What team/club is right for your youth soccer player??

[@dlachtor]

Great video. Our son was in one of the “scam” clubs you speak of and your video solidified our choice to move him to a proper academy with paid coaches, a development process, and a real commitment.

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Fantastic!!! Lot of scams out there in youth soccer.

[@Kaulana478]

So much helpful information in here. Coaching ratios were/are a big reason I am staying at the club my daughter is at. Most practices have 3-4 coaches available at the U11 which is so helpful at the younger ages when staying on task is limited by their focus.

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Good point!

[@ntimeproductions]

I have not seen any "scam" clubs, at least not in my area. Although I did move my son from a bigger club (club with multiple locations) to a smaller one where he could play up in age group and get a lot of playing time. This has made a big difference in his progress because if he had stayed in his age group, it would not have been as much of a challenge. His team has won 2 out 3 tournaments this season, and we keep track of his stats so we know he had 27 goals, 32 assists in 32 games played as a midfielder. He also does Atlanta United RDS and will be doing Futsal this winter. We remain active and try to track his progress.

[@joemiddleton25]

I suspected you you were local to me which is really cool! We just put together a reAlignment committee at our club to work on some of these exact things!

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Interesting. Love to hear more about that. What club are you at?

[@spacejam2009blue]

I’m a new coach. I took a bunch of rec u12 girls and started a semi competitive team. Playing indoor now but we’ve beat a couple us club soccer teams. But I am struggling with some girl not being committed and some girls a little behind. I need help

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Email me. Happy to do what I can.

[@andrewlove1987]

How about choosing a team or club as a coach?

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Good idea for a video.

[@walterramirez1723]

Thank you for this very useful video, I needed this information.

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Glad it was helpful!

[@sadie8368]

Not sure if you’re going to see this but I would love some advice on what to do. I am currently in rec soccer and have been since I was 10. I’m 14 and this is the last year I can do rec but I would love to try out for travel. I’ve gotten significantly better this fall and was the best player in the team by a long shot. I’m doing a winter soccer program with kids from a higher level travel and they are definitely a higher level than me, but I can still manage to get a few goals. Do you think it would be manageable for me to do a camp this summer along with rec soccer to prepare for select travel/the freshmen team? Should I do more over the summer?

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Skies the limit. If you want it bad enough out the time in. I imagine tryouts are in May? I would ask to train with teams you might tryout for to get them to know you prior. Let me know how I can help!

[@sadie8368]

@@CoachRorySoccer For some reason, all travel soccer in my area have tryouts in mid July, so I think that would give me plenty of time to prepare. I guess what’s something in general that you should expect to do in a tryout (like any skills I should focus on?) the one thing I struggle with it juggling. I don’t really get how it helps with soccer besides from control but I will work on it if it could help my in tryouts.

[@peterdeschweinitz2880]

Our nine year old daughter has been asked to join an academy that plays four or five time a week for an hour and a half each time. She loves soccer and is already on a great competitive club with encouraging coach and wonderful team rapport. I am worried that if we don’t take the opportunity to train in the academy she will not reach her potential, which seems to be at least solid division one women’s soccer (she wants to go pro but it’s way too early to think like that as a parent). I don’t want her to burn out but I also don’t want her to get left behind girls who choose to play in this academy. What are your thoughts?

[@CoachRorySoccer]

What does she want to do? Burnout is largely overblown in players who live the game. In my experience.

[@rcdegruttola5089]

You should go and evaluate the team and the coach. Even if you can go to a game. The club will use terms like " pathway " and " great exposure or experience " . What they don't tell you is , is now your child is gonna complete and replace an existing girl on the team. There will be jealous teammates. Parents will also be jealous that their child is no longer starting. My daughter has been thru it all. I could tell you plenty of first hand experience from the top clubs in North carolina and New York. My advice is get your daughter as many touches as you can and as many games as you can even if the quality of play is a little lower.

[@arcticwanderer2109]

Hi Coach, my 9 year old dominated the league last year and was recommended to train with U11s this year. He is head and shoulders above the rest, strong and fast (8.5 sec 60m) technically well developed for his age and his vision is beyond his years. He has been given the option of training with U12s but I am hesitant to put him there as the chances of getting injured would be great. Some kids there are 5'8. I am currently in Toronto and I'd like us to move to the US to give him an opportunity to play with elite talents. Here, the talent level is good but not great. What do you recommend from here on?

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Sounds like he probably needs to move on. Probably to a bigger club where you currently live. Toronto is big enough there must be good sized clubs that could offer your player more competitive training at ages closer to U9. I definitely would not train with the U12s your just asking for an injury. Good luck!

[@arcticwanderer2109]

@@CoachRorySoccer Thanks coach, would be bugging you a lot for future advice. 😂

[@keithw.4373]

Thank you for the video; I’ve watched a lot of your vids and taken the knowledge you’ve given to Coach my U9 rec team to great success. Of my 12 players, half will be leaving the team to go to academy/club soccer at the end of the season. It’s bittersweet to lose so much of the team but these kids have become so motivated in the sport and practice a lot on their own, so I know that academy will be right for them. I have a big question of whether my son should transition to academy soccer. He also is passionate but unlike his other teammates, I don’t see him take initiative to practice on his own time. If I come home early from work and ask if he wants to do some training, he’ll drop what he’s doing for it. He reads soccer books too. He plays his position and knows how to build out from the back. But since he doesn’t get enough touches on the ball, he is still lacking on technical skills. Would it be too soon to put him in an academy team?

[@CoachRorySoccer]

No not too early at all if he is motivated to play at a higher level and get better.

[@customtoysandmore]

I am doing my research on soccer clubs for my boys. They tried out for MLS Next and LFC IA. Made both, but can only choose one. What are your thoughts on LFC IA? I don't know anything about EDP and how the tournaments work.

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Find a coach who cares about developing you. It’s the most important factor. I’m convinced the league you play in doesn’t matter. IMO.

[@sorciresoriano1196]

Coach Rory, My son is 10 years old, and he is on a team coached by my husband. My son is very good and is passionate about the sport. He even tried out for a higher level team and got selected, but unfortunately, due to transportation logistics, he was unable to join the team. To be honest, i dont think my husband wanted him to play for them. My husband says it matters most for kids to go to higher level teams when they are 13. I have read this as well, but out of 12 boys on our team, approximately 5 are really good and have to pick up the slack for the other lower level players on the team. We live on a small island, and all the good players go off the island where there are more resources. I want to know if you think waiting it out on our current team would not hurt my sons skill level in the long run or should i have a conversation with my husband discussing the possibility of switching teams. And yes, my son loves his teammates, and we all have a great rapport, but i see my sons skill level going down due to the quality of players he has with him. Iron sharpens iron.

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Send me a quick email. Let’s chat there. [e-mail] I have a lot of thoughts and would like to help you out with more context etc.

[@FireTable64955]

So i recently joined a club and I’m currently playing for EDP it’s my first club and my first year but I want to try to get to MLS Next I’m playing for Cedar stars Monmouth do you have any tips for me to get to this level if it’s my first year at the club? What do I need to improve and show coaches that j can play MLS next after my EDP season?

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Do outside work. Technical. Do they have techne or an app they use club wide. Show up and out work everyone all the time. Don’t let mistakes bother you. Just keep playing. Good luck!

[@CyberXShinobi]

Coach, what is your take on the curriculum/style of coaching between coerver, barca academy, us youth soccer, and usa soccer? I know most coaches try to get their license through USA soccer, but how do the training methodologies stack up/differ?

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Yes very different. I actually just finished my UEFA C course. I currently hold a US C as well. I’ve been thinking about doing a video comparing the experiences. Coerver is very technical based. Barca I’m not as familiar with. I’d assume it’s more like a TOVO approach which I like a lot. Most coaches do go through USSF or USC in the states to get licenses/diplomas. One thing I would say is there is no substitute for grinding and coaching day to day. Learning from your mistakes and failures. Coaching year round for the last 8 years has taught me a lot.

[@CyberXShinobi]

@@CoachRorySoccer I eagerly await your video on the topic. I've coached two fall seasons (U5 & U9) and I find the more I study soccer/coaching, the more I come across different coaching styles and methodologies. Maybe in your video you could explain your coaching lineage and current methodology influence? Once again thank you for making these videos, they are filling the gaps in my coaching knowledge.

[@speranzacrane8006]

I would love a one on one call with you to ask some specific questions. If you are available please let me know.

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Shoot me an email happy to help you out.

[@shutthefrontdooor]

I'm in Utah. What is an exorbitant amount to you guys? I think my club is cheap, registration, uniforms comes in at 400ish. Before tournaments and travel. We mostly use parent coaches, our coaching director has USSF A. Our top teams have national C or D. No technical directors. Clubs around us are at the $2300 mark to play for them. What are the ranges around y'all?

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Yeah $400 would be on the cheaper side. That being said I know clubs that charge that kind of money to players who really should just be in a rec league for like $60. Depends on the level of the team and what you are getting for that $$ to your point!

[@daviddickey1994]

I am in facebook jail and need to brag about my granddaughter, Ruby a 6th grader. Last night her basketball team finished their season undefeated league champions. Tonight she played in her first school team soccer game. She is supposed to be a practice only player on a 6-7th grade team. But her coach surprised her and had her dress out because she has worked very hard, and then she got to play 10 minutes. Our young people are so precious, so much bad is going on in their world. I am grateful for team sports and other activities and the adults that direct them, giving kids the opportunity to learn the game, or music or whatever, learn teamwork and develop character. Thanks y'all!

[@ronjamdio86]

Hi, so how important is it in your opinion for a club to have the regulation size goals. Does it affect the game or the players much?

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Having regulation sized goals seems pretty important. If your club doesnt have actual goals I’d look to play elsewhere.

[@ronjamdio86]

@@CoachRorySoccer that's what I thought, I know it is very important. I just wish they would understand that. Thank you for your reply. Love your videos

[@Kaulana478]

Only thing I don’t agree with is that Philadelphia Union shirt. 😉

[@CoachRorySoccer]

😂. You probably won’t want to know one of my coaching gigs then.