PPA development would make sense as a next step. If you are in NW DC you could also look at DCYFL or if in Maryland check out Toca.

There are also some professionally coached MSI Classic teams.

We love PPA. Even their rec teams have excellent coaching (same coaches as the travel side) and practice as much as some lower level travel teams. The select teams are great too - they are really understanding that young kids have other things in their lives. They encourage kids to do multiple sports and yet still create some great players. I just think they have the right philosophy for young players.

Anonymous wrote:The answer would depend on your goal. Are you looking to move your child from a different travel team (i.e. Bethesda, Potomac, Rockville) or from rec to travel?

Is your child the type to have dreams of playing in college or just looking to have fun and learn?

OP, DS is looking to move from rec to travel and play on middle school and high school teams. Hasn’t looked as far as college yet.

DS loves soccer but has not received a lot of coaching on footwork and strategy on rec teams. He’s big for his age and his hand/eye coordination is better than his hand/foot coordination (or is that a matter of training and practice?) so he’s usually put on defense or goalie. He’s better than average at both positions but wants to learn offense. Will PPA help him make the leap to travel?

I’ve seen him make huge leaps in basketball with good coaching. He’s highly coachable according to his b-ball coach and learns fast when shown things. It’s been interesting to see how aggressive and fast he is at b-ball but that doesn’t translate ito soccer. So I suspect it’s partly an issue of confidence and partly need for skills training. His current rec team has over 15 kids on it. The coach does his best, but I can see my son needs more.

The answer would depend on your goal. Are you looking to move your child from a different travel team (i.e. Bethesda, Potomac, Rockville) or from rec to travel?

Is your child the type to have dreams of playing in college or just looking to have fun and learn?

Thank you, PP.

Anonymous wrote:Curious about what people think of PPA for skills development?

My son played against PPA's U12B top team in the Arlington tournament last month. I was very impressed with pretty much everything. Great short quick passes. Moved the ball very well. One of the few teams I enjoyed watching play.

Curious about what people think of PPA for skills development?