays their home games at Germantown SoccerPlex. SoccerPlex has best fields (grass & turf) by far in the area. There’s a thread specifically dedicated to discussing how bad Muldoon Fields are.
The PP is absolutely correct about Muldoon. Here’s the thread:
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/796923.page
Anonymous
05/21/2019 14:09
Subject: I am very confused please help about next steps
What you are looking for is a team:
1. That works for your family in terms of cost and location. You have to get your kid to their practice field 2-3 times a week. It has to work for your family. The total dollars also need to work.
2. That has a good likable coach. 10-11 year olds need to like their coach and not be scared of him or her. The coach needs to have some experience with coaching younger kids, or be very experienced over all. You likely will not know but do check club websites for experience levels and try to talk to parents if you can.
3. Emphasize that tryouts for your kid are a ton about effort and speed. That does not mean run around like a headless chicken. It does mean listen and run/play as hard and as fast as she can while staying in control. Always be moving. Talk (not scream) often. Move. Move. Move. (Juggle - a 10/12 girl who shows up 60 mins early - gets checked in and then warms up by juggling 20-50 times - on a team. Coaches will notice. If she does not juggle don’t do it at a warm up but do get her starting to learn ASAP. An aside: my daughter’s college coach decided he needed to make an offer after watching her pre-game warmup before a high school game. He left super early so I figured no interest. Coaches at a tryout will watch what is going on before the tryout starts).
Run as hard and as fast as she can while staying in control.
4. Tryout for a couple teams. Look for a team where she can be a good player. She does not have to be the best kid, but you do not want to be bottom 5 either if you can avoid it. Middle of the pack is fine. You want her challenged regularly but not always struggling.
1. That works for your family in terms of cost and location. You have to get your kid to their practice field 2-3 times a week. It has to work for your family. The total dollars also need to work.
2. That has a good likable coach. 10-11 year olds need to like their coach and not be scared of him or her. The coach needs to have some experience with coaching younger kids, or be very experienced over all. You likely will not know but do check club websites for experience levels and try to talk to parents if you can.
3. Emphasize that tryouts for your kid are a ton about effort and speed. That does not mean run around like a headless chicken. It does mean listen and run/play as hard and as fast as she can while staying in control. Always be moving. Talk (not scream) often. Move. Move. Move. (Juggle - a 10/12 girl who shows up 60 mins early - gets checked in and then warms up by juggling 20-50 times - on a team. Coaches will notice. If she does not juggle don’t do it at a warm up but do get her starting to learn ASAP. An aside: my daughter’s college coach decided he needed to make an offer after watching her pre-game warmup before a high school game. He left super early so I figured no interest. Coaches at a tryout will watch what is going on before the tryout starts).
Run as hard and as fast as she can while staying in control.
4. Tryout for a couple teams. Look for a team where she can be a good player. She does not have to be the best kid, but you do not want to be bottom 5 either if you can avoid it. Middle of the pack is fine. You want her challenged regularly but not always struggling.
Anonymous
05/21/2019 13:53
Subject: I am very confused please help about next steps
Since you are already with MSI, at least take a look at trying out for MSI Academy. They are a travel team too. Not that I’m not trying to concern you about Bethesda or Potomac but these two clubs plays their home games at Muldoon Farms in Poolesville. It’s a horrible grass field and quite a long drive unless you live in Poolesvile, MD. MSI plays their home games at Germantown SoccerPlex. SoccerPlex has best fields (grass & turf) by far in the area. There’s a thread specifically dedicated to discussing how bad Muldoon Fields are.
Anonymous
05/21/2019 13:46
Subject: I am very confused please help about next steps
Anonymous wrote:Thank you! I am such a beginner that I didn’t even understand that Academy is a high level of travel! So after Classic do kids usually go into travel? What is the lower level of travel if Academy is highest?
The title "Academy" is used for other programs unique to a specific club. PP, in referencing "Academy/ECNL are the highest levels of travel" is specifically talking about USSF Development Academy also know as DA.
DA on the girls side in our area currently starts at u13.
OP, I think the original reference you make is to "MSI Academy" https://www.msisoccer.org/Default.aspx?tabid=926955 "Welcome to MSI Academy! Several of our Academy teams have limited openings on their rosters, and interested players/parents should visit the team-specific page for contact information to inquire about tryout opportunities."
the MSI Academy GIRLS 2009 (U11 age group for Fall 2019/Spring 2020) teams page is https://www.msisoccer.org/Default.aspx?tabid=927341
Good Luck!
Anonymous
05/21/2019 13:37
Subject: I am very confused please help about next steps
And thank you for the McLean tip!
Anonymous
05/21/2019 13:36
Subject: I am very confused please help about next steps
Thank you! I am such a beginner that I didn’t even understand that Academy is a high level of travel! So after Classic do kids usually go into travel? What is the lower level of travel if Academy is highest?
Anonymous
05/21/2019 13:32
Subject: Re:I am very confused please help about next steps
Academy/ECNL are the highest levels of travel. You are smart to be looking now, as she is in the beginning of critical years for skill development and my experience (several daughters who were also passionate about the sport and now play in college) is that playing with other girls who are similarly motivated/talented at this age and for a good coach will result in the best development. If Bethesda (an ECNL club) and Potomac work for you, consider McLean (also am ECNL club) as well. It is definitely one of the stronger clubs in this area, and draws a fair number of girls from DC/MD because it’s fields may be closer for those families than fields used by Montgomery County clubs. Also consider Coerver summer camps, which are offered for several weeks in MoCo and focus on individual foot skills.
Anonymous
05/21/2019 13:09
Subject: I am very confused please help about next steps
I need help please! I have gone through all the threads to get a better understanding and I still need a clearer picture. My DD10 plays for a MSI classic team. She is ready to move up as she is very passionate about soccer. What are the next steps? Some places say Academy others say Travel. I am confused! She is trying out for the Bethesda and Potomac U11 teams so far. Am I doing this right or does she need to do something else before? Sorry I sound like such a ninny but I have no idea but I want to help her as this is the one thing she is obsessed with.