Anonymous wrote:I liked Kids Pro Soccer. Coach Marcel did a great job with young kids, and my son loved playing. Things didn't always start on time but it was a net positive experience.
My son is a teen now and over the years my eyes have been opened about sports activities in the DMV. Kids Pro Soccer wasn't nearly the worst camp or activity.
Here's one that was truly bad - a well-known high school basketball camp. Teenage boys are the 'counselors.' When I picked up my 7-yo at 3pm, he had a raging fever. He was sitting down with his head on his knees. WTF? No one thought - hey, this kid doesn't seem well, let me call his Mom.
Here's another - blatant Daddyball on rec teams. OMG the Dads who dust off their playbook and coach DS at QB, shortstop, center, etc. Ridiculous.
Anonymous wrote:I had a terrible experience with Kids Pro Soccer last year and then again this year. We are in Bethesda.
The first time, we signed up for Saturday, but no one showed up the first weekend, so I called. No one answered. We went to that park Sunday morning (to play at the park), saw the coach (we had previously done 2 seasons with them) and he said the Saturday class was cancelled and we could just join the Sunday class. We did, and it was a good experience for my DC. No one ever called to tell me that the Saturday class was not being offered, but I didn't complain because my child was getting to play soccer.
Then in the spring, we again signed up for Saturday, and no one every showed up. No one on Sunday either. I showed up for the following 2 weeks to see if I could catch the coach - no one was there. I called, email, and called - no one ever picked up the phone or responded. My fees were never refunded.
A few months later (we had not signed up for any more session after that) I received an email "cancelling" a class due to weather. About a dozen parents responded, all complaining about how Kids Pro Soccer should not ever contact them again, and they had all been ripped off. Each had a story similar to mine. Someone from Kids Pro Soccer responded to the thread saying that he was sorry those things had happened but that he was not responsible if a coach did not show up.
We had a HORRIBLE experience with Brit AM!!! I guess it really depends on whom you get and location. Brit AM was kicked out of Norwood park by park police as they had no permits for use, and all parents were forced to drive to a very inconvenient location. We couldn’t so lost all the money as they would not refund.
Given the number of folks who responded (and the number who probably stayed silent like me, but had a similar experience) I think that taking money and not planning to have anyone show up is part of the business model for Kids Pro Soccer. Out of the 4 seasons we did with them, the coach was just a no-show 2 times.
We will never use them again, and we have switched to Brit-Am.
Anonymous wrote:Marcel and in general Kids Pro have been to great to us. Some of the negatives are insane and very unsubstantiated for sure. We really recommend them.
Anonymous wrote:Marcel and in general Kids Pro have been to great to us. Some of the negatives are insane and very unsubstantiated for sure. We really recommend them.