Brit-Am Soccer Academy Player Development League (PDL) in Bethesda and Potomac, Maryland

The Player Development League (PDL) serves as the premier program for ages kindergarten, first grade, second grade, and third grade soccer players (ages 5 – 8) in Bethesda and Potomac, Maryland. The progression into our PDL program serves as the next step within our player pathway, which combines the technical training needed for development along with a fun and engaging environment players love.

Led by our professionally licensed coaching staff, our top-quality curriculum offers age-appropriate, fun, and challenging practice days and game day matches. These offerings provide soccer training for five, six, seven, eight, and nine-year-olds to help them learn the sport, be confident in their abilities, and grow on and off the field. 

Our staff takes great pride in building and fostering a foundation of skills, confidence, and passion for the game. 

Continue reading to find out when our Player Development League for youth soccer players is offered and how practices and game day matches are designed to help children thrive in the sport. 

The Player Development League Schedule

PDL soccer classes in Potomac and Bethesda, Maryland run for six weeks. Players missing the cutoff with prior Brit-Am experience who would like to join should email CoachTom@brit-am.com for consideration.

Player Development League Practice Day

Our PDL practices implement a proven, age-appropriate curriculum that focuses on improving: 

• Dribbling
• First touch and ball control
• Foot and eye coordination 
• Ball manipulation 
• 1v1 skills
• Turns and changes in direction moves
• Juggling
• Trickery
• Fitness, balance, and agility

Player Development League Match Day

The playing environment is created with an emphasis on each player’s progression and enjoyment with the main focus being to learn how to play the game and not the final score. Results from these matches are not posted and scores are not tracked. 

The matches are against groups and teams from other local schools in the player’s area. The teams are coordinated and organized by school, gender, and grade, and each team is guaranteed 6 games per season (Fall/Spring). 

On match day, players will take what they learned in practice and apply those skills to real game-like situations through our age-appropriate playing formats of 3v3 (Pre-K “Dribblers”), 4v4 (K-1st “Kickers”), and 5v5 with goalies (Grades 2 and 3 “Ballers”).

Brit-Am Coaches referee the match ups and use active in-game coaching to guide & teach the players the rules of the ‘real game’. Technical training (skills) will be taught during practices but not during the Match Day experience. Our goal is to create an environment that is fun, educational, and challenging while also preparing players for Classic or Travel League action as they grow.

Match Day Format: Our PDL Dribblers, Kickers & Ballers program offers soccer education at its best in a positive, fun environment where players improve their skill during continuous play. The 4 v 4 format (no goalies) or 5 v 5 (with goalies) accelerates the development of attacking and defending concepts by encouraging dribbling, turning, stealing the ball and scoring goals along with a basic introduction to goalkeeping. This format provides a simple picture for players to learn the game and allows for players to gain experience through realistic, game-like situations.

Our professional staff takes the necessary steps to ensure each game fits the players’ needs, ultimately leading to better game intelligence and understanding.

How to Register

Want to register for one of our Open Classes? Click below for registration instructions.

Create A Team

Have a group of neighborhood friends or schoolmates? Let us organize a practice or matchday for your child and a minimum of 8 of his or her classmates or neighborhood friends. Group pricing is based on session length and group size.