So looks like some clubs have entered into an agreement not to take player outside their club. Maybe this is why some clubs are responding and other are not.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were looking to change clubs before the pandemic. Current club is okay but is just not a fit for our kids. We were able to practice at one club but then the pandemic lockdown hit. Anyone in the same boat and what are you doing? Thanks

Considering a switch too, U13 Boys. What clubs do people like that has reasonably convenient practice logistics for a NW/Chevy Chase DC family? Was thinking maybe Bethesda or Stoddert. Bethesda practice fields look kinds of far though. My kid has an interest in GK too so I would like a club that places some emphasis there and a good GK coach.

The coach for the top Stoddert boys U13/14 teams (blue) is very good. Mine has aged out so I can’t speak to the quality of the current teams in that age group. Lots of people here write Stoddert off completely since their highest level teams are in CCL, but it has been a good fit for our son.

Some clubs are very good providing info about the club and coaches are responsive

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were looking to change clubs before the pandemic. Current club is okay but is just not a fit for our kids. We were able to practice at one club but then the pandemic lockdown hit. Anyone in the same boat and what are you doing? Thanks

Considering a switch too, U13 Boys. What clubs do people like that has reasonably convenient practice logistics for a NW/Chevy Chase DC family? Was thinking maybe Bethesda or Stoddert. Bethesda practice fields look kinds of far though. My kid has an interest in GK too so I would like a club that places some emphasis there and a good GK coach.

I would not want to make that drive from nw during the week for bsc unless it were evening practice.. like 7pm.

You may want to email the director for that age and get practice location and estimate times. For us from bethesda during rush hour..outside location was 5 min but winter/ indoor was 25 min.

Anonymous wrote:We were looking to change clubs before the pandemic. Current club is okay but is just not a fit for our kids. We were able to practice at one club but then the pandemic lockdown hit. Anyone in the same boat and what are you doing? Thanks

Considering a switch too, U13 Boys. What clubs do people like that has reasonably convenient practice logistics for a NW/Chevy Chase DC family? Was thinking maybe Bethesda or Stoddert. Bethesda practice fields look kinds of far though. My kid has an interest in GK too so I would like a club that places some emphasis there and a good GK coach.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fear of virus and lack of money.

I can see Coronavirus fears causing some concern but I don't know about "lack of money". I feel like a large percentage of travel soccer parents would just get another credit card or a second mortgage if necessary to keep their kids playing travel soccer. Not all of them, of course, but enough of them. Parents living vicariously through their kids, suffering from FOMO, banking on that college scholarship or just needing to "keep up with their friends and neighbors". Regardless of the individual reasons, travel sport parents can be a crazy lot. Look no further than this forum for proof of that...

I agree generally, but on the boys side at top clubs, this is a real issue absent substantial scholarship funding for less wealthy kids. It will have a substantial impact. People are simply out of work. There's no money to spend and no house to mortgage again.

Anonymous wrote:Fear of virus and lack of money.

I can see Coronavirus fears causing some concern but I don't know about "lack of money". I feel like a large percentage of travel soccer parents would just get another credit card or a second mortgage if necessary to keep their kids playing travel soccer. Not all of them, of course, but enough of them. Parents living vicariously through their kids, suffering from FOMO, banking on that college scholarship or just needing to "keep up with their friends and neighbors". Regardless of the individual reasons, travel sport parents can be a crazy lot. Look no further than this forum for proof of that...

Most of the info I’ve seen is really dated - including the clubs mentioned above. Do these clubs really think “meaningful” programming is going to be offered for the spring season? I would wait for clubs to first recognize that they need to cancel the current spring season, communicate what that means to their existing customers, and than provide a realistic outlook for the future. I’m not certain looking or talking to any clubs right now is going to give you a good sense of what they may look like when things open up.

Anonymous wrote:We’ve found that clubs we’ve spoken to prior everything shutting down are responsive. Those we’ve reached out to since shutting down have a been a mixed bag. Only a few clubs, so small sample size. Like anything else it probably depends on the club, playing level, and age. Alexandria’s website has a lot of info up and got back in a couple of days. McLean is crickets. I think like a PP said most clubs are trying to figure things out. Not an easy time to switch teams regardless.

Good luck

Definitely best of luck. I think this is actually a good time to switch. There will be substantial attrition. Clubs are going to be more welcoming. Kid is with a top team at a top club and I would bet that we will return only 50-60% of players if things resume in the fall. Fear of virus and lack of money. I actually hope we see substantial interest from talented kids who want to make a move.

We’ve found that clubs we’ve spoken to prior everything shutting down are responsive. Those we’ve reached out to since shutting down have a been a mixed bag. Only a few clubs, so small sample size. Like anything else it probably depends on the club, playing level, and age. Alexandria’s website has a lot of info up and got back in a couple of days. McLean is crickets. I think like a PP said most clubs are trying to figure things out. Not an easy time to switch teams regardless.

Good luck

Anonymous wrote:We are in the same boat but wasn’t able to join a practice until pandemic hit. The tryout was supposed to be this month (May) but everything is unknown now. I haven’t communicated with the coach since March but will soon to ask what their tryout plans are. Prior to pandemic, We were pretty definitely of leaving our current club. Now, we’re not so sure what to do yet.

You better reach out today, offers are going out and they are making decisions based on film and who they already know.

We're in the same boat. Definitely leaving our current club and were all set to attend tryouts at a different club just before everything was suspended. I think a lot of places don't know what to expect now. And in light of that, it makes sense that they'd probably go ahead and just automatically extend offers to their existing rosters to try and have some idea of what their financial commitments will look like if there is a Fall season. If soccer does happen in the Fall, I would think that some clubs would probably have at least as single tryout session maybe very late Summer or something just to see who shows up. Honestly, for people thinking about moving, it's probably advisable to just e-mail a coach or age group coordinator at the new club and express your child's interest just so they're aware of it.

We practiced with a club a few times and were going to join them for the spring season. We are still going to join them for fall (if there is a fall).

We are in the same boat but wasn’t able to join a practice until pandemic hit. The tryout was supposed to be this month (May) but everything is unknown now. I haven’t communicated with the coach since March but will soon to ask what their tryout plans are. Prior to pandemic, We were pretty definitely of leaving our current club. Now, we’re not so sure what to do yet.

We were looking to change clubs before the pandemic. Current club is okay but is just not a fit for our kids. We were able to practice at one club but then the pandemic lockdown hit. Anyone in the same boat and what are you doing? Thanks