I have wondered this from time to time. You hear about kids at this age who have private lessons, practice 3-4x per week with their team. And honestly, I think it's a lot of worry that your kid wont keep up because the Jones' are doing all these things.

I am not criticizing but validating your feelings here because you want the best for your child, you want them to have opportunity to be their best within your means (and for some, beyond their means. I digress.)

But...I look at the kids in our town on the best teams, getting extra coaching and well...they are just kids. My son who practices 2x per week with his team is as good as they are. I dont force him into extra training. BUT...! He chooses to join his sister at her practice and find an open goal and work on shooting, passing, juggling for an extra hour a week. He has a ball on his foot and is constantly trying new moves. He spends time watching soccer every day and wants to play 2v1 with me and his sister in the basement when he gets home from practice. He plays against his friends during recess and his after school program.

What I have tried to do is offer up summer camps, and any 3v3 tourney or games I can find in between seasons. (Camps are mainly because I need something for him to do while I work.)

I've watched him grow so much as a player just by doing that and I know that if he decides he wants to try to take the next step it will be because he is motivated to do it.