Below are excerpts from an article regarding Players Moving Up, provided for parents as an additional decision-making tool.  To read the entire article, click here:

...Why do children play soccer? I’ve gone to the experts themselves, the children, to find out! The two most common responses from 7 and 8 year olds was “because it’s fun” and “I want to play with my friends”. And while those reasons were important to the 9 and 10 year olds, I also got responses that were more goal oriented, like learning new moves and playing like a professional player they look up to.

...They’re more comfortable in conversation and behavior which directly affects their confidence and self-esteem. Coaches (and parents) need a solid understanding of how children think, behave and process information at various ages……this is almost more important than knowing how to demonstrate moves and movement on the soccer field! Coaches need to understand how to create environments that provide challenge and success for all of their players regardless of thi skill level.

...We all need to exercise patience. What’s so bad about a player having an environment where he gets to be leader? Where he gets to be the hotshot, ball hog, go-to player? Where he gets to have the proper field size and speed of play to allow him to work his moves?! And maybe even be able to develop his own moves and unique style? Much of what we do and try in life has to do with our feelings of self-confidence….feeling safe in our environment to try new things. At these young ages, we need to focus on developing the whole player…….all four components…..each of them being vitally important.…and above all, we need to help the player nurture a love and passion for the game!