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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP here.  This is what I've gleaned from this thread, supplemented by some others in this forum.  FYI that we currently have a coach we like, 2 practices/week fall/winter/spring (winter is indoors).  There was summer training but it wasn't taken very seriously (lots of kids on vacation), so that would be different with travel.

At U10, the training is probably on par with at least the lower travel teams-- in terms of practice time and in terms of quality of coach (clearly subjective).  Competition is weaker than with top travel teams but maybe not weaker than lower travel teams at this age.

By U11, we may be falling behind in terms of practice time (it sounds like some U11s to go 3 practices/week).   Depending on the MSI division (they only have one division at U10 but two in U11), the competition may remain on par with the lower travel teams but will be significantly lower than top travel teams.

By U12 there is a real difference.  Practices go to more like 4 practices/week (?) and level of competition goes up again.  So if you're going to do travel, you probably need to enter that track by U12.

Generally speaking, the top travel teams are traveling significant distances (requiring several nights of hotel stays per year) by U12.  Lower travel teams are traveling an hour or two for normal games and a couple/few overnight hotel stays per year.  But this seems to vary a lot based on club and level of the team.

If you're a good player on a lower level travel teams you will probably become good enough to make a high school team (depending on school), but these players won't be competitive for a D1 or D2 college team.

Does that sound about right?

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So u9-u12ish training should concentrate individuals skills and technique. All the players should rotate through the different positions during game and get the same amount of playing time. Training this way the team will lose games because you really do not care about results, only individual development. It’s easy to game the age group and win game but not develop players. Does your current team or club train this way?
 
The big difference in travel vs non travel is the practice and the other girls she practices against. The u10’s travel club’s practices(like BSC) will be 45 minutes of individual skill work and drills, 15 minutes of other work(maybe speed of play) and 15 minutes of scrimmaging. The girls are competitive and will push each other. By u12, it is hard for a non travel girl to catch up to the top team girls. I know there are a few on this board who say this is not true and anyone can join the top teams at u12 after only playing rec. In my experience this is not true. The only girls I have seen do this are the extreme fast(as in easily out run everyone on the top team at u12), athletic and big girls. Is this your DD?

Just take your DD to a few practices and see how she likes it. Many girls find it hard to keep up in the drills and get intimidated. She may not want to do it after going to a practice or two. As for the weekends, it is what it is. I really have not had a free week since my kids are born and I am fine with it. It stopped being about what I wanted to do and is more about what they are doing. [/quote]

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