Bethesda Soccer Club was established in 1979 as a Maryland-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The organization fields 80 teams serving over 1,100 boys and girls, framing its core mission around developing professional and collegiate soccer players. Families can reach club administration by email at office@bethesdasoccer.org, by phone at 240-477-2504, or by mail at P.O. Box 34225 Bethesda, MD, 20827-0225. The club communicates announcements across public channels on its Facebook page, Twitter page, and Instagram handle.
WHY FAMILIES CHOOSE US
Why families choose this club
Pro and college pathway
Since 2000, the club reports producing 74 professional players, averaging three per graduating class alongside collegiate athletes at Harvard, Duke, and Stanford.
Elite training facility
Teams utilize a 34,000-square-foot Center of Excellence at 8717 Grovemont Circle, Gaithersburg, MD, providing five turf fields, an Optimum Performance Institute, and a Sports Performance Academy.
Development-first philosophy
Bethesda identifies as a development club first that emphasizes perception and decision-making through a methodology it describes as rarely used inside the United States.
Positive coaching culture
The organization holds a two-year partnership with the Positive Coaching Alliance to build a character-focused Development Zone culture for players and coaches.
Need-based scholarship support
Need-based scholarships funded by contributions, camp, and tournament proceeds are offered to help families offset club registration fees.
PROGRAMS
Programs
Bethesda SC serves youth from age four through high school seniors across EDP leagues and developmental pathways. Elite competitive pathways include MLS NEXT for boys and ECNL and ECNL RL for girls. Player selection for its ten-year player development journey emphasizes soccer aptitude, learning capacity, and family support for the club methodology. Competitive results include a boys U14 team top-3 in MD on PitchRank. Supplemental club programming includes Summer Camps and ID Clinics.
SummerSummer Camps and ID Clinics offered, per the site's program listings.
Primary training locations: Center of Excellence (8717 Grovemont Circle, Gaithersburg, MD)
TUITION
Cost to play
Families receiving club scholarships remain responsible for any uniform, club, coaching, or team expenses not covered by their award. According to club scholarship disclosures, annual club dues average approximately $3,000 per player, with need-based financial aid typically covering around 40% of dues. For younger children, introductory junior program fees range from $195 for a six-week session to $260 for an eight-week session.
Executive operations are directed by Executive Director Jonathon Colton and COO Matt Ney alongside Director of Operations Shawn Wijeratne and Director of Internal Operations Zane Campbell.
Directorial coaching model
The coaching model features separate age-group leaders including 12-14 and Older/ECNL Directors, plus Technical Leads, Youth Director Trevor Martin for boys, and Girls ECNL Director Kevin Layton.
Sports performance coaching
Sports Performance Coach Pablo Amaya previously worked with DC United's first team and developed biometrics programming for MLS, Bundesliga, and Liga MX.
Sports rehabilitation coaching
Sports Rehabilitation Coach Randy Rocha is a licensed athletic trainer who served as Head Fitness Coach for DC United and the US Soccer Men's Olympic Team.
Jonathon Colton
Executive Director
Matt Ney
COO
Shawn Wijeratne
Director of Operations
Zane Campbell
Director of Internal Operations
Trevor Martin
Youth Director (Boys)
Kevin Layton
ECNL Director (Girls)
Pablo Amaya
Sports Performance Coach
Worked with DC United's first team; developed biometrics programming for leagues including Bundesliga, MLS, and LIGA MX.
Randy Rocha
Sports Rehabilitation Coach
Licensed athletic trainer; former Head Fitness Coach for DC United and US Soccer Men's Olympic Team.
CLUB PHILOSOPHY
Club Philosophy
Bethesda states: "We are a development club first. Our goal is to combine soccer and education to develop the overall person," emphasizing a teaching method the club says is rarely used in the United States and a ten-year player development journey.
RUN THIS CLUB?
Claim Bethesda Soccer Club
Confirm or correct what's here, add what's missing, and connect your TeamSnap — free, and it's how families know this profile is really from you.