Questions, answered

Dream Elite Training is a youth soccer training business in Brentwood, California. We offer private 1-on-1 lessons, group programs, futsal and plyometrics. Every player trains with an Individual Development Plan — goals, homework and match reviews — because anyone can run a session; true coaching is developing the player.

All sessions take place in Brentwood, California, at our two locations: The Lab and Casa Elite. Families travel to us from across the Bay Area — including Danville, San Ramon, Walnut Creek, Pleasanton and the Peninsula — but we do not run sessions in other cities.

We train youth players from young beginners through high school. Each group program lists its own age or birth-year range on the program page, and private training is matched to the player's age and level.

Private 1-on-1 training is the fastest way to fix individual gaps — a weak foot, first touch under pressure, 1v1 confidence — because a coach watches every rep. Group programs add game-realistic pressure, competition and community. Many families combine both: private sessions for detail, group sessions for application.

Our current prices are listed on each program page and in the booking flow — we don't hide them. Group programs are typically priced per session or per month, and private lessons per session. Check the Programs page for what's currently enrolling.

A monthly program covers every scheduled session of that program in the calendar month. Some programs also include free sessions of another program each week — for example, monthly Futsal members get a free Plyo session each week. Each program page lists exactly what's included.

An Individual Development Plan (IDP) is a living document for each player: goals set with the coach, homework between sessions, reflections from the player, and match reviews. It keeps every week of training purposeful and lets families see real, tracked progress.

Start 6–10 weeks before tryouts. Focus on what evaluators watch: first touch under pressure, both feet, 1v1 confidence, scanning before receiving, and how the player responds to mistakes. Train at game speed so the tryout feels familiar — the night before is too late.

Beyond athleticism: first touch, comfort on both feet, quick decisions, work rate, and reactions to mistakes. These are all trainable habits, and they're exactly what individual training builds.

Look for consistent focus, comfort on the ball against recreational-level pressure, and genuine interest in more soccer. Readiness is about habits, not a specific birthday — many Bay Area clubs form competitive teams from around U8–U10.

Technically reliable players at game speed: clean first touch, both feet, scanning and quick decisions, plus the athleticism and mentality to compete every minute. Players at that level train individual detail on top of club practice.

Combine fitness with technical sharpness — first touch, both feet, 1v1 play and finishing — starting several weeks before. High school tryouts are short and crowded, so players need to arrive fit, coachable and confident from day one.

For players who want to move up a level, yes. Club practice is built for the group; private training is the one setting where a coach watches your child's every touch and fixes individual gaps. No one can promise a roster spot, but players arrive at tryouts sharper and more confident.

Serious recruiting starts around 9th–10th grade for D1, a bit later for D2 and D3. But the development that gets a player recruited — technique, athleticism, consistency — is built over years before that window opens.

D1 is the highest intensity and offers athletic scholarships. D2 also offers scholarships with somewhat more balance. D3 offers no athletic scholarships but competitive soccer at academically strong schools. All three want technically reliable players with good grades.

Technical reliability at game speed, game intelligence (scanning, positioning, decisions), athleticism, and mentality — especially how a player responds to mistakes. Scouts watch whole games and come back more than once, so consistency beats one spectacular moment.

Training controls the player's actual level — technique, athleticism and consistency — which is what every coach and scout evaluates first. It can't create exposure or promise connections, and you should be wary of anyone who does. It makes sure a player is ready when exposure happens.

Families can cancel or reschedule a session up to 24 hours before it starts. Cancellations inside 24 hours forfeit the session. If a coach cancels, the family gets a reschedule plus a complimentary session.

Pick a program or a coach on our site, choose an open time, and check out — it takes a couple of minutes. For private lessons you see the coach's real published availability, and you can book for more than one child at once.

All sessions happen in Brentwood, CA. Families drive in from across the East Bay, Tri-Valley, Lamorinda and the Peninsula — our Areas page lists the cities our players come from, with approximate drive times.

No. Dream Elite is an independent training business. Our players play for clubs across the Bay Area — from recreational to NorCal Premier, ECNL Regional League, ECNL and MLS NEXT — and we prepare them for those levels without being tied to any club.