Derek Biss Named New Boys U15-U19 Age Group Director

Bethesda Soccer Club is pleased to announce that longtime Bethesda Head Coach Derek Biss will be taking over as our new Boys U15-U19 Age Group Director! He will be taking over for Matt Ney, who will be coaching our Girls U10 ECNL I and Boys U11 Academy I teams this season.

Coach Biss has a long track record of success both inside and outside of the Bethesda program. In addition to serving as our U15-U19 Age Group Director Derek will continue serve as our Boys Director of Goalkeeping as well as the head coach of our Boys U15 Academy 06s and our U19 Academy 02s.

He currently holds a USSF National 'A' Coaches License, a USSF 'National Goalkeeping' License and an NSCAA Premier Diploma. In addition to his work with Bethesda, Derek has also served as the Goalkeeping Coach for Georgetown University.

As Age Group Director, Derek will be closely working with our Boys U15-U19 Coaching Staff on player development and college recruitment as well as team strategy and philosophy. BSC's U15-U19 Boys program is composed of 17 teams and over 250 players. This includes our U15-U19 Academy teams who will compete in the new MLS Developmental League and our U16 and U18 Blue will be vying for top honors in the USYS National League.

"The U15-U19 Age Group is such a vital age for our players as they are navigating the numerous paths to reach their next step," said Derek. "Being able to assist young men achieve their goals as they progress through and eventually graduate from Bethesda Soccer Club is something I am eager to be a part of."

"Having worked closely with Derek through the years I have witnessed first-hand his commitment, passion, and desire to ensure all of his players reach their highest potential," said Technical Director Jonathon Colton. "I am confident as our club enters the new MLS League and navigates the changing landscape of the college recruiting process that as an Age Group Director he will continue to have a positive impact on our players."

"My biggest goal I have for the U15-U19 Age Group is to assist our Technical Director Jonathon Colton in placing our players in the next program that will set them up for success as they continue their development as players and people," said Derek. 
Reminder: Please Make Sure To Review Our Safety Guidelines

As our club has mentioned over the last few weeks please make sure to review our Return to Play Safety Guidelines especially as we start our games. These guidelines will be implemented for all practices, games, camps, clinics and club events and reflect guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, the State of Maryland, Montgomery County and other sports governing bodies. We are in Phase II which includes:

  • Players are to quarantine for 14 days if they are traveling back from one of the following states that have been placed under a travel advisory by the state of Maryland: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Nebraska, South Carolina and Texas.
  • If a player does test negative before the 14 days of quarantine they still must quarantine for the full 14 days before they can participate in a BSC event (This includes practices, games, camps, and clinics)
  • Players are to sit six feet apart while sitting on the sideline and are to wear their masks. We also recommend that parents bring chairs for their players to help enforce social distancing policies. Coaches will also be working with players to make sure their bags are spaced apart.
  • Players will be required to wear masks when taking water breaks and entering and exiting the practice facility;
  • Players must take the pre-screen examination prior to each day of practice and mark their attendance on TeamSNAP daily;
  • Parents are not allowed to attend practice. This is so that we may abstain from large group gatherings. We are recommending that parents pick-up and drop-off their players in front of each facility. For younger players (U10 and under) we will have a coach at the front of the facility to help monitor player traffic.

For a complete look at our Return to Play Guidelines please click on the button below.

If your player or if any family member in your household tests positive for COVID-19 please contact our Technical Director Jonathon Colton directly at [email protected] 

2020-2021 Roster Spot Reminder
 
If you have not responded to your 2020-2021 season player invitation, please make sure that you do so as soon as possible. Players will not be allowed to attend practice until they have accepted their roster spot for the season.

To sign up, all you need to do is login to your LeagueApps account and click on the red 'Accept or Decline position' button. As a reminder the club has instituted the following changes to our acceptance and payment process for this year:

  • 25% reduction in registration deposit
  • Elimination of payment processing fees on player fee payment plans
  • Elimination of new uniform kit purchases (a $350.00 value)

As our club has mentioned throughout the summer should there be a delayed start to the fall season or a stoppage in play our club will provide a fair financial adjustment for the 2020-2021 season.
 
MSYSA Registration Coming Soon!

It is that time of the year again! U9-U19 players that will be playing in EDP, CCL, ECNL, and/or NCSL will be required to register through the Maryland State Youth Soccer Association (MSYSA) system for the 2020-2021 season.

Our club will be providing additional information in the coming weeks for players who will need to register through MSYSA's new platform in GotSoccer. In the meantime, make sure that you have your son or daughter's jersey number, a copy of their passport or birth certificate, health insurance information, and a clear digital passport-sized photo ready for when you register.

2020-2021 Uniform Information Update

As we previously mentioned throughout the summer our club will not be requiring returning players to purchase new uniform kits for the 2020-2021 season. If your son or daughter has items in their uniform kit that are damaged, worn out, or they have outgrown, you can purchase replacement pieces directly through our partners at PJ Sports.
If you are new to the Bethesda program you can purchase your full uniform kit online as well. Parents can also visit their store in Bethesda if they wish to have their players uniform sized before making their purchase online. PJ’s current store hours are Monday through Saturday 10am-6pm and their phone number is 301-365-0355. Please note that due to COVID-19 there have been some delays in shipping from Adidas. All uniforms are expected to be delivered by September 1st.
 
As an added bonus, Bethesda Soccer Club families are part of PJ’s Sports’ Family Discount Program. There is no charge for the program and parents will receive a 10 percent discount on all purchases. Just mention you are a member of the Bethesda Soccer Club at check out to receive your discount
ICYMI: SportsRecruits Webinar on Messaging College Coaches

On Wednesday our partners at SportsRecruits put out a great webinar on messaging college coaches during the college recruiting process. The the session focused on the rules and regulations around contacting coaches, some general Do's and Don'ts on communication, and how you can use your SportsRecruits account to help reach out to the colleges of your choice. The panel also gave some important updates on Recruiting during COVID-19.

You can check out the webinar by either clicking on the video above or the button below. As a reminder, all U15-U19 Boys and Girls Bethesda players receive a complimentary SportsRecruits account with full access to all of their resources and features. To help set up your SportsRecruits account please contact your coach.
Fall Juniors Registration Is Now Open!
Ages: 4-7
Dates: Eight Sessions on Tuesdays starting September 8th and Eight Sessions on Sundays starting September 13th
Time: 4-5pm

Our Bethesda Soccer Juniors program is designed for 4-7 year olds who are looking to break in to the game of soccer and develop their skills in a fun and educational environment. Players will be coached by our World Class coaching staff and have the opportunity to develop skills that can be applied to both practice and game situations.

Players will need to bring a ball with their name on it as well as a T-Shirt, a mask, shin guards, and a pair of athletic shoes to each session. Our Juniors Camp will also be run in accordance our Return to Play Guidelines. Spaces are limited so make sure to sign up today!

If you have any questions please contact our Soccer Juniors Director Simone Mariotti
Upcoming BSC Camps
Boys and Girls U7-U14 Elite Camp Session II (August 17-21 1PM-4PM 20 SPOTS AVAILABLE) Register Here*
Boys and Girls U7-U14 Elite Camp Session III (August 17-21 5PM-8PM 30 SPOTS AVAILABLE) Register Here*
Boys and Girls U15-U19 High School Camp Session I (August 24-28 9AM-Noon 15 SPOTS AVAILABLE) Register Here*
Boys and Girls YDP Preseason Camp (August 24-28 6-8PM) Register Here*


*Returning BSC players can apply one of their two free weeks of camp for this camp! For additional information on how to apply your camp credit please check out our camp discount tutorial. The Discount Codes are COVID20 and COVID20-2.

If you have any questions about our BSC Summer Camp Program please contact our Summer Camp Director Mike Edwards at [email protected].
Bethesda Soccer Club Mission Statement

The Bethesda Soccer Club (BSC) a 501c3 non-profit organization committed to creating a competitive, supportive, challenging, and fun environment for all our players to reach their potential through the beautiful game of soccer. With commitment to our goals and appreciation for the opportunity, we accept the responsibility to develop every player to their highest level of skills, athleticism, teamwork, and leadership in soccer. We strive to use all of our faculties – strength, spirit, courage, compassion, and intelligence – to achieve positive results on and off the pitch for our players and families. BSC’s passionate leadership and detailed, holistic approach to long-term elite development at every age group support our uncompromising resolve to be the best youth soccer club in the country. We also strive to be a positive role model for our community, including through the provision of financial support for needy families to the best of our ability.