January 3, 2023
Finding The Right Soccer Level
Finding the right level of soccer for your child is crucial in his or her development.
Soccer in the US is growing fast, and there are more options than ever for players to find a team that is right for them. For parents though, this is a very important decision to make. Finding the right level of soccer for your child is critical in ensuring that they have a positive experience and just as important for you to have a positive experience as well. Your decision needs to be based on a number of factors and we can discuss them below.
When deciding on the right level of soccer, it is important to take the following into consideration before making the final decision:
1. Goals for playing soccer
– When a player is very young and just starting the game, the decision is easy to make as you just want a player to get experience. But as they get older, it’s important to figure out why your child is playing the sport. You need to ask the following questions:
These are all important questions to ask when making a decision on the level of soccer to play in as it’s important to match up their goals with the experience to keep players motivated.
2. Budget
– The highest levels of youth soccer can get quite expensive with annual fees potentially ranging between $5,000 and $10,000. Therefore, it’s important to consider this when deciding on the next step for your kid. There are more and more opportunities for scholarships within some of the top soccer academies in the US, but just like any other scholarship, these will be selective and tough to get.
3. Time
– Just like any other activity, it’s important to evaluate the amount of time you and your child are willing to spend on soccer. Time commitment can range anywhere from an hour or two a day once or twice a week at the lowest levels to two hours or more a day 6 times a week. Finding the right balance of time with your schedule (and school) based on the goals for your child is important to make sure that other things in life do not suffer.
Based on these factors, here is a short summary of the levels of leagues in the US that teams participate in that you can choose from. As noted, there is a place for every player to play.
1. Recreational Soccer
– This is the entry level for almost every soccer player and often a level that players continue to play in if their interest levels are just to stay active and make friends. This is a perfect place for players who are not overly competitive but enjoy the social experiences of the sport. There are many recreational options locally as every city typically has an option.
2. Travel Soccer
– This is a very broad category with a wide range of leagues and competition levels, but this is ultimately for the player that would like to have a more competitive experience and still want social experiences as well. These players will typically play in high school but maybe not pursue any soccer further once they get to college. United States Youth Soccer Association (https://www.usyouthsoccer.org/) offers a number of options that fall into this category.
3. Travel Soccer with plans for College
– There are a number of newer leagues that have formed for these players. Players looking to play in college at the different options there with or without a scholarship should pursue playing with clubs that fall into this category. Some of the leagues include Elite 64 (
https://www.usysnationalleague.com/elite-64/
), ECNL (
https://www.theecnl.com/
), Elite Academy (
https://eliteacademyleague.com/
), and GA (
https://girlsacademyleague.com/
). In addition to regular games in a league during the season, these programs offer different college showcases and national tournaments that help get players visibility.
4. Plans to play professionally
– This is another area that is relatively new and still forming within the US, but professional teams have begun to develop their own academies to identify and develop players for the top stages of soccer. Programs like MLS Next (
https://www.mlssoccer.com/mlsnext/
) and USL Academy (
https://www.usl-academy.com/
) give players a stage to showcase themselves to professional scouts.
Soccer continues to expand in the US with the ultimate mission of getting more and more players into the game while offering options for all levels of players. Additionally, players can independently train outside of their regular team training to help them with their goals whether it is to stay fit or progress to the next level. This is where training solutions like Sogility
offer opportunities for players to achieve their goals.
The post Finding The Right Soccer Level
appeared first on Sogility.
Soccer is evolving. Today’s game is faster, more tactical, and more demanding than ever before. Physical ability and technical skills are still crucial, but there’s another factor that’s become just as important: the mind . Modern coaches are turning to cognitive training to help players think quicker, process information faster, and make better decisions on the field. At Sogility, we’ve made cognitive training a cornerstone of our development model — because the smartest players often become the most effective ones. What Is Cognitive Training in Soccer? Cognitive training focuses on improving the mental skills that impact performance: Decision-making speed Focus and attention Anticipation and awareness Problem-solving under pressure In soccer, every second matters. A player must constantly scan the field, process what’s happening, and act — often before the ball even reaches them. Cognitive training builds these skills through drills that simulate real match conditions. Why Coaches Are Making the Shift Traditional soccer training emphasized fitness and technique. Those remain essential, but elite coaches now realize games are often won by the players who think fastest. 1. The Modern Game Is Faster With high-pressing styles and quick transitions, players must make decisions in fractions of a second. 2. Soccer IQ Wins Matches Players who can anticipate runs, identify passing lanes, and adapt instantly have a huge edge. 3. Talent Without Thinking Falls Short A player with great skills but poor awareness won’t succeed at higher levels. Cognitive training bridges that gap. How Sogility Builds Cognitive Skills At Sogility, we’ve designed training stations that blend technical execution with cognitive demands. Examples include: Light-Driven Reactions: Rebound boards light up in random sequences, forcing players to react quickly while maintaining control of the ball. Dual-Task Drills: Players might dribble while solving visual or memory-based tasks, training the brain to handle pressure and multitasking. Game-Like Scenarios: Training isn’t static. Every rep asks players to scan, decide, and execute — just like they would in a match. This combination of mental and physical work develops both the body and the brain, creating players who are sharp, adaptable, and game-ready. Benefits of Cognitive Training For coaches, cognitive training delivers clear advantages: Smarter Players: Athletes who can read the game and anticipate situations. Fewer Mistakes: Quick, confident decisions reduce turnovers and errors. Enhanced Composure: Mental training helps players stay calm in high-pressure situations. Team Cohesion: When all players think faster, the team moves as one. Success Stories From the Field Professional academies and clubs around the world are investing in cognitive training technology. Players who embrace it are often the ones who rise to the top. At Sogility, we’ve seen youth players dramatically improve not just their touch and speed, but their ability to see the game differently — recognizing spaces, options, and solutions they didn’t notice before. What Parents Should Know Parents often focus on skills like dribbling, shooting, or passing. While those matter, the mental side of soccer is what separates the good from the great. Supporting your child in cognitive training ensures they’re developing the full package — the skills and the smarts. Final Thought The future of soccer belongs to players who can think as quickly as they move. That’s why modern coaches are embracing cognitive training — and why it’s central to Sogility’s philosophy. By sharpening both the mind and the body, players become more than athletes — they become complete, intelligent soccer players ready for the next level.
Soccer isn’t just a game of talent — it’s a game of repetition. Every pass, touch, and decision is built on thousands of hours of practice. At Sogility, our training system is grounded in sports science: combining physical, technical, and cognitive drills into structured, repeatable routines. The result? Players who don’t just play — they perform consistently under pressure. Why Repetition Matters in Soccer In any sport, but especially in soccer, repetition is the key to mastery. Here’s why: Muscle Memory: Repeating the right movement over and over teaches the body to react instinctively. That’s how a perfect first touch or quick turn becomes second nature. Speed of Decision-Making: When players practice hundreds of game-like scenarios, their brain learns to recognize patterns faster. Confidence Under Pressure: Players who know they’ve drilled a move countless times feel less panic and more control in real games. Think of it this way: talent gives a player a head start, but repetition ensures they can stay ahead. The Sogility Approach: Repetition Done Right 1. Interactive Rebound Boards & Lights Instead of mindless drills, our stations create real-time challenges. Players get instant feedback, forcing them to adapt, react, and repeat the right movement. 2. Cognitive + Technical Integration Soccer isn’t just about skill with the ball. Our system blends mental tasks with physical drills, so players develop sharper soccer IQ while honing technique. 3. Gamified Training Kids are more likely to stick with repetition when it feels like a game. By making drills competitive and fun, players push themselves without even realizing it. 4. Trackable Progress Players can see measurable improvement in speed, accuracy, and reaction time — turning repetition into motivation. Science-Backed Benefits of Repetition Sports science backs up what Sogility has seen firsthand: Neuroplasticity: The brain forms new connections with repeated practice, helping players adapt and learn faster. Motor Learning: Skills move from “conscious effort” to “automatic response” through structured repetition. Long-Term Retention: Players who train with spaced, consistent repetition retain skills for years, not just weeks. What Parents and Players Should Know It’s not about doing something once or twice. True skill comes from hundreds — sometimes thousands — of quality reps. Boredom kills development. That’s why Sogility keeps repetition engaging through variety and gamification. Repetition builds confidence. The more a player practices a skill in a safe, structured environment, the more they’ll trust it in a real match. From Training to Game Day Repetition in a controlled environment prepares players for the chaos of the field. A winger who’s practiced first touches hundreds of times will control the ball naturally in a high-pressure game. A midfielder who’s drilled quick passing patterns won’t freeze when pressed by opponents. A goalkeeper who’s faced endless reaction drills won’t hesitate on a split-second save. Final Thought Repetition is the secret ingredient that transforms “good players” into “great players.” At Sogility, we’ve built a training system that makes repetition structured, effective, and fun. It’s not just about doing drills — it’s about building habits that stick for life.
When parents watch youth soccer, it’s easy to spot the “talented” kids — the ones who glide past defenders, score goals with ease, or seem to have a natural touch on the ball. But here’s the truth that every parent and player should know: talent alone doesn’t guarantee success in soccer. What really separates the good from the great is consistency — the steady, structured work put in over time. At Sogility, we’ve seen this proven in thousands of training sessions. Talent vs. Consistency: What’s the Difference? Talent is what players are born with: natural speed, agility, or instinctive ball control Consistency is what players build: showing up, training deliberately, and repeating the right actions day after day. Think of talent as a spark. It can light a fire, but without fuel (consistent training), it burns out quickly. Consistency provides the fuel that keeps a player’s development moving forward. The Problem with Relying on Talent Alone Traditional soccer training emphasized fitness and technique. Those remain essential, but elite coaches now realize games are often won by the players who think fastest. Many young players who dominate at age 10 or 12 hit a plateau by the time they’re 14 or 15. Why? Their peers catch up physically. Their “natural” skills aren’t enough at higher levels. They never developed the mental habits of working hard every day. Consistency ensures a player keeps improving while others stall. Why Consistency Wins in Soccer Development 1. Muscle Memory Through Repetition Soccer is a game of small margins — the right touch, pass, or decision in a split second. Consistent training creates automatic responses under pressure. 2. Confidence Through Mastery Players who consistently train know they’ve put in the work. That confidence translates into match performance. 3. Durability Over the Long Season Consistent, structured training builds not only skills but also endurance and resilience, reducing the risk of burnout and injury. 4. Adaptability to Higher Levels Consistency teaches players how to keep learning and adjusting as the game gets faster and tougher. How Sogility Builds Consistency Into Training At Sogility, our entire model is designed to make consistency possible and enjoyable: Structured Stations: Players rotate through drills that target technical, physical, and cognitive development. Gamified Training: Lights, rebound boards, and interactive exercises keep players engaged and eager to come back. Measurable Progress: Players can track improvement over time, turning consistency into visible results. Accessibility: With both facility training and SogilityGO at-home systems, players can build habits anywhere, anytime. What Parents Can Do to Encourage Consistency Focus on Habits, Not Just Wins: Praise your child for showing up and putting in effort, not only for scoring goals. Set a Training Rhythm: Just like school homework, soccer practice should have a regular schedule. Make Training Fun: Tools like SogilityGo rebound boards or backyard training sessions help keep energy high. Be Patient: Remember, development takes time. The results of consistent training might not show in weeks, but they shine over years. Real Stories: Consistency in Action At Sogility, we’ve seen players who weren’t the most “talented” on their teams transform through consistent training. Players who struggled with first touch improved within months of steady repetition. Others who lacked confidence became leaders on the pitch simply by committing to showing up every week. Final Thought Talent may open the door in youth soccer, but consistency is what carries players through it — and keeps them moving toward their goals. With the right structure, support, and environment, every player has the chance to maximize their potential. At Sogility, we’re proud to provide that pathway.