Selecting the Right Soccer Club: How Does Developmental Growth Opportunity Factor into Club Selection

If your athlete has big goals, it makes sense to put them on a path towards these goals as early as possible. But as a parent, you also want to give your athlete plenty of time to enjoy their childhood and have fun playing sports.

Many parents of young athletes face this dilemma today. The real question is, at what age should a young athlete start focusing on their long-term goals? In other words, when should they start prioritizing developmental growth as high or higher as having fun?

In the case of soccer, of course the answer depends, but the general rule of thumb is when your athlete reaches 11 or 12 years old. It’s at this point when team rosters become less fluid.

Why 11-12 is an Important Age for Youth Soccer

When your athlete is under 11 years old, there’s really no need for them to belong to the most elite club in their region. Why? Because the top youth soccer leagues (e.g. MLS Next, ECNL, Girls Academy) start at U13 and most clubs don’t really start building out those teams until U12 (when the players are 11 or 12). Most clubs like to ensure their teams have a year of playing together so when they hit that next level of competition, they are ready to face it as a team.

This isn’t to say that when your athlete reaches this age, they will either be in this elite talent pool, or they won’t. Players develop at different ages and the best clubs in the world are pretty mediocre at talent ID before puberty, which is why every player’s path is different.

It is to say that it becomes harder to break into those teams after U12 and it takes a player working more on their own to get there. The elite teams typically practice more per week, and thus get more touches, than the teams a level or two lower.

What To Do When Your Child Reaches This Age

Before everything else, having fun is the top priority. No 16 year old is going to happily skip hanging out on a Friday night with their friends because they have a game the next morning unless they know (perhaps subconsciously) that they’re going to have fun at the game.

Prioritizing fun is especially important before they turn 11 or 12. It doesn’t matter what club they belong to as long as they are having a positive experience and developing a real passion for the game. If they don’t love what they’re doing, your athlete won’t have the motivation to continue with their sport and conquer all the adversity that comes with it when things get hard.

When your child will be playing U12 the following season, it’s time to think about their options. Have a conversation with them and ask them how serious they are about their goals. Are they prepared to spend less time on things like video games, and more time on soccer? Are they prepared to work on their skills when they get home from school instead of just hanging around like most of their friends?

The important thing is that the decision is theirs to make – they won’t reach their highest level unless they are willing to put in the time.

Is Your Athlete Ready to Get Serious?

For most players, 11 or 12 years is old is the time to start working towards any big goals they have. Most clubs won’t consider a player elite unless they have top technical skills at 14, when development shifts more heavily to focus on decision-making, athleticism, and mindset. When they are 11 or 12, they still have time to catch up on any technical skills they need to improve and be in the right club environment to help them grow and get the exposure they need to continue on past U19. 

At Beyond Goals Mentoring, we know this is not an easy decision for a young child to make. It requires them to look deep within themselves and see just how much they love soccer, something many young athletes haven’t truly done. But that’s what we’re here for. Harnessing our own experience as former pros, we’re dedicated to helping young athletes prepare for the demands of high-level competition. A big part of this process is determining if they’re truly passionate enough to face what lies ahead.

So, if your athlete isn’t sure if high-level sports is for them, let’s set up a mentoring session today and help them make the right decision for their future.