DP with a question about HP Elite... are there specific classes people would recommend for a 9/10 year old who plays travel? Are all the classes equally good and it's just a matter of what skills a kid needs the most work on, or are there specific ones that are better than others for the younger ages?

Anonymous wrote:If he is primarily looking to improve/correct ball-striking, I’d try to find either an individual trainer or contact the training company to discuss what you are looking for and see how willing they are to listen and work with you. The level of the other players isn’t all that relevant if the goal is to work on ball striking, so look for who can provide the most personalized instruction.

good point..thanks

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If he is primarily looking to improve/correct ball-striking, I’d try to find either an individual trainer or contact the training company to discuss what you are looking for and see how willing they are to listen and work with you. The level of the other players isn’t all that relevant if the goal is to work on ball striking, so look for who can provide the most personalized instruction.

Yes those companies mostly work on technical skills not ball striking

FWIW, I think NextStar does have a striking-focus session as well. I don’t know if it’s offered as regularly as their other sessions.

Anonymous wrote:If he is primarily looking to improve/correct ball-striking, I’d try to find either an individual trainer or contact the training company to discuss what you are looking for and see how willing they are to listen and work with you. The level of the other players isn’t all that relevant if the goal is to work on ball striking, so look for who can provide the most personalized instruction.

Yes those companies mostly work on technical skills not ball striking

If he is primarily looking to improve/correct ball-striking, I’d try to find either an individual trainer or contact the training company to discuss what you are looking for and see how willing they are to listen and work with you. The level of the other players isn’t all that relevant if the goal is to work on ball striking, so look for who can provide the most personalized instruction.

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have feedback on NextStar? It looks like they have a roster of training sessions each week. Do you just drop in?

After you signup online, you can just drop in. I usually paid immediately after the sessions (electronically). But you are billed monthly. We liked it for both of our kids, one who is super competitive. It’s just too far from us to attend regularly.

I think their biggest draw is the competitiveness of the kids is pretty hi. One of my kids is in a top team in a top division and recognizes a lot of the kids he’s played against.

Does anyone have feedback on NextStar? It looks like they have a roster of training sessions each week. Do you just drop in?

Anonymous wrote:Futstars in McLean, and if you are willing to go to MD, NextStar Soccer

Futstars might be interesting it. Will check it out. Thank you

Futstars in McLean, and if you are willing to go to MD, NextStar Soccer

I would look into getting a personal trainer (both will likely provide…I know GB does) to customize something specific to him. That’s what we do.

OP here. Great feedback. I was hoping GB stepped up the travel specific training. HPE seems to have a lock on it

Golden Boot seems to draw more lower level players and HP Elite draws higher level players. I cannot image that GB would be better than HP Elite. But again, it all comes down to the group that your son would be with. Many years ago, my son and about 5 of his teammates (all higher level players) did a GB camp closer to home instead of going to Chantilly for HP Elite and it was great but this group of kids was separated from the general population due to the drop off in skill.

My kids have done both HPE and GB. We love Golden Boot for my non-travel soccer player, but even the more advanced Golden Boot sessions will be too slow/basic if your child has been successful with HPE. They get far more touches on the ball at HPE, and the pace of play during their sessions is much faster than at Golden Boot. One place we've looked into but never tried is Capstone Soccer in Falls Church. Might be worth checking out for some variety.

My kids have never done HP but love GB. They’ve done many sessions, but they’re well thought out and they mix things up, so kids don’t get bored.

We have been attending HP Elite for a couple of years. DS 10yrs has enjoyed it but it has run its course. He is asking to still train but somewhere else. The only other program I could find with similar training was Golden Boot since it has different tracks for travel players. How do the two compare? He wants to work on his striking since he still 3 toe-strikes it on many occasions, especially under pressure. I am personally fond of HPE because of its repetitiveness and trying to get those skills embedded into muscle memory but I can also see how a child can see it as boring. We are in Burke are so other suggestions welcome.