This is all great input! Thank you everyone for your understanding and thoughtful comments. I knew about that Bethesda team and they seem to have a really good thing going developing the boy's side. I've looked into the U11 top team and yes, they are very good from what I can tell without watching them play. I'm glad someone confirmed they actually play the game well to win instead of punt and kick.

I hadn't really considered the idea of a second team, but that's a good point as well on the Bethesda side. I think my son could play with the U11 top team, but is he good enough to remove a kid on a very good team who has been there on the current roster based on a couple of sessions? Probably not, but working up from the second team is an interesting idea. Especially if it is a strong second team.

Welcome to the area and good luck with the choice. Doing the research, and visiting the clubs will pay off. My son is a U11 and he's played against SAC's top 2 U11 teams and Bethesda's first and third teams. He'll play against Pipeline later in the spring, but I haven't seen them yet. One game for each team is a small sample size but maybe this will help. SAC's 1st team (pre-Academy) is a good squad that moves the ball around well, is disciplined, and finished at the top of their division last season. Bethesda's first team (Academy 1 10), is transcendent. I have to believe they're one of the best teams in the country at that age group. I didn't get a great look at them because I was standing behind pine trees in the parking lot of the Soccerplex in Germantown, but I saw enough to know that they were head and shoulders above my son's squad and other teams I'd seen in the age group. As has been said before, they play up a year in EDP's U12 top division. If your son can make that squad, I'd recommend it. And the day we saw them, they were being coached by Philip Gyau, a well known and highly respected coach.

Maybe more instructive to judge between the clubs are the lower tier teams. Bethesda's 3rd team (Academy 3 10), while not a great squad, played well together, attempted to connect passes and seemed well coached. I was impressed by their organization even if their kids weren't the most skilled. I haven't seen the second team, but they did get promoted to EDP U11 top division for the spring, and I can only assume they'd be a good destination based on what I've seen from the other two squads.

SACs second team (Premier Blue), on the day my son played them, did not seem as well drilled. I don't want to disparage them too much, because they're fine, and I only saw one game. Also, it was early in the season, but there tended to be a lot of kicking by their defenders (out of bounds and upfield) and fewer attempts to connect passes. Overall, they seemed to lack coherence of play. hope this helps and good luck.

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't Bethesda have a separate Olney division?

Not any more. They had a partnership with Olney early in the Development Academy days however.

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for the responses! Agree with all your comments and plan to try to get a practice in with some of these clubs, but I'm imagining that being a challenge with COVID. I would completely understand parents on the team being against that right now.

Yes, I know I need to start thinking about the whole ECNL/MLS pathway at some point soon, but didn't want to go down that rabbit hole here and as we have seen the entire landscape can change overnight. I'd like to focus on the program, club and coach for now and hope it all works out. From what I have seen it is not as big of an issue on the boys side between ECNL and MLSNext, but definitely something I need to start thinking about very soon.

I have only seen Pipeline play in person and both times were pretty impressive so I was originally leaning there, but not sure it's worth essentially driving past SAC/Armour to get there!

No idea how far your ambitions stretch but Pipeline participates in DCU's P2P program. SAC/Armor does not - at least not as far as I am aware.

For boys bsc is great. wouldn't put a girl there for the life of me but the boys side is rock solid. good luck

Doesn't Bethesda have a separate Olney division?

Anonymous wrote:BSC has a very strong U11. The top team played one years up in EDP and still won top of the division. We have played with them and are no match even being older.

SAC is good options too.

No need to look clubs further away.

And for this reason, you should be comfortable with potentially being on the second team for Bethesda U11 (out of about 5 teams). They second team is also quite good and more than equivalent to most area teams’ first team. The second team at Bethesda is not treated as a second class citizen IMO. The fourth and fifth teams, though....

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for the responses! Agree with all your comments and plan to try to get a practice in with some of these clubs, but I'm imagining that being a challenge with COVID. I would completely understand parents on the team being against that right now.

Yes, I know I need to start thinking about the whole ECNL/MLS pathway at some point soon, but didn't want to go down that rabbit hole here and as we have seen the entire landscape can change overnight. I'd like to focus on the program, club and coach for now and hope it all works out. From what I have seen it is not as big of an issue on the boys side between ECNL and MLSNext, but definitely something I need to start thinking about very soon.

I have only seen Pipeline play in person and both times were pretty impressive so I was originally leaning there, but not sure it's worth essentially driving past SAC/Armour to get there!

Just an FYI that this has not been an issue for us at all as we are doing a similar search for our 2011 daughter (tho in VA not MD). Every team we've contacted has been open to let her practice before trying out. We are practicing with a couple of teams in March.

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for the responses! Agree with all your comments and plan to try to get a practice in with some of these clubs, but I'm imagining that being a challenge with COVID. I would completely understand parents on the team being against that right now.

Yes, I know I need to start thinking about the whole ECNL/MLS pathway at some point soon, but didn't want to go down that rabbit hole here and as we have seen the entire landscape can change overnight. I'd like to focus on the program, club and coach for now and hope it all works out. From what I have seen it is not as big of an issue on the boys side between ECNL and MLSNext, but definitely something I need to start thinking about very soon.

I have only seen Pipeline play in person and both times were pretty impressive so I was originally leaning there, but not sure it's worth essentially driving past SAC/Armour to get there!

depending on where you're coming from, traffic around here may be an unpleasant surprise.

Thank you for the responses! Agree with all your comments and plan to try to get a practice in with some of these clubs, but I'm imagining that being a challenge with COVID. I would completely understand parents on the team being against that right now.

Yes, I know I need to start thinking about the whole ECNL/MLS pathway at some point soon, but didn't want to go down that rabbit hole here and as we have seen the entire landscape can change overnight. I'd like to focus on the program, club and coach for now and hope it all works out. From what I have seen it is not as big of an issue on the boys side between ECNL and MLSNext, but definitely something I need to start thinking about very soon.

I have only seen Pipeline play in person and both times were pretty impressive so I was originally leaning there, but not sure it's worth essentially driving past SAC/Armour to get there!

BSC has a very strong U11. The top team played one years up in EDP and still won top of the division. We have played with them and are no match even being older.

SAC is good options too.

No need to look clubs further away.

+1 to both PPs. I think you found a top on which no one will really disagree. The only thing I'll add is to find out where the club practices and check travel times during rush hour- some teams that seam close may end up being a longer drive than you are prepared for

Anonymous wrote:Hello, I was told this could be an informative forum for local soccer information (as long as it doesn't get hijacked) so I'm hoping folks can help out. We are moving to the area from out of state and have a U11 boy currently playing in an EDP I division with some talent so far in his soccer life and a love for the game. I know it all depends on what "talent" means, but he is consistently top 5 on the field in games he has played so far. We are moving to the Olney area and looking at a few clubs to tryout in the Spring right about the time we are moving. I have looked at a few and most clubs are a decent drive away. A drive is not the end of the world if it means a great club with a history of having solid teams/good coaches where he can be appropriately challenged. We currently drive about 35 minutes for our current club.

What would be some decent options? I saw the thread earlier this week on the U11 teams geared more towards Arlington area, but we are a bit further north and seem to have different options based on my research. I know this forum is geared more towards DC, so I apoligize, but any information folks can politely provide would be great appreciated. Based on my research it looks like Bethesda, SAC/Baltimore Armour are the top options for the boys side, and Pipeline if I want to drive a little further. It really seems like Pipeline and Bethesda consistently put out good teams. Maybe not every year, but most age groups. Arlington and other NOVA clubs may be a bit too far with beltway/DC traffic factored in. Anyway, I would greatly appreciate any productive thoughts people could share.

You nailed it. More options generally in MD. SAC/Armour are really good, and Bethesda and Pipeline are also top boys teams For you, the longer-term decision will be whether you want your son in MLS Next or ECNL (where Pipeline just joined). I would have your son try to practice with top teams from each of those three, and I would do this well before April or May if at all possible.

You're going to get lots of crazy, argumentative responses, but the truth is you've already identified the three best big programs in the area, all of which are good.
I'd talk to the coaches in your age group, find out which practices closest to you, and aim for that one.
Do not wait for official tryouts. Age group coordinators will be happy to give you a chance to train with a team to see your son's skills.

Hello, I was told this could be an informative forum for local soccer information (as long as it doesn't get hijacked) so I'm hoping folks can help out. We are moving to the area from out of state and have a U11 boy currently playing in an EDP I division with some talent so far in his soccer life and a love for the game. I know it all depends on what "talent" means, but he is consistently top 5 on the field in games he has played so far. We are moving to the Olney area and looking at a few clubs to tryout in the Spring right about the time we are moving. I have looked at a few and most clubs are a decent drive away. A drive is not the end of the world if it means a great club with a history of having solid teams/good coaches where he can be appropriately challenged. We currently drive about 35 minutes for our current club.

What would be some decent options? I saw the thread earlier this week on the U11 teams geared more towards Arlington area, but we are a bit further north and seem to have different options based on my research. I know this forum is geared more towards DC, so I apoligize, but any information folks can politely provide would be great appreciated. Based on my research it looks like Bethesda, SAC/Baltimore Armour are the top options for the boys side, and Pipeline if I want to drive a little further. It really seems like Pipeline and Bethesda consistently put out good teams. Maybe not every year, but most age groups. Arlington and other NOVA clubs may be a bit too far with beltway/DC traffic factored in. Anyway, I would greatly appreciate any productive thoughts people could share.