I would say 8 or 9. Our club takes everyone and there are a couple kids who came in later and haven't and won't catch up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Why the hell you think Loudoun has like 5-6 tiers? OP must be trolling hard or be a severe n00b

Because they do- gray, black, red, white, and I think green, along with ECNL.

Plus the challenge and rec.

Anonymous wrote:
Why the hell you think Loudoun has like 5-6 tiers? OP must be trolling hard or be a severe n00b

Because they do- gray, black, red, white, and I think green, along with ECNL.

If you want to identify a town’s borderline psychopathic parents, stop by a U8 travel soccer game. Remember the faces, and avoid them all entirely.

To answer your question, it’s probably around U12. But in this area, the psychopath/narcissistic parents who base their identities on their kids’ athletic prowess have been at it for 5 years by then. Think about that for a second - insanity.

It really depends on your child's skill level and the quality of the rec league. We moved my DD to travel at U9 because half the girls in rec really didn't want to be there, which made rec less enjoyable for my DD. We weren't looking for the best travel team ever, but were glad to find a local club where she was on a team with other girls who wanted to play soccer and a coach who was teaching possession style of play.

If your child is having fun in rec, then you probably can wait longer to make the change.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would find a year round futsal program as young as possible, probably 7 or 8.

+1. Probably better off doing Futsal and/or some additional training/camps and moving up to the meat grinder that is travel once the kid is playing year round because they WANT to be doing training and camps in winter and summer and practicing 3x per week, as opposed to because you put them on a year-round team.

Yes. Futsal is what matters for young players. combine it with private training and you will be so far beyond any travel player.

Why is futsal so important? Trying to understand what’s changed since I played in the 90s.

It’s not. Some of the local clubs tell you it does so that they can get more revenue. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the futsal pushers get a cut of those revenues.

I think the ASA developmental league (ADP) is a great middle ground for kids who want more competition than rec but don't want the commitment of travel. 2x practices and 1 game a week, all local. It's by birth year so some kids become eligible in 2nd grade, which seems too early for me. But by 3rd/4th it works.

Loudoun starts a challenge level in 3rd grade. Definitely by 5th grade, if only because there end up being fewer rec teams and the rec has to travel farther than the challenge teams for matches,