Soccer · Red Flags
12 Questions to Ask Before You Sign Anything for Travel Soccer
Before committing to a club or program, ask:
The 12 Questions
- 1What specific USSF (or United Soccer Coaches) license level does my child's actual team coach hold, not the Director of Coaching?
- 2How many years has this coach worked with this exact age group?
- 3What is the full, itemized annual cost, registration, club dues, mandatory showcases, travel, gear?
- 4Which specific showcase events does the program attend, and what's the actual, verifiable college-coach attendance at them?
- 5How does this club's national-platform affiliation (if any) compare in cost and travel to a strong local/regional alternative?
- 6Is there a structured ACL-injury-prevention component to training?
- 7What's the team's protocol for reported knee pain or instability?
- 8Is the coaching staff background-checked and SafeSport-certified?
- 9Can you watch a live practice before signing?
- 10Is private training "recommended," or quietly required to stay competitive on the roster?
- 11How many players from this specific program have gone on to play in college, and can that be verified independently?
- 12How much roster turnover has this specific team had in recent years, and why?
Red Flags to Walk Away From
- ✕A program that won't let you watch a practice first.
- ✕Vague coaching bios with no specific license level named.
- ✕Pressure to commit to a national platform before local-level development is established.
- ✕Mandatory private training bundled into a "showcase package" with no cost breakdown.
- ✕Recruiting-success claims that can't be verified with specifics.
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We don't name, rank, or score any specific club, team, or organization. This page is general education only, always verify current details directly with US Soccer/USSF and the NCAA.