Maybe the fourth team needed a kid willing to play GK.

and or GK training.

Also, be realistic. Moving up means by physically stronger and or having great ball control. True goalkeepers are highly sought after. If your son is likely to be on the taller side and he loves playing GK. Then, buy him a GK shirt, Gloves and get some GK training. If he develops some skill, he will move right up!!!

Otherwise, it sounds like he volunteered to play GK and was rewarded with more playing time as a (Winger and Striker.) But, I will tell you, better coaches will put the weaker kids in those positions. They keep the stronger kids on defense and the best kids in central mid-field.

So, while he helped the team out as a GK, he was rewarded with field playing time in positions that get rotated a lot in the younger years.

So, yes, continue with HP a

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If his goal is to play higher levels, he will need more time spent on extra training. I don’t know a top team player who doesn’t spend extra time on training. Whether it is extra training on his own, paying for a private coach, or one of the private academies, top team players do more than just the team practice sessions.

He did 1 session of HP Elite over the winter and loved it so we're doing classes over the summer and at least one session in the fall. He wants to do the goal keeper training but he's not old enough yet

If that’s how he’ll spend the summer, he will most likely move up. Don’t let the naysayers tell you players never move up. But also, be realistic in knowing that top level players, even at u-littles, are the ones who put in extra work. Unfortunately, that also means the parents paid extra $$$

Absolutely he can move back up... it happens all the time, especially in the younger ages. If he is motivated and trains on his own, anything can happen. Also, if he wants to specialize at keeper, and focus his training there, that might be the ticket.

If he is OK playing there, and you are ok paying travel team fees for less than travel team competition, there's no problem

Anonymous wrote:If his goal is to play higher levels, he will need more time spent on extra training. I don’t know a top team player who doesn’t spend extra time on training. Whether it is extra training on his own, paying for a private coach, or one of the private academies, top team players do more than just the team practice sessions.

He did 1 session of HP Elite over the winter and loved it so we're doing classes over the summer and at least one session in the fall. He wants to do the goal keeper training but he's not old enough yet

Anonymous wrote:is 4th the last team

No, there are 6 teams in his age group

If his goal is to play higher levels, he will need more time spent on extra training. I don’t know a top team player who doesn’t spend extra time on training. Whether it is extra training on his own, paying for a private coach, or one of the private academies, top team players do more than just the team practice sessions.

Score a crazy number of goals and they'll move your kid back up.

If your goal is to have fun and get play time, you may not need to move clubs.

He has a chance if he is the top 2 on his team next year.

If you just want him to have fun and improve, why switch clubs? Assuming he knows kids and is friends with kids on his new team.

is 4th the last team

There's too many unknown to determine if your son will be moved up or down.

Typically, there are more growth and movement for kids who are not on the top team.

My son played travel for the first time this year for one of the big Loudoun clubs. He's on the 3rd team out of 6 teams for his birth year (elementary ages). Player placements for next year came out and of the 10 kids on his team, 6 kids stayed on the 3rd team, 2 moved up, and 2 moved down (one of which was my son).

He took it well, and just wants to play soccer so we accepted the offer for the 4th team for next year. DS prefers to be goalie, but also plays striker and wing. He's gotten good playing time this year, mostly as goal keeper, so him being dropped down was a bit of a shock to everyone.

Assuming he sticks with soccer after next year, does he have a chance of moving back up, or should we start looking into other clubs? He loves soccer, but at least now he's not a kid who's going to be competing for a top tier spot. We just want him to have fun and improve.