In today’s youth soccer world it's becoming harder and harder for the parents to decide which local soccer club will offer the best soccer experience and the right kind of environment to develop as soccer player and as a person. 

 

What are the most important factors when choosing the right team for your son or daughter?

 

Coaching matters

There is no factor more important than who coaches your son’s or daughter’s team. What are his or her credentials as a coach, teacher and a developer of young talent? Past coaching career or playing career, coaching philosophy, coaching curriculum, style of play and current coaching licenses are all things to take into consideration. Most of the player development is done on the practice field and therefore it is very important that you trust the development of your child to this particular coach.

 

Competition and games matters

What league (Local, Regional, State and National) is your team playing in? The USA League, CDL, NPL, ENPL, FSCL, Champions League and the next DA league all offer different levels of play. What is the right league, division or level for your team to participate in? Who does the club play against, how many games do they play and how much travel is involved?  Competitive games are important part of youth development, so make sure that you feel comfortable with the possible league competition.

 

Club culture and level matters.

There is a difference between recreational and competitive soccer teams. If you are serious about soccer, do your homework and make sure you join a club and team that meets your commitment level and expectations. Not all the competitive club teams are good so make sure you research the team history and their record. 

 

Practice facilities and location matters.

Not every team or club is fortunate to have a good practice facility and fields. How much field space does your team have? What is the quality of your field? Are the fields maintained properly? Can the fields handle the rain? All these question matter, when it comes down to the quality of your overall practice experience. And yes, central location does matter. You want to spend your quality time in practice, not trying to get there and back.

 

The cost of joining the club matters.

Are you getting your money’s worth or are you just buying into the hype and promotional machine of the soccer club. Is the level of coaching, training, youth development, games, practice facility and the overall club culture worth the price?

 

College and Professional connections and network matters

Only very few players will have to opportunity to play college or professional soccer. If you are in this small selective group then it obviously makes sense to join a club with top-level coaches, who have a network for you to tap into.