Developing The Child Athlete
As young children grow in sports, they may show an interest in playing competitively. My son's love of soccer propelled him into competitive soccer at age six. However, my daughter did not transition from gymnastics into competitive soccer until age eight. Every child is different. They may have a personalized course and timeframe for entering competitive sports or switching sports. Once your child and family decide to pursue competitive sports, there are some things that you should know to help them with sports development. From watching my son's course over the last six years and from serving as my daughter's team manager for two years, I have identified FIVE fundamental buckets essential for optimal development.
ONE: Age-level Club Participation
This provides the foundation for team sports, including multiple weekly practices, games, and coaching. An adult experienced coach, potentially with a USSF license, is ideal, especially as your child becomes 10 years old or older.
We were very fortunate to have our son join a soccer club at the academy level that provided good and stable coaching from the start. If your child does not start at the academy level, it could be challenging to give them the necessary coaching only through their club. The other four buckets could be explored to supplement your player's development.
TWO: Private Or Independent Training
This is professional and targeted training to develop the player's skills further. It can support the club experience while providing a second, personalized dimension to development. Suppose your player lacks formal coaching through the club or is not showing improvement over a season. In that case, this may indicate a need for essential coaching through directed individual training and practice to enhance their performance in the club.
Collin was eager to develop his skills. We supplemented his development with private lessons through Pura Vida Elite in Brooklyn Park, MN, to complement his club participation. Pura Vida introduced techniques and repetitive training to support and enhance his skills. If professional independent training is not available, consider mentorship from an experienced friend or family member, or approach your club's coach or leaders for alternative options.
THREE: Extracurricular Soccer Experiences
While a club is essential, private lessons may not be available or a significant part of your player's development. Living in Minnesota near the National Sports Center in Blaine, MN, has provided us with numerous soccer opportunities, including the Barcelona InterAcademy over the last few years. This summer extracurricular activity provided a chance to experience soccer in Barcelona, Spain, through the organization Futbol First. This type of opportunity may not be possible for every player invited to play during a 10-day session overseas, but participating in the super summer camp alone exposes your player to an experience that could positively impact them forever.
This could motivate them to dedicate more of themselves to the game of soccer, or may have them realize that there are other avenues they would like to take. The more your player knows about the game locally and internationally, the more you could inspire them to develop themselves, whether. It's similar to a soccer player or someone in another sport. Collins' Barcelona experience in 2023 led him to be invited to play in the MIC tournament in Punta Cana in June 2025. It is at these experiences that a player committed to developing their skills might see how much harder they have to work by observing the talent that also attends
FOUR: Personal Player Training
A young player must spend time developing their skills individually, whether it's with a ball and a rebounder or using cones to run drills. Time during club practices and games does not provide ample time for a player to hone their skills or improve their dribbling. Private lessons can be costly and also do not provide enough time to hone these skills further. And while extracurricular experiences provide insight and inspiration, it is not where individuals' skills are forged. Even if it requires your player to spend 20 minutes, three times a week, working on an individual skill on their own, it would be helpful and supportive of their development to prioritize personal player training.
FIVE: Support
This might seem obvious, but it is instrumental to a child player's development and must be intentionally included in your player's plan. Parents or guardians play a crucial role in supporting a player in any sport, as minors require consent to participate. Grandparents, older siblings, and friends may also be part of that support system to ensure that the player gets to where they need to be for games, lessons, or other developmental activities.
We want the best for our children, and we will provide them with the necessary supplies, uniforms, and equipment, as well as transport them to ensure they can develop and succeed. Your player should also understand that others are supporting their goals with time and money, and they should take the opportunities they are given seriously. If value is given to your player, they must return that value by trying their best and immersing themselves in the opportunities provided.
Summary
There are many ways to develop a child athlete. My family has learned that having a combination of club soccer, private lessons, extracurricular soccer experiences, personal skills practice, and steady support is essential for competitive development. A personalized combination of these five pillars could serve as a solid foundation for your child's development. Each player may have a different makeup of the five buckets based on age, location, and family dynamics. Include them all in a plan to help your athlete achieve their best.
Understanding the five buckets (club, private lessons, extracurricular experiences, personal training, and support) and how they can work together can help you support the development of your athlete. If your child lacks a licensed coach, you can provide them with professional direction. Private lessons can help fill the gap, or even personal lessons from you as a parent, former athlete, or someone else with coaching experience. If extracurricular soccer opportunities are available, consider offering them to your player. This exposure can help them understand that there is more to the sport and the game beyond their club, and it may motivate them to work harder to reach the level of other players they meet. And suppose only the club bucket is available to your player. In that case, they may have to spend more time personally developing themselves to improve their skills to remain viable in competitive soccer.
