Top team at DC vs. #3 at Mclean for sure.

The game play will be hugely different.

If you were talking second team at McLean it would be more of a toss up as generally the #2 team at MYS is pretty good and many 'move up' , but the time you get to Gold, it's just a slight step u pfrom Rec and very few of those Gold players ever make it to the top team in future years (they recruit in from other teams--like DC Stoddert potentially).

Anonymous wrote:I can tell you from DD's experience being a bench player on a top team is miserable. Never again.

Why was it miserable cause you could never see your DD play?

For people in this situation if your child is good enough to play at the Academy/ECNL Level when younger, but they ride the bench you should let them do so. Practicing with the better players will only have to make them raise their game to get playing time. Then as they get older, drop them to the B team where they stand out and and raise the possibility of playing in college even if it is not D1.

I would always pick top team over lower level team at better club. Better focus, field times, coaching, more engaged kids and families, etc.

I think it's better to be on a top team and be on thr bench because practice is where the player will really develop. Practicing with better players will only make your child better. Also, if playing in college is your child's goal I've seen some kids from B teams go to some pretty good schools especially if they have good grades, are decent technically and very good tactically.

I can tell you from DD's experience being a bench player on a top team is miserable. Never again.

I am curious about this concept as well for my U12 girl. Better to be bench on top team or play full games on lower level team?

you really need to say the age and gender. there's one group boys 09 that has a very good "third" team but it's not really a third team. it kind of splintered off.

Anonymous wrote:First, the third team at Bethesda is not better than Stoddert's first team. I've seen it first hand. It's not a positive move. Not only is the quality not that good but the coaching and resources given to the third teams at those clubs are 'low priority'. Practice fields, coach selections, etc--you will be below the other teams when it comes to getting the resources needed.

There is a parent on our team who used to be at Bethesda. He said the commute from NW DC was horrendous--up and down 270 in rush hour was a nightmare that could run 30 minutes (no traffic) to over an hour (a regular occurrence). Practices ranged from Germantown to Rockville to Silver Spring and not on the best fields.

I really have to ask the big question though--what is your goal with youth soccer? Pro? College? High School? Playing with friends? Fitness? I mean, there has to be a reason your kid is in the sport and what your long term goal is. If it's a future in the sport after high school, then (tough love time) Stoddert or Bethesda/Mclean #2 or #3 are NOT the ticket.

It depends on the sex and age group. On the girls side the 3rd team at BSC can be dicey. The girls side is not deep but there first team is in a different class vs stoddert’s. On the boys side, it depends on the age group but their 3 team will be better vs stoddert. The coaching will better but BSC has some inappropriate coaches.

The commute specially at the younger ages is very bad from dc pre COVID.

Take the first team. You will generally play higher level teams.

We went to a first team at a lower Club from a 2nd team at a higher level Club and now my kid plays in higher divisions and brackets.

First, the third team at Bethesda is not better than Stoddert's first team. I've seen it first hand. It's not a positive move. Not only is the quality not that good but the coaching and resources given to the third teams at those clubs are 'low priority'. Practice fields, coach selections, etc--you will be below the other teams when it comes to getting the resources needed.

There is a parent on our team who used to be at Bethesda. He said the commute from NW DC was horrendous--up and down 270 in rush hour was a nightmare that could run 30 minutes (no traffic) to over an hour (a regular occurrence). Practices ranged from Germantown to Rockville to Silver Spring and not on the best fields.

I really have to ask the big question though--what is your goal with youth soccer? Pro? College? High School? Playing with friends? Fitness? I mean, there has to be a reason your kid is in the sport and what your long term goal is. If it's a future in the sport after high school, then (tough love time) Stoddert or Bethesda/Mclean #2 or #3 are NOT the ticket.

optics? is this a serious question? what person cares if your child goes from one team to another?

if this is HS i guess maybe your child has a preference but otherwise go for the more convenient or better team where your child will develop.

if your child is young go for the one that is closest to home or where your child has the most friends.

Anonymous wrote:We have a kid at top dc stiffer travel team, and could move the kid to Bethesda air McLean team #3 as they have open spots mid season. Optics of going to the best to lower ranking teams is not good; but we think quality of the team is better... Views appreciated.

There were a couple of posts asking for sex and age group which seem to have been deleted. Maybe they contravened some rule here - but the point is valid - it's hard to answer the question lacking that context. In general I would suggest that McLean's and Bethesda's third teams are unlikely to be much better than DC Stoddert's first team, and could well be worse.

Social-Emotional feedback aside 'the kid' needs to play on a team that they love or aspire to. Let them drive the bus, if. they want to stay in their lane make sure they are not avoiding confronting bullies or crappy coaches. If they want to move, that is huge and courageous and help make it happen

Anonymous wrote:We have a kid at top dc stiffer travel team, and could move the kid to Bethesda air McLean team #3 as they have open spots mid season. Optics of going to the best to lower ranking teams is not good; but we think quality of the team is better... Views appreciated.

Depends on a number of factors:
1) How old is your child? Do you see them continuing to play travel soccer thru HS?
2) Where do you live? How long would your commute be to various practices?
3) Do they like their current teammates? Coach?

We have a kid at top dc stiffer travel team, and could move the kid to Bethesda air McLean team #3 as they have open spots mid season. Optics of going to the best to lower ranking teams is not good; but we think quality of the team is better... Views appreciated.