Pre-Competitive · U7/U8
The Stepping Stone ProgramIntroducing DME NEXT
A pre-competitive prep program for U7 and U8 athletes with promise. Competitive teams start at U9 — DME NEXT is the year in between, for players who have outgrown a rec session but are not old enough for a squad.
Fall Season 26/27 Now Open
September 15 to November 20. Two sessions a week, plus eight games.
The Approach
Ready For More Than Rec.
Our competitive teams start at U9. DME NEXT exists so that the year before it is not a wasted one.
Every season we see the same thing: a handful of 6-8 year olds who are plainly ahead of the rec session they are in. They finish drills first. They want the ball more. They are not being pushed.
Putting them into a U9 team early rarely works — they are physically younger and it can knock the confidence out of a good player. Leaving them where they are does not work either. DME NEXT is the answer to that gap.
Same coaching staff, same building, higher demand. When they turn nine, they walk into a competitive squad already knowing how we train and what we expect.
Who Runs It
Anders Perez
Director — DME NEXT
Anders holds a US Soccer Federation “A” License and has spent his career building high-performance environments across the youth, academy and professional levels of the game — with a focus on long-term player growth and professional standards.
He was President and Co-Founder of Bay Cities FC, a Division III professional club in the National Independent Soccer Association, where he led the launch and the professional operation in Redwood City, California.
Before that he spent nearly a decade as Executive Director of Juventus Academy Silicon Valley, running both technical and business operations and helping build one of the premier academy environments in Northern California. Under his leadership that club formed an official partnership with Juventus FC, opening developmental pathways and international opportunities for its players.
He played collegiately at Sacramento State (DI) and Sonoma State (DII), and lives in Sarasota with his wife and two young children.
- US Soccer “A” License
- Juventus Academy Silicon Valley
- Bay Cities FC · NISA
- Sacramento State · DI
- Sonoma State · DII
Fall Season 26/27
September 15 – November 20
Two sessions a week with our senior coaching staff, plus eight games — played up an age group.
$449
U7/U8 · Pre-Competitive
Sept 15 – Nov 20
Twice a week. Tuesdays at Oak Park and Fridays at Tatum Ridge, 6:00–7:00pm.
Eight games. Played in our MLS GO rec program — up an age group.
Half down, half in September. The season runs September to November, minus holidays.
Led by Anders Perez, USSF “A” License — development with the goal of progression.
Training and games are both included in the $449. There is nothing else to pay.
What The Season Looks Like
A structured, competitive-style environment — technical development, confidence, and game understanding.
- Technical foundations
- Speed of decision
- 1v1 confidence
- Receiving under pressure
- Competing for the ball
- Game understanding
The Difference
What Changes
At This Level
Same coaches, same building — a higher bar, and a group that can handle it.
The Same Staff
Run by our senior coaching staff.
A Higher Bar
Sessions move faster and ask more. Players who were finishing drills early in rec get pushed properly here.
Competing, Not Just Playing
More 1v1, more pressure, more moments where the ball has to be won rather than received.
A Group That Matches Them
Being the best player in the session every week teaches a child very little.
Known Before They Trial
By the time a U9 place comes up, our coaches have watched them every week for a year. Nobody has to be discovered.
No Rush
We are not pushing 6-8 year olds into a U9 squad. This is a year to get ready, at the right age, with the right demands.
The Pathway
Where It Goes Next
DME NEXT is the bridge — and it only points one way.
Little Legends
First touch, first sessions.
Early Development
Technical foundations.
MLS GO
First team, first season.
DME NEXT
You are here.
Competitive
31 teams, league and showcase play.
Questions
The Ones We Get Asked
What is DME NEXT, exactly?
A pre-competitive prep program for U7 and U8 players with promise. Our competitive teams start at U9, so this is the year before — higher-level training, increased expectations, and a real pathway into the DME competitive program.
What does it cost?
$449 for the Fall season. That covers training twice a week from September to November, minus holidays, plus eight games in our MLS GO rec program. Half down, half in September.
When and where do they train?
Tuesdays at Oak Park and Fridays at Tatum Ridge, 6:00–7:00pm. The season runs September 15 to November 20.
Do they play games?
Yes — eight of them, in our MLS GO rec program, and they play up an age group. That is deliberate: a faster, more demanding environment accelerates growth and decision-making.
Who is the coach?
Anders Perez leads the program. He holds a US Soccer Federation “A” License and is focused on development with the goal of progression. His background is above.
Is my child then guaranteed a U9 place?
No — and any program that promises one is not being straight with you. What DME NEXT does is make sure the coaches picking that squad have watched your child train twice a week for a season.
My child is strong but shy. Is this too much?
Come and talk to us. The point of a pre-competitive year is that it is not a competitive team — the demand goes up, but the environment is still built for 6-8 year olds.
More At DME
What Else Is On
Rec is where most families start — here is everything else your athlete can be part of, from a half-term camp to a tournament in France.
Camps & Events
School-holiday camps, clinics and one-off events through the year — open to everyone, whether or not they play with us.
See What’s Coming Up CompCompetitive Program
31 teams, boys and girls, U9 through U19 — league play, showcases and national competition, with a training pool feeding every squad.
Explore Competitive FranceLes Bleus Youth Cup
Our France tour and international tournament — the trip our student-athletes build a season around.
See The Tournament