In-house, Travel, or Premier - Which to Choose?
Soccer in the U.S. has never been stronger.
As participation continues to grow across all age groups, opportunities to play at different levels are expanding rapidly. With more options available, parents are faced with important decisions about the best path for their child’s development in the sport.
This guide is designed to help you navigate that decision-making process. Tryouts for local premier clubs are currently underway. At younger ages, however, the difference between recreational and premier coaching is minimal—most programs focus on fun, interactive games and helping kids get comfortable with the ball through plenty of touches and play.
Level of play should be progressive in terms of skill and time commitment allotted:
1. In-house
2. Travel (rec plus)
3. Premier
At CPYS, our top priority has always been—and will always be—teaching the sport of soccer to your children in a safe, fun, and developmentally appropriate way.
While we’d love to see every child stay with us throughout their journey, we understand that may not always be what’s best for each individual player. As parents, many of us are navigating the same question: Which level of soccer is the best fit for my child?
Skill:
Think about the level your child is currently playing.
Is s/he consistently the best player on the field, or at least one of the top couple of kids?
Do other parents seem to think so, too? Keep in mind, too, that we’re not just talking about scoring the most goals or kicking the ball twice as far as everyone else.
Can your child trap the ball?
Does your child play his/her position instead of running wherever the ball is? Does your child know when to pass, when to dribble, and when to shoot?
If so, then maybe pushing your child up a level is something to consider.
Time Commitment:
In-House
In-house soccer requires the least amount of time. Players typically practice once or twice a week and play one game on Saturday mornings—all right here in Crown Point.
Travel
Travel soccer requires a bit more commitment. Players practice twice a week, may attend occasional special training sessions offered by CPYS and our partners, and usually play one—sometimes two—games per week. Games can be up to an hour away and are generally held on Sundays between noon and 6:00 p.m. Consider whether this schedule works well for your family.
Premier
Premier soccer demands the greatest time commitment. Most clubs hold 2–3 practices per week, each about 90 minutes during the season. Out-of-season training varies, but you can expect your child to train year-round except for breaks around June 15–August 1 and November 1–December 31.
Teams typically play one or two games each weekend, with additional games during tournaments. Travel distances depend on the club and your team’s level of competition. At the entry level, expect games throughout Indiana and the Chicagoland area, generally within a two- to three-hour radius. Some clubs may also offer optional or mandatory off-season training opportunities.
Enjoyment:
This is one of the toughest questions to answer—because every child is different. Each club is different. And even teams within the same club can feel very different from one another.
A child’s enjoyment of soccer often comes from a mix of how much they truly love the game, their relationships with teammates, and the connection they have with their coach. While any level of soccer can be more or less enjoyable from season to season, it’s important to consider the overall goals of the team at each level.
At CPYS, we’re very clear that the primary purpose of our in-house program is to teach your children the sport in a fun, supportive environment.
At the travel level, we still emphasize fun, but the focus begins to shift toward player development, with fun and winning games as secondary objectives.
At the premier level, clubs aim to balance development, fun, and winning, but most will be upfront that their primary goal is to win games. This competitive focus can create added pressure that not all children are comfortable with. In addition, playing time is not guaranteed at the premier level the way it is through CPYS
in-house and travel teams—many players find that time on the field can be unequal on club teams.
In short, each level can offer your child a rewarding experience, but it’s important to think carefully about which environment best matches your child’s personality, goals, and love for the game.
Cost:
CPYS in-house costs remain mostly the same from year to year at around $120.
Travel is comparable at around $170, plus a uniform purchased once every two years for about $75.
Premier is a significant step up with costs beginning at around $1000-$2000 for access to a coach/trainer. There is also often a cost associated with gear (uniforms, warm-ups, practice wear,...) that may exceed $200. Some tourneys require hotel stays. If the team does well, they may play in additional tourneys that have fees that weren’t included in the original cost. Also, there may be off-season training opportunities that come with a cost. In short, it’s not unusual for one calendar year of premier soccer to cost in excess of $2,000-$3000.
Long Term Plans in the Sport:
How old is your child—7? 12? Do you have a sense of what they might want to do in 5, 7, or 10 years?
This can be one of the hardest questions to answer. If your child dreams of playing collegiate soccer, then at some point they will likely need to join a premier-level team. If their goal is simply to play for their high school team, travel soccer may be enough—though here in Crown Point, we’ve seen great success at the high school level with players coming from both our boys’ and girls’ programs. High school soccer can be very competitive, depending on how many players try out and how many have had premier or intensive training experience.
There’s no question that professional club coaches and trainers can consistently deliver advanced training that may push players further than we can. That said, our coaches at CPYS work hard to provide excellent instruction at every practice—they know the game, and they care deeply about helping kids grow.
So, how hard should you push your child? That’s another tricky one. The last thing you want is to burn them out. Many of our board members and coaches are in their 30s and 40s (and beyond) and still playing the game recreationally. Every child’s path in the sport is unique, and finding the balance between pushing and pulling back is something there’s no manual for—it’s simply part of the journey.
If you’ve made it this far, congratulations.
That’s a lot to take in—and the truth is, there’s no perfect flowchart for deciding where your child should play. Every path is different.
We encourage you to talk with people you trust who have children playing at different levels. Listen to their experiences. Talk to your child about what they want. Go watch a practice or game from a CPYS travel team or a local premier team. Speak with the coaches in person. Do your research.
Above all, remember that our main goal at CPYS is to support your child’s growth in the game—whether that’s with us or somewhere else.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected]. We’re here to help.