Soccer summer camp for experienced U13 boy (2024)

Would second the suggestion to go overseas and get some experience in a different system.

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Four Soccer (found an old post about them but their website seems out of date)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.

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.

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.