Futsal is great if your kid wants more soccer. It gives him the opportunity for a lot of touches on the ball and more goal scoring opportunities.

Some people say basketball is closely related, but I don't know enough about basketball personally.

PPA has a great futsal league and it's pretty light - no practices, just games. But it's been very helpful for foot skills.

Can't speak to DCU, but Bethesda's is not good.

Let him try other sports in the winter.

If he has good footskills then Futsal is a good option, but if you are looking for something closer to outdoors soccer, you should find a indoor soccer league. Futsal is great if you have a skilled team with good footwork, if not you will be chasing balls down all day long.

I agree basketball has incredibly useful spillover for soccer - especially in learning how to get open on throw-ins and playing/moving/defending off the ball I was initially skeptical about indoor soccer, but at 8 and 9, it can be useful if played with other skilled players with active refs. Hockey is an apt description when it is not supervised. But futsal is the closer analogue when it is supervised and played between among more skilled 8 and 9 year olds. We played in a travel league and it definitely brought our team closer together when other teams have winter breaks. It also toughened some of the kids up. Connecting play significantly improved over the winter. Beyond 9, I can imagine that the field would be a little too crowded and the activity a little too rough. Fairfax Sportsplex winter leagues are good and the refing is solid.

indoor soccer at that age may not be worth it, IMO.

My DS played U7 and there were few practices due limited facilities and the games are more like hockey than soccer - very limited skill development.

Basketball is actually more valuable for my DS at that age than indoor soccer.

Looking for indoor soccer options for my DS this winter. Any thoughts about the DC United program versus Bethesda? There are obvious price and length of practice differences. Looking for any feedback for those who have experience. DS is 6 and plays U-7 right now. Thank you.