How will your player be U9 in the spring? he must be U9 already.

If you want a reality check to see what is ability level actually is, go to Bethesda and see which team he is placed on and how he does.


If Bethesda is holding their cattle call tryouts take your kid and find out which team he is placed on. You don't have to take a spot, but, you will have a sense of his athleticism compared to other kids who are presumably into soccer. Lots of kids are perfectly happy on Bethesda's 2nd and 3rd teams, but if your only goal is to move to a higher team, you are likely to be disappointed. My kids are older now, but the biggest thing you need to learn about all club sports is that the director will always make a big show about "developing players". The reality is that the focus is always on the very small percentage of best players. Everybody else is just paying the bills.

Anonymous wrote:How will your player be U9 in the spring? he must be U9 already.

If you want a reality check to see what is ability level actually is, go to Bethesda and see which team he is placed on and how he does.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The grooming of another crazy soccer parent begins. The kid is 9, by 12 he might not even like soccer or better yet he might burn out with such intense training.

Look back at many kids at age 8 who where the good player on a team, how many are doing different sports, playing multiple sports etc.

a kid trains kids in our area, he plays high school most of his kids he trains are all from high pressure clubs who didn't let the kids have fun , call it babysitting with a ball but they are all having fun

kids need to have fun at that age nothing too serious

Or maybe he'll continue to love soccer and come to appreciate that he started playing with a good club at a younger age. I'm not sure where you are getting "such intense training" from as parents are just recommending good clubs. Have fun watching your kid sit in the dugout...I mean play baseball..

Anonymous wrote:The grooming of another crazy soccer parent begins. The kid is 9, by 12 he might not even like soccer or better yet he might burn out with such intense training.

Look back at many kids at age 8 who where the good player on a team, how many are doing different sports, playing multiple sports etc.

a kid trains kids in our area, he plays high school most of his kids he trains are all from high pressure clubs who didn't let the kids have fun , call it babysitting with a ball but they are all having fun

kids need to have fun at that age nothing too serious

Anonymous wrote:OP: This is your oldest / first travel soccer child I assume?

Be patient. Posting on a public board about where to take your future Messi already spells trouble for the trap you might accidentally fall into by over thinking things and believing youth soccer experience is all about playing 3d chess to make sure you win 10 years from now.

Echoing others on this thread, keep him where he's having fun. Don't talk about the game in the car ride home. If he's dominating games, move him up an age group. And save your money and personal time in the process.

Unless he is constantly playing on his own in the yard at home 1-2 hours a day without needing to be told to do so, then there is no need to overthink where he has fun on the weekends. Feel lucky you're living in an areas with so many options nearby. Don't spend $thousands per year and 5-10 hours a week in traffic until he's at least 12 and still as passionate as you say he is today. It seems counter-intuitive, but it's actually a less-is-more reality. If he's truly talented, and playing on his own at home / watching youtube for technical drills he can master, he'll have all the skill needed when the real top programs can then teach him positional and team play in his teen years.

And one last piece of advice, let him play other sports as long as he wants to.

Good luck.

Anonymous wrote:Get in at Bethesda and take every opportunity for training with Phillip Gyau.

He currently coaches the U11s which are likely the very best boys team at this age in the entire USA.

Do this even if you DS does not make the top team. It's worth the money.

If money is not a concern, follow others advice here.

Anonymous wrote:OP: This is your oldest / first travel soccer child I assume?

Be patient. Posting on a public board about where to take your future Messi already spells trouble for the trap you might accidentally fall into by over thinking things and believing youth soccer experience is all about playing 3d chess to make sure you win 10 years from now.

Echoing others on this thread, keep him where he's having fun. Don't talk about the game in the car ride home. If he's dominating games, move him up an age group. And save your money and personal time in the process.

Unless he is constantly playing on his own in the yard at home 1-2 hours a day without needing to be told to do so, then there is no need to overthink where he has fun on the weekends. Feel lucky you're living in an areas with so many options nearby. Don't spend $thousands per year and 5-10 hours a week in traffic until he's at least 12 and still as passionate as you say he is today. It seems counter-intuitive, but it's actually a less-is-more reality. If he's truly talented, and playing on his own at home / watching youtube for technical drills he can master, he'll have all the skill needed when the real top programs can then teach him positional and team play in his teen years.

And one last piece of advice, let him play other sports as long as he wants to.

Good luck.

Anonymous wrote:U9? Closest to your house, team with your kid's friends.

Keep them interested and growing to love the game at this age.