Anonymous
03/03/2021 20:17
Subject: Re:Soccer summer camp for experienced U13 boy
I will put my 2 cents. All the camps are babysitting essentially. The people running it know and the coaches now. Honestly there is not one good soccer camp around any more. The best one was Maryland Soccer School back in the late 90s.
But if you want him to at least go, play and have fun, I would suggest Bethesda or corever.
Achilles just set's it up so they can try to steal players from other clubs.
But if you want him to at least go, play and have fun, I would suggest Bethesda or corever.
Achilles just set's it up so they can try to steal players from other clubs.
Anonymous
03/02/2021 17:25
Subject: Soccer summer camp for experienced U13 boy
We did Achilles. It was like babysitting. Sal wasn't even there for half of the camp and the people running it were meh at best. It wasn't for a serious player.
Anonymous
03/02/2021 15:24
Subject: Soccer summer camp for experienced U13 boy
Anonymous wrote:We're looking for a soccer summer camp for our U13 son, accessible to Bethesda or NW DC. He's been playing rec since kindergarten, so he's quite experienced and skilled, but not very fast or ambitious, hence he's never progressed to travel. I've compiled this list so far. But whenever I call a place and ask about the age distribution, it seems they mostly have younger kids (even though they advertise programs for the older kids - but I guess the older kids don't sign up.) Any experience with older kids at these places?
PPA
Coerver in MD
Stoddert
DC United at RFK
Bruce Murray
Bethesda Soccer Club
Four Soccer (found an old post about them but their website seems out of date)
Achilles FC/Sal Caccavale
DCYFC
I suggest you stay away from summer camps that cater to travel players. Based on your list above, I think DC Stoddert would be the best choice. Also Dutch Soccer is really good and fun for the kids. Maybe DC United, too -- the fields are new, and the camp is appropriate for rec players. I would stay away from Achilles and Bethesda.
Anonymous
03/02/2021 12:14
Subject: Re:Soccer summer camp for experienced U13 boy
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:In NW DC-
Four Soccer is a good option. They also have a coaches in training program for older players who want to get involved with coaching but still be able to play and have fun.
www.foursoccer.com
Achilles is tough for outside kids but a lot of good training for players already in their club
www.salsoccer.com
Bethesda runs a few different options, but don't know much about them. They're the best club locally overall
www.bethesdasoccer.org
Curious to know why a kid outside Achilles would have a tough time?
When my DS was there, kids from outside Achilles were grouped together w/o Achilles players. When they scrimmaged with Achilles kids it was often an all-Achilles team vs non-Achilles kids. It seems some parents complained and Sal sat all the players down and lectured them for 2 hours about how some of them just weren't that good and that's the way it goes. My kid was like, I just wanted to play soccer and he wouldn't stop talking! Think of it as an Achilles player training camp with other kids there just to bring in extra $ (see thread on coaches at St. Johns for some related background). This was mid-summer, though. In the early weeks many Achilles kids were still in school, so I hear it was a better experience.
Wow. Sounds like a nasty coach. How does Achilles have a good reputation with that kind of coaching philosophy?
It's a net positive lead generation tactic to generate $ as well as to see if any good talent is worth poaching/does anyone stand out and try to get them to join (and pay even more $).
Anonymous
03/02/2021 09:19
Subject: Re:Soccer summer camp for experienced U13 boy
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:In NW DC-
Four Soccer is a good option. They also have a coaches in training program for older players who want to get involved with coaching but still be able to play and have fun.
www.foursoccer.com
Achilles is tough for outside kids but a lot of good training for players already in their club
www.salsoccer.com
Bethesda runs a few different options, but don't know much about them. They're the best club locally overall
www.bethesdasoccer.org
Curious to know why a kid outside Achilles would have a tough time?
When my DS was there, kids from outside Achilles were grouped together w/o Achilles players. When they scrimmaged with Achilles kids it was often an all-Achilles team vs non-Achilles kids. It seems some parents complained and Sal sat all the players down and lectured them for 2 hours about how some of them just weren't that good and that's the way it goes. My kid was like, I just wanted to play soccer and he wouldn't stop talking! Think of it as an Achilles player training camp with other kids there just to bring in extra $ (see thread on coaches at St. Johns for some related background). This was mid-summer, though. In the early weeks many Achilles kids were still in school, so I hear it was a better experience.
Wow. Sounds like a nasty coach. How does Achilles have a good reputation with that kind of coaching philosophy?
umm, just search Sal and Achilles on here. and get your popcorn.
Anonymous
03/02/2021 09:10
Subject: Re:Soccer summer camp for experienced U13 boy
Anonymous wrote:If you want to go overseas, we've really enjoyed the AC Milan summer camps and the Ajax summer camp - be sure to go during an international week if you don't speak Dutch!
The Dutch Soccer camp is worth looking into, if your DC doesn't mind strictness of a coach. Unfortunately, at u13 you have phased out of most day camps. We sent our son and his teammates to the soccer camp run by Jill Ellis' brother and they liked that the best. Three training sessions a day plus mandatory pool time. The coaches were good and they actually said they would go back.
Anonymous
03/02/2021 08:49
Subject: Re:Soccer summer camp for experienced U13 boy
If you want to go overseas, we've really enjoyed the AC Milan summer camps and the Ajax summer camp - be sure to go during an international week if you don't speak Dutch!
Anonymous
03/02/2021 08:45
Subject: Re:Soccer summer camp for experienced U13 boy
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:In NW DC-
Four Soccer is a good option. They also have a coaches in training program for older players who want to get involved with coaching but still be able to play and have fun.
www.foursoccer.com
Achilles is tough for outside kids but a lot of good training for players already in their club
www.salsoccer.com
Bethesda runs a few different options, but don't know much about them. They're the best club locally overall
www.bethesdasoccer.org
Curious to know why a kid outside Achilles would have a tough time?
When my DS was there, kids from outside Achilles were grouped together w/o Achilles players. When they scrimmaged with Achilles kids it was often an all-Achilles team vs non-Achilles kids. It seems some parents complained and Sal sat all the players down and lectured them for 2 hours about how some of them just weren't that good and that's the way it goes. My kid was like, I just wanted to play soccer and he wouldn't stop talking! Think of it as an Achilles player training camp with other kids there just to bring in extra $ (see thread on coaches at St. Johns for some related background). This was mid-summer, though. In the early weeks many Achilles kids were still in school, so I hear it was a better experience.
Wow. Sounds like a nasty coach. How does Achilles have a good reputation with that kind of coaching philosophy?
Anonymous
02/13/2020 10:57
Subject: Re:Soccer summer camp for experienced U13 boy
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:In NW DC-
Four Soccer is a good option. They also have a coaches in training program for older players who want to get involved with coaching but still be able to play and have fun.
www.foursoccer.com
Achilles is tough for outside kids but a lot of good training for players already in their club
www.salsoccer.com
Bethesda runs a few different options, but don't know much about them. They're the best club locally overall
www.bethesdasoccer.org
Curious to know why a kid outside Achilles would have a tough time?
When my DS was there, kids from outside Achilles were grouped together w/o Achilles players. When they scrimmaged with Achilles kids it was often an all-Achilles team vs non-Achilles kids. It seems some parents complained and Sal sat all the players down and lectured them for 2 hours about how some of them just weren't that good and that's the way it goes. My kid was like, I just wanted to play soccer and he wouldn't stop talking! Think of it as an Achilles player training camp with other kids there just to bring in extra $ (see thread on coaches at St. Johns for some related background). This was mid-summer, though. In the early weeks many Achilles kids were still in school, so I hear it was a better experience.
Anonymous
02/11/2020 17:38
Subject: Re:Soccer summer camp for experienced U13 boy
Anonymous wrote:In NW DC-
Four Soccer is a good option. They also have a coaches in training program for older players who want to get involved with coaching but still be able to play and have fun.
www.foursoccer.com
Achilles is tough for outside kids but a lot of good training for players already in their club
www.salsoccer.com
Bethesda runs a few different options, but don't know much about them. They're the best club locally overall
www.bethesdasoccer.org
Curious to know why a kid outside Achilles would have a tough time?
Anonymous
02/11/2020 12:59
Subject: Re:Soccer summer camp for experienced U13 boy
In NW DC-
Four Soccer is a good option. They also have a coaches in training program for older players who want to get involved with coaching but still be able to play and have fun.
www.foursoccer.com
Achilles is tough for outside kids but a lot of good training for players already in their club
www.salsoccer.com
Bethesda runs a few different options, but don't know much about them. They're the best club locally overall
www.bethesdasoccer.org
Four Soccer is a good option. They also have a coaches in training program for older players who want to get involved with coaching but still be able to play and have fun.
www.foursoccer.com
Achilles is tough for outside kids but a lot of good training for players already in their club
www.salsoccer.com
Bethesda runs a few different options, but don't know much about them. They're the best club locally overall
www.bethesdasoccer.org
Anonymous
Anonymous
05/02/2019 12:58
Subject: Soccer summer camp for experienced U13 boy
My son has played with Achilles for several years, since its inception. The camps are his favorite thing to do in the summer. The kids are mainly from Achilles (all are required to do at least 2 weeks of camp) plus Bethesda/Stoddert/Potomac. Most are highly skilled and devoted to the sport so it’s probably not for the casual rec player. Although if your kid wants to improve his technical play and learn from some of the best coaches and players around, there’s nowhere better to go IMO. Scrimmages are fun but can be very competitive. There’s no hand-holding here! It’s best to register for more than one week to really see a difference, but believe me, you will!
Anonymous
03/29/2019 05:50
Subject: Soccer summer camp for experienced U13 boy
Anonymous wrote:We're looking for a soccer summer camp for our U13 son, accessible to Bethesda or NW DC. He's been playing rec since kindergarten, so he's quite experienced and skilled, but not very fast or ambitious, hence he's never progressed to travel. I've compiled this list so far. But whenever I call a place and ask about the age distribution, it seems they mostly have younger kids (even though they advertise programs for the older kids - but I guess the older kids don't sign up.) Any experience with older kids at these places?
PPA
Coerver in MD
Stoddert
DC United at RFK
Bruce Murray
Bethesda Soccer Club
Four Soccer (found an old post about them but their website seems out of date)
Achilles FC/Sal Caccavale
DCYF
Thanks for the info. Even if you “child is quite experienced and skilled, but not very fast or ambitious” I would not recommend that he go to Achilles or DC United (though I have less Intel on that team). Though the training is good, the head coach at Achilles can easily destroy a kids self esteem.
Anonymous
03/27/2019 23:33
Subject: Soccer summer camp for experienced U13 boy
My kids went to Bethesda Frostburg and hated it (for some of the same reasons they now hate playing with Bethesda).
Would second the suggestion to go overseas and get some experience in a different system.
Would second the suggestion to go overseas and get some experience in a different system.