Pre-Travel Program: Player Pathway from Rec to Travel

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.