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Where to Begin Your Soccer Journey: Evergreen’s Guide to Entry-Level Soccer

Where to Begin Your Soccer Journey: Evergreen’s Guide to Entry-Level Soccer


Starting your child’s soccer journey is exciting, but with so many programs available, it can be hard to know where to begin. At Evergreen Premier Soccer Academy (EPSA), we believe every player deserves a right start, regardless of their experience level. Our goal is to help families understand the local soccer pathway and find the best fit for their child’s age, confidence, and goals.


Close-up view of a soccer ball on the grass during a training session

Step 1: Begin with Recreational Soccer


For players new to the game, recreational soccer is the ideal entry point. These community-based programs focus on fun, teamwork, and basic skills like dribbling, passing, and coordination. Most players spend two to three years at the recreational level before showing readiness for more structured training or select-level play.


From a parent’s perspective, rec soccer is affordable, local, and low-pressure, making it ideal for busy families or kids exploring their first sport. It offers short seasons and limited travel, helping children build confidence and friendships. However, coaching quality can vary, and advanced players may eventually feel underchallenged once they’ve mastered the basics.


Common starting points include:

Step 2: Development & Select Programs


Players who progress through these stages often move into Select-level soccer, where most recreational clubs form a first or second team through tryouts. (Note: this level is separate from programs like i9 Sports or Arena Sports, which focus more on general skill development rather than team competition.) At the Select level, training becomes more consistent and competition takes on greater importance. Most players spend one to two years at this stage before trying out for Premier.

For parents, this stage is both rewarding and transitional. You’ll see noticeable growth in skill, focus, and teamwork. Practices become more frequent, and weekend games may involve short travel. The experience teaches discipline and commitment, but it also means a larger time and cost investment. Families should plan for regular practices, uniforms, and seasonal tournaments.

Step 3: Premier Prep — Bridging Development

Our Evergreen Training program bridges the gap between Select and Premier competition. Training is tailored to the needs of each group, emphasizing advanced technical repetition, conditioning, and real-game management. It is helpful for Players must already be part of a strong Development or Select team to participate.

From a parent's standpoint, this is when commitment becomes more visible. The rewards are huge players build confidence, maturity, and readiness for high-level competition. Parents often appreciate seeing their child’s dedication and leadership grow. The tradeoff is the increased structure: more travel, stricter attendance, and higher costs. Families who thrive at this stage usually view soccer as part of their lifestyle and long-term development, not just an activity.

Step 4: Competing at the Premier or Elite Level


Once players are ready for full-time competitive play, they transition into a soccer club that offers Premier or Elite-level teams, competing in one of the top leagues such as WPL (EA & MLS Next Tier 2) or RCL (ECNL).Premier players typically train year-round for about 11 months, practicing 2–3 days per week, with league matches in the fall and spring seasons and tournaments during the summer and spring. At this level, soccer becomes a platform for advanced tournaments, college exposure, and long-term athletic development.


From a parent’s perspective, Premier soccer is both exciting and demanding. The pros include professional coaching, strong player development, and a positive, competitive team culture. Players gain resilience, focus, and a deeper understanding of commitment and teamwork. The cons often involve increased time, travel, and financial investment. Balancing school, recovery, and family life becomes important — but families who stay grounded and communicate openly often find this stage the most rewarding.


List of clubs below:

Eye-level view of a soccer field with young players practicing dribbling drills

Premier & Elite Clubs – Divided into Two Main Leagues


In Washington, Premier and Elite soccer programs are divided into two major competitive pathways:


  • WPL → EA → MLS Next Tier 2 ( Pathway) – Includes a wider range of teams and programs. These clubs are ideal for players seeking high-level competition and development opportunities without the full national travel demands of Tier 1 leagues.

  • RCL → ECNL (Pathway) – Represents the top-tier competitive clubs in the region, with teams competing at the highest levels of youth soccer nationally.


WPL / EA / MLS Next Tier 2 Clubs:

(Many options available, with several located near Bellevue)


RCL / ECNL Clubs

(Top-tier regional and national competition programs)



Evergreen’s Approach: Growth at the Right Pace


Hopefully, this provides some context to help you make the best decision for your player. So, what does all this mean? It’s a reminder that development is a journey, not a race. Each stage — from recreational to elite — builds the foundation for the next, and every child’s path is different.


Some players begin to develop later. We often see major growth around age 12, even if progress between ages 7 and 10 feels slow. Once things start to click, improvement can happen quickly, and confidence follows. The goal isn’t to rush to the top, but to nurture confidence, skill, and character along the way.


Every player will experience both strong seasons and challenging ones, but what matters most is learning from each step. True growth and long-term success don’t happen overnight they come from years of patience, consistency, and support. We hope this perspective helps families make thoughtful, informed choices, understanding that while we can’t predict the future, we can shape it through steady, meaningful development.


High angle view of a soccer coach giving instructions to a young player on the field


 
 
 

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