Overtraining? We get this question a lot.

If you're wondering how much training your young player should be doing, you're not alone. It's a question that comes up a lot, and the answer isn't always straightforward. Sadly the issue in the States is primarily where you spend your time and on what. And if you think the answer is more of what has failed the US Youth Soccer development over the past 30 years, then you will want to take notes.

First of all, it's important to understand the "10,000-hour rule." Basically, this theory says that if you want to be really good at something, you have to put in at least 10,000 hours of practice. That means that if your young player wants to reach the top of their game, they should be training 10-20 hours per week.

But the type of training they're doing is just as important as the amount. In soccer, for example, young players can actually train more than the recommended 10-20 hours per week without any negative effects as long as the training focuses on technique and the players are having fun playing small-sided games. It's also important for there to be no pressure to win or lose. In Europe, professional clubs usually have structured academy programs for young players starting at age 8. These players may have had a couple of years of less formal training once or twice a week before then, and then move on to a more structured environment at age 8.

At the age of 8 (U9 level), young players in Europe usually train 4-6 hours per week in team sessions and 1-2 hours in individual technical sessions. This increases to 8 hours per week for team sessions and 2 hours in technical sessions at the U9-U12 levels. In the UK, changes to the academy system have increased coaching time from 4 hours per week to 8 hours per week for players at the U9-U12 levels. For the U12-U16 age groups, coaching time has increased from 12 hours per week to 16 hours per week, mainly by having the young players attend the academy for a full day each week instead of going to school. Players at the U17-U21 levels typically train 16 hours per week.

But soccer isn't the only sport that demands a lot of time and dedication from young athletes. For example, young athletes in the British national cycling program train 10 hours per week at ages 12-16, increasing to 40 hours per week between the ages of 17-21. Elite British swimmers usually train 15 hours per week from ages 12-16 and 25 hours per week from ages 17-21. Young performers at the Royal Ballet School train 25 hours per week from ages 12-16 and 17-21. As you can see, these sports require a significant commitment in terms of training time, even though the physical demands may be different from those faced by soccer players.

In North America, young soccer players may start playing as young as age 3 and be involved in club academy programs by age 7 or 8, training 2-3 times per week by then. In my opinion, it's not the number of training hours that can be tough on young players, but rather the quality of the work. Having young players focus on technical ball skills through small group or personal skills training, where they're working mostly individually with the ball or in small groups, allows them to develop at their own pace without feeling pressure to win. This type of environment also gives them the opportunity to take charge of their own development and try out new things.

At European academies, there's not a lot of focus on physical development until age 14. This is different from the situation in North America, where coaches may feel pressure to win games in order to qualify for the highest-level leagues, leading to a short-term focus on development. In these cases, coaches may believe that they can improve team results by putting more emphasis on fitness and other physical attributes, which can put extra physical demands on young bodies that are still growing and developing.

Another difference between player development in Europe and North America is the length of programs. In Europe, programs usually run for 42 weeks, with 10 weeks of rest built in. In North America, there may be less emphasis on rest and recovery. It's important to consider both the quantity and quality of training, as well as the physical and psychological well-being of young athletes. By taking these factors into account, you can help your young player reach their full potential without risking burnout or injury.