NP here. In case anyone is interested in having their son try out for an academy or pre-academy program for the coming year, now is the time to look into it. Bethesda-Olney is having open tryouts now for interested players, and the website gives information about how to contact a coach to make arrangements to try out. DC United's website indicates that they will be posting Spring tryout info shortly.

Re fees, DC United posts fee info on their website for the U14, U16, and U18 academy teams, but not for the pre-academy teams (at least I couldn't find anything). Their academy fees appear to cover the costs of travel. Note that, at least for the current season, the travel seems to be a bit more extensive for pre-academy teams than for the academy teams, though I'm not sure that all DC United pre-academy teams send a their full roster to every game. I have the sense that the DC United rosters for pre-academy are larger than those for Bethesda.

Our son is playing on a Bethesda-Olney pre-academy team this year, and I believe that the fee for the year was $1900. This includes all training, games, tournanments and uniforms, but we are on our own for travel (we rely on our mini-vans and carpools). All the boys on the team go to each game. We have been very happy with the experience overall, and hope that our son will make one of the Bethesda-Olney Academy teams next year.

If you want to get a sense of what sort of travel would be involved for an academy team, click on the club(s) you are interested in on this page, then click on the age group: http://ussda.demosphere.com/Clubs/index_E.html

Pre-academy schedules for our region can be found here: http://usclub.demosphere.com/schedules/2013-14/62770790.html

The only Academy programs are Bethesda/Olney and DC United. Potomac is not in the Academy anymore. This is for the best of the best and is extremely competitive. Additionally, kids in this program are not allowed to play HS Soccer per Academy rules.

College recruiting (D1-3) only takes place at large tournaments such as Bethesda Thanksgiving, Annandale, Jefferson Cup, Dallas Cup, Surf Cup, Disney and a few other major tournaments.

The non Academy Bethesda teams send many kids to mostly D3 programs- see the 2014 list here.

Here is the Academy College List- (A merged team with Olney that has been top 5 in the nation for years)
http://www.bethesdasoccer.org/Default.aspx?tabid=200237&mid=228230&newskeyid=HN1&newsid=21275&ctl=newsdetail

Here is non Academy College list:
http://www.bethesdasoccer.org/Default.aspx?tabid=200237&mid=228230&newskeyid=HN1&newsid=21269&ctl=newsdetail

Bottom line, if your kid is super serious about soccer and wants to play in college at any D1-3 level, programs like Bethesda, DC United, Potomac, etc is the way to go. It's training and tournament exposure.

MSC Academy fees for 2023-2014 are 1600$ for the year

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

On a per hour basis it's less expensive than most kid activities. I figure my kid spends a minimum of 6 hours a week at practice/games for at least 45 weeks/year. So that works out to about $10-12/hour. And it keeps them active and occupied, gives them the skills to play on their high school teams, and at least my kid enjoys it. So it's worth it for us, but maybe not for your family.

Well, we can afford it but don't subscribe to this scam and philosophy of training (games, games: ribbons and trophies). I prefer the European (e.g, Netherlands) approach -- drill and kill re: skills rather than games at a young age. I know this is anti-American (mind and muscle) but I prefer the products of this philosophy. 6 hours a week of soccer games for elementary school children is absurd...no wonder our boys never excel at the higher levels of play. They lack basic and fundamental skills in favor of a chest of trophies.

This sounds good, but where you you find the European approach here? We'd like to sign up!

There's a new guy in the area starting his own program called Arrington Training and Development...I think they just launched a website. He told us that he's trying to break the mold of the Bethesda/Potomac clubs. He coaches our son (13 yr old), and in only a year we've really seen a substantial improvement in his skills and love of the game. He's from the area and also played somewhere in europe for a couple of years....He's set on developing his own program. Apparently all of his teams play in MSI classic and not travel, because according to him, the training is more important than spending extra money on travel leagues. I would recommend him...he comes off as someone who has a plan for the future with the boys, not just there to get a paycheck... might be worth looking in to!

He coached at the high school level this fall and the players thought he was really great.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

On a per hour basis it's less expensive than most kid activities. I figure my kid spends a minimum of 6 hours a week at practice/games for at least 45 weeks/year. So that works out to about $10-12/hour. And it keeps them active and occupied, gives them the skills to play on their high school teams, and at least my kid enjoys it. So it's worth it for us, but maybe not for your family.

Well, we can afford it but don't subscribe to this scam and philosophy of training (games, games: ribbons and trophies). I prefer the European (e.g, Netherlands) approach -- drill and kill re: skills rather than games at a young age. I know this is anti-American (mind and muscle) but I prefer the products of this philosophy. 6 hours a week of soccer games for elementary school children is absurd...no wonder our boys never excel at the higher levels of play. They lack basic and fundamental skills in favor of a chest of trophies.

This sounds good, but where you you find the European approach here? We'd like to sign up!

There's a new guy in the area starting his own program called Arrington Training and Development...I think they just launched a website. He told us that he's trying to break the mold of the Bethesda/Potomac clubs. He coaches our son (13 yr old), and in only a year we've really seen a substantial improvement in his skills and love of the game. He's from the area and also played somewhere in europe for a couple of years....He's set on developing his own program. Apparently all of his teams play in MSI classic and not travel, because according to him, the training is more important than spending extra money on travel leagues. I would recommend him...he comes off as someone who has a plan for the future with the boys, not just there to get a paycheck... might be worth looking in to!

Anonymous wrote:When my DC tried out for Bethesda last year they said it was $2500/year (plus the extras). He joined another club that is about $2400/year plus about $200 for uniform (not including warmups, but practice jerseys were provided by they club), and maybe $300/season for tournaments (have done mostly local tournaments, 6-8/year, so limited travel expenses).

No idea on hockey but most of the fees for soccer go for league fees and the professional coaches. And soccer is year round - we've got a couple of weeks off in the summer and a couple of weeks off in November so it's a decent amount of work for the coaches. Plus there are fees for the practice and game fields. Our club (and Bethesda, not sure about Potomac) has paid to install a couple of turf fields.

Wow. And I was balking because our club is around $1500.

Uniforms don't have to be $200.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Capital Futbol Club is much more reasonably priced. If the big suburban powerhouses are too intense for you, there are smaller clubs in the area if you look around.

The is also a new club/league in NW- DC Youth Futbal.

Very inexpensive and really good coaching:

http://www.dcyouthfutbolclub.org/

This is a great option for kids looking for more than rec but not ready to commit to a travel program. Or any youngster looking to build their skills.

I contacted these guys on numerous occasions and left messages...no response

Anonymous wrote:Capital Futbol Club is much more reasonably priced. If the big suburban powerhouses are too intense for you, there are smaller clubs in the area if you look around.

The is also a new club/league in NW- DC Youth Futbal.

Very inexpensive and really good coaching:

http://www.dcyouthfutbolclub.org/

This is a great option for kids looking for more than rec but not ready to commit to a travel program. Or any youngster looking to build their skills.

Anonymous wrote:Interesting info. When considering Bethesda, Potomac, DC United Academy, DC Stoddert, MSI or McLean, does one group have a greater success of getting kids placed on top soccer teams for college?

here's some info:

Bethesda Soccer lists 20 boys going on to college in 2012:
http://bethesdasoccer.org/bethesdasoccer/Home/Collegeinformation/tabid/15693/Default.aspx
Bethesda Soccer lists 15 boys going to college in 2011:
http://bethesdasoccer.org/

Potomac Soccer had 9 kids in 2012:
http://www.potomacsoccer.org/usdevelopmentacademy/index_E.html

Potomac soccer lists 15 kids in 2011:
http://www.potomacsoccer.org/usdevelopmentacademy/590142.htmlhttp://www.facebook.com/

McClean lists 7 in 2011 and 10 in 2010
http://www.mcleansoccer.org/page/show/97043-u-s-soccer-development-academy

DC United lists 10 college commitments in 2012:
http://www.dcunited.com/news/2012/02/academy-officially-announces-2012-university-commitments


I think any of these programs will get exposure and the chance to play at a top academic university (e.g. Harvard, MIT, Emory, Washington U) or very good schools with strong soccer programs (e.g. Maryland, Virginia, Georgetown).

I don't know if DC Stoddert or MSI Travel lists kids going to college, but their teams are not at the same level as the top teams from Bethesda or the Developmental Academies. I assume playing in lower level tournaments, tournament brackets, and leagues will mean less exposure to college coaches as well as a less impressive soccer resume'.

ok, I did find a list for MSC (MSI travel)- they list few if any boys going to college programs in 2010 and 2011 (possibly zero, but can't say if any of those names are boys)- http://msipremier.d4sportsclub.com/PageCustom.aspx?id=32

I think there is some misinformation on this thread. DC-united "Academy" may be cheaper than some other clubs, but I think the pre-academy (under u-15) is more. There are 4 local designated US Developmental Academies- DC-United, Baltimore Bays, McCLean, and Potomac, but I wouldn't put them at the same "level". Looking at the standings, DC-United and Baltimore tend to do well, and Potomac struggles. McClean seems to be in the middle. http://ussda.demosphere.com/standings/index_E.html The goal of the developmental academy is "designed to produce the next generation of National Team players." However, based on my experience (as a parent) in pre-academy aged club soccer, McClean and Potomac are not as strong as numerous other local non-DA clubs.

Yes, that's right. It's Pre-academy he's trying out for. I think he would be allowed to play HS sports for now.
I am very torn about this. I really don't want him to miss out on some many school events during the week or on the weekends when he's traveling for away games. I am also worried about keeping up with schoolwork. On the other hand, he is so passionate about soccer and apparently quite good.....
What have other kids' experiences been?

Anonymous wrote:How much of a time commitment are these academies? My son is trying out for DC United academy next week and will be entering HS in the fall. I am very worried about how he could keep up with his academics and play so many hours of soccer a week?

I'd ask them to confirm but the kids we know have practice 3-4 times a week. I think they are expanding the game schedule next year to start earlier in the fall. On the other hand kids are no longer allowed to play high school soccer so that frees up time in the afternoons. But if your child is starting HS he's probably trying out for Pre-academy which I think is slightly less intense.

How much of a time commitment are these academies? My son is trying out for DC United academy next week and will be entering HS in the fall. I am very worried about how he could keep up with his academics and play so many hours of soccer a week?

Anonymous wrote:

On a per hour basis it's less expensive than most kid activities. I figure my kid spends a minimum of 6 hours a week at practice/games for at least 45 weeks/year. So that works out to about $10-12/hour. And it keeps them active and occupied, gives them the skills to play on their high school teams, and at least my kid enjoys it. So it's worth it for us, but maybe not for your family.

Well, we can afford it but don't subscribe to this scam and philosophy of training (games, games: ribbons and trophies). I prefer the European (e.g, Netherlands) approach -- drill and kill re: skills rather than games at a young age. I know this is anti-American (mind and muscle) but I prefer the products of this philosophy. 6 hours a week of soccer games for elementary school children is absurd...no wonder our boys never excel at the higher levels of play. They lack basic and fundamental skills in favor of a chest of trophies.

This sounds good, but where you you find the European approach here? We'd like to sign up!

Capital Futbol Club is much more reasonably priced. If the big suburban powerhouses are too intense for you, there are smaller clubs in the area if you look around.

I would comment that its the professional coaching that you are paying for. In classic league that can vary greatly.