Every June, parents ask some version of the same thing: should my kid be training this summer, or do they need a break?
Both answers are right depending on the player. The mistake is picking one without thinking about it.
Why Doing Nothing Is a Problem
Two months without touching a ball and players come back in September feeling it. First touch is off. Movements that were becoming natural feel slightly foreign again. The first few weeks of preseason are basically recovery time.
And it’s not just technical. Football is a thinking game too. A player who hasn’t thought about it in two months is a half-second slower reading what’s in front of them. That fades just like everything else.
During the season there’s rarely space to work on individual stuff. Sessions run around the group, the shape, the next match. Summer is the window where a player can actually sit with their weak foot or work on how they receive with their back to goal without it getting squeezed out by team prep. That time is worth using.
That’s the long game. We wrote more about what that actually looks like in The Long Game.
Why Overdoing It Is Worse
Camps every week. Back-to-back tournaments. Private sessions on top of that.
Some families end up with a busier summer than the actual season. More sessions, more exposure, more development. Except it rarely plays out that way.
Overuse injuries spike in summer. Growth plates, tendons, hip flexors. Kids who’ve been running non-stop for two months without enough recovery start showing up to preseason with knocks that were completely avoidable. If something does flare up, our post on what to do in the first 48 hours after a soccer injury is worth reading before you decide how serious it is.
There’s also a mental cost that’s harder to see. Players who’ve been grinding since June tend to arrive in September a bit flat. Less curious in training. Going through the motions more than actually working. That’s a rough way to start a season.
We covered training load by age in how often young players should train if you want specifics.
What the Right Summer Looks Like
One coached session a week is the anchor. Something structured, with a proper training environment, where a coach is actually watching and working with your player rather than just running them through drills. That’s what keeps development moving through the summer without overdoing it.
At South Van FC our LTAD academy runs through the summer for exactly this reason. One session a week, focused on the individual, building on what players worked on during the season. Enough to keep things progressing without burning anyone out before September.
On top of that, a kickabout with friends, a passing session against a wall, a pick-up game at the park. The ball just needs to be around the rest of the week too.
A full two or three weeks off at some point is also fine. A player who went deep into provincials or played a full BCSPL season probably needs it. Coming back genuinely fresh beats grinding through a summer and arriving in September already tired.
What to Actually Work On
If a player puts time into anything this summer, make it the weak foot. Most players have one that’s noticeably behind, and summer is the best chance to close that gap. Ten minutes a day on the weaker side. Passing against a wall, turning, finishing. Same thing every session, not just the days you’re motivated.
First touch under light pressure is the other one. Get a parent or sibling to pass at different heights and angles while you focus on controlling it cleanly and quickly. Not a hard session. Just deliberate repetition.
For general fitness, swimming, cycling, or a bit of running a few times a week does the job without piling more load on legs that need a rest. And on rest days, actually rest. Our post on active recovery gets into what that should look like.
The World Cup is on this summer. Pick a player in your position and actually study them. Where do they go when their team doesn’t have the ball? What do they do in the moment before the ball arrives? Watch that a few times. Then go outside.
For Parents
Most summer training decisions are made by parents, not players.
Some kids want to keep going all summer. Others are cooked by June and need a proper break. Both are fine. One structured session a week gives your player enough to stay sharp and keep developing without turning the summer into another season.
Keep a ball in the garden or the hallway. Go outside and pass with them when they ask. And when you’re watching them play, just watch. Leave the coaching at the gate.
Start September Ahead
September comes around faster than it looks from here. One session a week with us, a bit of individual work on the side, and a proper break somewhere in the middle. That’s the summer.
If you want your player to be part of the South Van FC LTAD academy this summer, get in touch or find out more about the academy programme.
Harjit Kainth is the founder, head coach, and academy director at South Van FC. He built the club from the ground up in South Vancouver with a focus on long-term player development, and oversees both the youth academy and the VMSL men’s team. If you have questions about the programme or want to talk development, reach out at southvanfc@gmail.com.
South Van FC is a community football club based in South Vancouver, BC. We run a youth development academy and a VMSL Men’s team, built around one philosophy: develop real players, technically sharp, tactically aware, and mentally tough. Learn more at southvanfc.com.