I don't see any major advantages to this, other than to stave off or trying to deal with burn out. Your travel team training should provide a good base to build off of. Individual training is required to really elevate your game, but you need both at very high levels.

Otherwise, I'd ask why would you do this? If you need a break, take a break, but don't expect to be right back to where you were (or better) having taken a year off, even with individual training.

It's what my younger kid told her teammates to save face when she got cut. She got more into lacrosse and never even thought about spending a year training

Anonymous wrote:You need to play to improve, don't skip a year that is so stupid

+1. It makes no sense to take off a year from playing. What is the goal? My own hot take is, if your kid doesn't love soccer enough to play on a team and train on their own (either doing drills/juggling/etc. by themselves or with a trainer) then travel soccer is pointless anyway.

You need to play to improve, don't skip a year that is so stupid

When you say skipping a travel year, do you mean you'll play on a non-travel but comp team, plus individual training? In theory, maybe, but it's really hard to get back on a good team once you leave. The better approach if skills are lacking is more individual training and less other extra stuff like camps or clinics, but don't drop the team.

Anonymous wrote:This is a kid
It's about fun
You are killing the fun. All of you
Most of you

Rec soccer is about fun. Travel should be about high level soccer which is also fun but training hard is apart of it.

Anonymous wrote:If it's a younger kid and would get really good training with a private trainer 2-3 days a week plus speed/agility training, then maybe. Though they'd still need some games, whether it's 3v3, guest playing with different teams. No training can replicate game experience.

This, individual skills definitely matter; but not as much as actually playing the game in some way. You can have an the skills and speed in the world. However, if you can't get around a defender what's it good for?

also, once you leave it's harder to get back in unless you're 'in' with the club. Not impossible; but there's is a reason ID sessions and travel tryouts so what team your kid is on and they place them for tryouts accordingly. 99% of kids are not walking back into a 'good team' from a year off.

This is a kid
It's about fun
You are killing the fun. All of you
Most of you

I would not take off a whole year, but a season might make sense. We are basketball family and have three distinct seasons and I have thought about taking the least productive one off and just doing the training.
For us the biggest opportunity cost are the weekend tournaments, lot of time spend on sitting around and driving that could be spent just scrimmaging locally or doing some skills and strength work.

So depends on the age. Lots of important lessons to be taught to boost field IQ etc. I'd be very wary about losing a year.

Our clubs practice focuses a ton on ‘team’ training and very little on individual skills. A year off from travel would undoubtedly boost your player’s individual skill sets. Increased juggling, increased touch and dribbling moves. It also depends on the outcome you’re looking for. At ODP, they look for increased technical proficiency, your player could perform well at a technical tryout for example. Also, players need friends to stay passionate about the game, I’d encourage you to seek training with a Buddy if at all possible if you take a year off. And doing a Rec season could be a joyful experience and addition when taking a year off.

If it's a younger kid and would get really good training with a private trainer 2-3 days a week plus speed/agility training, then maybe. Though they'd still need some games, whether it's 3v3, guest playing with different teams. No training can replicate game experience.

Anonymous wrote:What would the training look like?

And what age

What would the training look like?

Thoughts or experience with this at all age levels welcome. Keep it civil.