Pre-Travel Program: Player Pathway from Rec to Travel

Welcome to the Pre-Travel Program

The Herndon Youth Soccer Pre-Travel Program is designed to provide a clear and supportive pathway for players ready to advance beyond recreational soccer but not quite ready for the demands of full travel teams. This program offers a developmentally appropriate, structured training environment that emphasizes technical skill-building, game understanding, and love for the sport.

Mission

To prepare young players for the next level of competitive soccer by delivering high-quality coaching, structured training, and age-appropriate competition that nurtures technical growth, tactical understanding, and player confidence — all in a fun and supportive environment.

Purpose

The Pre-Travel Program serves as the critical bridge between recreational soccer and travel soccer. It is designed for players who are ready to be challenged at a higher level and are looking to deepen their skills, increase their soccer IQ, and experience more focused coaching without the full commitment of travel soccer.

Goals

• Develop Technical Skill Sets: Help players sharpen their ball control, dribbling, passing, shooting, and defending techniques.
• Build Tactical Awareness: Introduce core game concepts such as spacing, movement off the ball, defending as a unit, and attacking strategies.
• Foster Game Intelligence: Teach players to make smart decisions on the field through small-sided games and guided discovery.
• Encourage a Growth Mindset: Promote resilience, effort, and confidence in players as they step into more competitive soccer environments.
• Support Long-Term Development: Prepare players to transition confidently into travel programs if and when they are ready.

 

Core Skills Learned in the Pre-Travel Program

Technical Skills

 

Dribbling with Purpose

- Using all surfaces of the foot (inside, outside, sole)

- Dribbling in tight spaces and at speed

- Introducing moves like scissors, stepovers, and feints

Passing & Receiving

- Proper technique for short and medium-range passing

- Receiving and controlling the ball with different parts of the foot

- One-touch passing and basic combination play

Shooting & Finishing

- Striking with laces, inside foot, and volleys

- Shooting from different angles and distances

- Finishing under pressure (1v1 with goalkeeper, small-sided play)

Ball Mastery

- Fast footwork drills and coordination with the ball

- Juggling and balance challenges to build comfort on the ball

First Touch

- Controlling the ball while preparing for the next action

- Developing soft and directional touches

 

Tactical Understanding

• 1v1 & 2v2 Attacking and Defending
  • When to dribble, pass, or shoot
  • Defending body shape and timing of tackles
  • Shielding and protecting the ball
• Spacing & Movement
  • Understanding where to move with and without the ball
  • Finding open space and creating passing options
• Transition Play
  • Switching quickly between attacking and defending
  • Understanding how to recover on defense and press after losing the ball
• Small Group Tactics (3v3 to 5v5)
  • Support angles, give-and-go’s, overlapping runs
  • Basic positioning based on formations (triangles and diamonds)
  • Introduction to roles (defender, midfielder, forward)

Cognitive & Mental Skills

• Decision-Making
  • Recognizing when to pass vs. dribble
  • Reading the game during dynamic play
• Game Awareness
  • Understanding the flow of play, off-the-ball movement, and anticipation
  • Recognizing space, pressure, and support
• Growth Mindset & Resilience
  • Learning through mistakes
  • Encouraging effort and improvement over perfection

Social & Emotional Skills

• Teamwork & Communication
  • Talking on the field (e.g., "man on," "pass back," "switch")
  • Encouraging teammates and working together
• Leadership & Responsibility
  • Taking initiative during play
  • Being prepared for training, listening to coaches, and setting goals

The combination of technical, tactical, mental, and social development provides players with a well-rounded foundation to succeed in competitive environments and helps them prepare for the jump to travel soccer when ready.

Program Structure

Ages: U7 through U12 players

Schedule Options:

- One-Day Option: Tuesday or Thursday

- Two-Day Option: Tuesday and Thursday

All sessions are led by licensed travel coaches with experience in player development.

U7–U8 Players:

- Participate in intra-club game days and matches against other clubs.

- Encouraged to join the Pre-Travel Program as an alternative to Rec, but are also welcome to do both.

 

U9–U12 Players:

- Recommended to use the Pre-Travel Program as a supplement to Rec training and games.

- Training emphasizes advanced footwork, positional play, and game decision-making.

- Ideal for players who are considering travel soccer and/or want to accelerate their development.

 

Why Join Pre-Travel?

• Structured, skill-based sessions led by experienced travel coaches
• A positive, player-centered learning environment
• Exposure to higher-level coaching without the full travel commitment
• A stepping stone to confidently move into travel soccer when ready
• Opportunities for internal and external competition (U7/U8)

 

If your child is excited about soccer and ready for a new challenge, the Pre-Travel Program is the ideal place to grow. Whether they're preparing for the travel pathway or simply looking for more structured training, we’re here to support every player’s journey.

COST

U7-U8

• One-Day Option (16-18 sessions: 10 practices + 6-8 games): $225
• Two-Day Option (26-28 sessions: 20 practices + 6-8 games):  $375

U9-U12

• One-Day Option (10 practices): $175
• Two-Day Option (20 practices): $250

Uniform Fee

• $30 per player (2 jerseys)

REGISTER HERE