Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just don't get caught in the "Bethesda is great" trap. Yes, Bethesda is good but your player might be better off playing MSC/MSI than playing on Bethesda's B or C team. On the girls side, MSI produced a team a few years back that won the national title and has a half dozen girls from that team playing at major DI schools and one or two currently on the U23 team. Bethesda does not have one team with such success. I am less familiar with the boys' side but I would send my DS to DC United first before going to Bethesda and would consider MSC/MSI if the team had a strong coach.

OP here. This is exactly the boat we’re in. Had a great year at Bethesda but are not sure about next year’s coaches, and so thinking about a move. The problem with MSI is how on earth to figure out which teams have good coaches and committed players. I have no intention of making my DS try out for a bajillion differing classic teams.

I noticed that people are still confused with MSI’s structure. MSI has three programs:

1. Recreation
2. Classic which is Select
3. Academy which is Travel program for 2002 and younger. (For 2001 and older, it is called Premier)

There aren’t “bajillion” MSI Academy Teams. Only a few in each age bracket.

Within MSI academy are there different color teams and what is the order from best to worst?

Most of the Academy Teams only have 1 team in each age group. Hence, which gender and age group are you interested in so I can answer you.

Girls u11. Thank you!

I assume you mean rising Girls U11. In this case, the coach is AJ DeLaurentis. I believe he only has 1 team at that age group. But even if he has two teams, he doesn’t do an “A, B Team”. He spreads the players equally based upon talent and playing with friends. Basically, he doesn’t load one team with the best players and place bad players on a second team. He is more focused on development, hence why he does it this way. Some may like this strategy, some may not.

Also, he doesn’t require existing players to re-tryout every year. They are on the team unless they leave the club.

What do you think of the coach?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just don't get caught in the "Bethesda is great" trap. Yes, Bethesda is good but your player might be better off playing MSC/MSI than playing on Bethesda's B or C team. On the girls side, MSI produced a team a few years back that won the national title and has a half dozen girls from that team playing at major DI schools and one or two currently on the U23 team. Bethesda does not have one team with such success. I am less familiar with the boys' side but I would send my DS to DC United first before going to Bethesda and would consider MSC/MSI if the team had a strong coach.

OP here. This is exactly the boat we’re in. Had a great year at Bethesda but are not sure about next year’s coaches, and so thinking about a move. The problem with MSI is how on earth to figure out which teams have good coaches and committed players. I have no intention of making my DS try out for a bajillion differing classic teams.

I noticed that people are still confused with MSI’s structure. MSI has three programs:

1. Recreation
2. Classic which is Select
3. Academy which is Travel program for 2002 and younger. (For 2001 and older, it is called Premier)

There aren’t “bajillion” MSI Academy Teams. Only a few in each age bracket.

Within MSI academy are there different color teams and what is the order from best to worst?

Most of the Academy Teams only have 1 team in each age group. Hence, which gender and age group are you interested in so I can answer you.

Girls u11. Thank you!

I assume you mean rising Girls U11. In this case, the coach is AJ DeLaurentis. I believe he only has 1 team at that age group. But even if he has two teams, he doesn’t do an “A, B Team”. He spreads the players equally based upon talent and playing with friends. Basically, he doesn’t load one team with the best players and place bad players on a second team. He is more focused on development, hence why he does it this way. Some may like this strategy, some may not.

Also, he doesn’t require existing players to re-tryout every year. They are on the team unless they leave the club.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just don't get caught in the "Bethesda is great" trap. Yes, Bethesda is good but your player might be better off playing MSC/MSI than playing on Bethesda's B or C team. On the girls side, MSI produced a team a few years back that won the national title and has a half dozen girls from that team playing at major DI schools and one or two currently on the U23 team. Bethesda does not have one team with such success. I am less familiar with the boys' side but I would send my DS to DC United first before going to Bethesda and would consider MSC/MSI if the team had a strong coach.

OP here. This is exactly the boat we’re in. Had a great year at Bethesda but are not sure about next year’s coaches, and so thinking about a move. The problem with MSI is how on earth to figure out which teams have good coaches and committed players. I have no intention of making my DS try out for a bajillion differing classic teams.

I noticed that people are still confused with MSI’s structure. MSI has three programs:

1. Recreation
2. Classic which is Select
3. Academy which is Travel program for 2002 and younger. (For 2001 and older, it is called Premier)

There aren’t “bajillion” MSI Academy Teams. Only a few in each age bracket.

Within MSI academy are there different color teams and what is the order from best to worst?

Most of the Academy Teams only have 1 team in each age group. Hence, which gender and age group are you interested in so I can answer you.

Girls u11. Thank you!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just don't get caught in the "Bethesda is great" trap. Yes, Bethesda is good but your player might be better off playing MSC/MSI than playing on Bethesda's B or C team. On the girls side, MSI produced a team a few years back that won the national title and has a half dozen girls from that team playing at major DI schools and one or two currently on the U23 team. Bethesda does not have one team with such success. I am less familiar with the boys' side but I would send my DS to DC United first before going to Bethesda and would consider MSC/MSI if the team had a strong coach.

OP here. This is exactly the boat we’re in. Had a great year at Bethesda but are not sure about next year’s coaches, and so thinking about a move. The problem with MSI is how on earth to figure out which teams have good coaches and committed players. I have no intention of making my DS try out for a bajillion differing classic teams.

I noticed that people are still confused with MSI’s structure. MSI has three programs:

1. Recreation
2. Classic which is Select
3. Academy which is Travel program for 2002 and younger. (For 2001 and older, it is called Premier)

There aren’t “bajillion” MSI Academy Teams. Only a few in each age bracket.

Within MSI academy are there different color teams and what is the order from best to worst?

Most of the Academy Teams only have 1 team in each age group. Hence, which gender and age group are you interested in so I can answer you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just don't get caught in the "Bethesda is great" trap. Yes, Bethesda is good but your player might be better off playing MSC/MSI than playing on Bethesda's B or C team. On the girls side, MSI produced a team a few years back that won the national title and has a half dozen girls from that team playing at major DI schools and one or two currently on the U23 team. Bethesda does not have one team with such success. I am less familiar with the boys' side but I would send my DS to DC United first before going to Bethesda and would consider MSC/MSI if the team had a strong coach.

OP here. This is exactly the boat we’re in. Had a great year at Bethesda but are not sure about next year’s coaches, and so thinking about a move. The problem with MSI is how on earth to figure out which teams have good coaches and committed players. I have no intention of making my DS try out for a bajillion differing classic teams.

I noticed that people are still confused with MSI’s structure. MSI has three programs:

1. Recreation
2. Classic which is Select
3. Academy which is Travel program for 2002 and younger. (For 2001 and older, it is called Premier)

There aren’t “bajillion” MSI Academy Teams. Only a few in each age bracket.

Within MSI academy are there different color teams and what is the order from best to worst?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just don't get caught in the "Bethesda is great" trap. Yes, Bethesda is good but your player might be better off playing MSC/MSI than playing on Bethesda's B or C team. On the girls side, MSI produced a team a few years back that won the national title and has a half dozen girls from that team playing at major DI schools and one or two currently on the U23 team. Bethesda does not have one team with such success. I am less familiar with the boys' side but I would send my DS to DC United first before going to Bethesda and would consider MSC/MSI if the team had a strong coach.

OP here. This is exactly the boat we’re in. Had a great year at Bethesda but are not sure about next year’s coaches, and so thinking about a move. The problem with MSI is how on earth to figure out which teams have good coaches and committed players. I have no intention of making my DS try out for a bajillion differing classic teams.

I noticed that people are still confused with MSI’s structure. MSI has three programs:

1. Recreation
2. Classic which is Select
3. Academy which is Travel program for 2002 and younger. (For 2001 and older, it is called Premier)

There aren’t “bajillion” MSI Academy Teams. Only a few in each age bracket.

There is usually only one MSI academy team for this age. For MSI classic, Brit am, Toca are the ones professionally coached.

Anonymous wrote:Just don't get caught in the "Bethesda is great" trap. Yes, Bethesda is good but your player might be better off playing MSC/MSI than playing on Bethesda's B or C team. On the girls side, MSI produced a team a few years back that won the national title and has a half dozen girls from that team playing at major DI schools and one or two currently on the U23 team. Bethesda does not have one team with such success. I am less familiar with the boys' side but I would send my DS to DC United first before going to Bethesda and would consider MSC/MSI if the team had a strong coach.

OP here. This is exactly the boat we’re in. Had a great year at Bethesda but are not sure about next year’s coaches, and so thinking about a move. The problem with MSI is how on earth to figure out which teams have good coaches and committed players. I have no intention of making my DS try out for a bajillion differing classic teams.

I'm not a fan of Bethesda but I'm not here to trash them specifically, but rather to encourage you not to look at superficial things like a won-loss rate or 'prestige names' but instead to focus on how the club is going to help your kid's development--specifically--your kid's development.

Look at factors like what sort of soccer they are promoting and practicing, how many kids are on the roster, what the practice sessions are like and where they are conducted. Losing an extra 3 hours a week getting to one session due to traffic vs. the other is a significant hit in your kid's overall development--one that might negate the 'value' in being at a better club. Playing with your kid's friends may (or may not) be a benefit to your kid, so you might focus on a team where there are or are not some familiar faces.

Try to look at all sorts of intangibles, not just the easy ones.

Just don't get caught in the "Bethesda is great" trap. Yes, Bethesda is good but your player might be better off playing MSC/MSI than playing on Bethesda's B or C team. On the girls side, MSI produced a team a few years back that won the national title and has a half dozen girls from that team playing at major DI schools and one or two currently on the U23 team. Bethesda does not have one team with such success. I am less familiar with the boys' side but I would send my DS to DC United first before going to Bethesda and would consider MSC/MSI if the team had a strong coach.

Anonymous wrote:Tell that to the lower team parents at McLean and Bethesda. There are full teams of 14-16 of kids who aren't that serious/committed.

Which is why this entire thread has been focused on the pre-academy teams. Keep up.

Anonymous wrote:Don't have a child at either Bethesda or MSI Academy but have played their teams this past year and this is just not true. It really depends on the gender/age group and specific team.

In DC's age group, the MSI academy team was almost evenly matched or slightly better than Bethesda pre-academy 1 and a lot better than pre-academy 2.

Show me one tournament result where a MSI Academy team has beaten a Bethesda Pre-Academy 1 or 2 team.

Tell that to the lower team parents at McLean and Bethesda. There are full teams of 14-16 of kids who aren't that serious/committed.