My daughter is 9 and has been playing soccer for several years. She made the travel team last year after not making the cut initially. When she finally did make the team she was one of the less skilled players. I'm probably a little biased, but she has made great strides, and is now one of the stronger girls on the squad. At this stage of the game I have three main takeaways.
1. You're friend is doing a huge disservice to his daughter not only in soccer, but life in general by just giving up and quitting after not making the cut one time.
2. There are a lot of politics that are apparent even at an early age with regards to who knows who, who coaches, who serves on which committee.
3. Damn.....who would have known how much money youth sports cost.