Pretty much all top team players we know do extra training outside of team practices. It does not have to be private.

DS is u14 and has been doing small group training 3 times a week with older kids. He was very nervous at first, but wow it helped so much. Highly recommend doing small group training and seeing if you can put your child with kids 1-4 years older. Your kids awareness and technical ability will skyrocket

Group performance/weight training is a great idea in winter for the U11-13 players/teams. Would highly recommend group vs. private. The players love it, it's fun to learn and more affordable as a group if a parent volunteer is willing to set up and coordinate. Any chance for players to develop together as athletes, outside of soccer is amazing. Highly recommend Healthy Baller in Bethesda.

Anonymous wrote:Daniel Welsh is great. Recent high-level D1 soccer player, originally from Scotland, who is super positive with kids.
https://www.welshsoccer.com/individualtraining

I was looking at host site, too, and there are some great examples of some of the training on there. My guess is most trainers can provide the same types of drills it the personality fit and budget and your DC’s own motivation to want to do it should be the deciding factors. What is the end game? And is it what your child wants?

Daniel Welsh is great. Recent high-level D1 soccer player, originally from Scotland, who is super positive with kids.
https://www.welshsoccer.com/individualtraining

My daughter started with a private trainer at that age. Most of her team did not, but she wanted more than what she was getting from the team.

CoachUp

b/c some teams don't do skills training during the year, just team tactics.

My 11 year old works with a private trainer once a week. I am not sure that it has made him improve significantly, but he likes it and it gets him out of the house, so why not?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son just turned 11 and works with a trainer one hour per week. He loves it. Gives him individual attention and fixes weak spots - both of which he'll never get in practice. Both strength and conditioning and skills based. Not for a family on a tight budget.

What would you say would be the best way to find a trainer that is strong? I’ve seen some coaches on coachup that seemed to be questionable.

I used coachup. Only pay for one session and see if you like them. Shop around until you find someone you like.

Please note that it’s not the solely the private training sessions that makes a player better. It’s the hours of practice the player puts in practicing skills that the private trainer teach them.

Anonymous wrote:Our son just turned 11 and works with a trainer one hour per week. He loves it. Gives him individual attention and fixes weak spots - both of which he'll never get in practice. Both strength and conditioning and skills based. Not for a family on a tight budget.

What would you say would be the best way to find a trainer that is strong? I’ve seen some coaches on coachup that seemed to be questionable.

Our DD and 3 teammates work with a trainer once a week in addition to practice three times a week. It’s a bit much, but they enjoy it and are really benefiting from it.

Our son just turned 11 and works with a trainer one hour per week. He loves it. Gives him individual attention and fixes weak spots - both of which he'll never get in practice. Both strength and conditioning and skills based. Not for a family on a tight budget.

Anonymous wrote:Real question. What percent of travel team kids around 10-12 years old have private trainers? It sounds insane to me but if many are doing this, it could explain why certain kids seem to improve so much more than others. Parent on teams may not admit it so hoping this forum sheds some light!

My 12 year old DS have private training twice a week. We have been doing it for about year. Results have been remarkable.

Real question. What percent of travel team kids around 10-12 years old have private trainers? It sounds insane to me but if many are doing this, it could explain why certain kids seem to improve so much more than others. Parent on teams may not admit it so hoping this forum sheds some light!