WATERVILLE -- Wyatt Omsberg of Belgrade doesn't turn 12 until September, and when you ask him what he likes about soccer, he sounds like the kid that he is.

"It's just a lot of fun," he said. "My favorite thing is probably scoring goals."

But Wyatt is someone you might hear about a lot in the coming years. He's good at soccer -- like people already talking about him potentially playing in college good.

Recently, Wyatt spent a week in England training and playing with a professional team. The English system is set up that players from different age groups are selected on ability to play under contract with certain teams before they technically become professionals at age 16. Wyatt was invited by Gary Walker, who is the head soccer coach at the All Pro Sports Center in Waterville and still has several soccer contacts in Europe.

"Wyatt's been down at our Center of Excellence for the last four years, and at the (pro) camps we run during the summer," Walker said. "His ability, his energy, his enthusiasm, his desire to play were definitely something that we took note of. He's far more developed than most players at his age."

Walker said Wyatt took a little time to adjust to the faster pace of play in England, but had acclimated to it by the end of the week.

"We just wanted to see what level the players from Maine were in comparison to the players over in Europe," Walker said. "Talent-wise, he's definitely at the same level. If he was living in Europe he'd be playing for a professional club at his own age group. Technical ability, he was just as good as anyone there."

Wyatt, who plays forward, has been playing soccer since age 3, which is a good indication he comes from a soccer background. His father, Eric, played at the semi-pro level, and his older brother, Cameron, and older sister, Alison, each play soccer and have helped him improve his game.

"My goal for Wyatt and my other children is that they can play competitive soccer at the best level possible and gain a great experience that will last them a lifetime," Eric said. "If he's fortunate enough to go on with soccer and maybe play pro soccer, that would be terrific, but I have no aspirations of that right now. I just want him to have fun."

What Walker likes about Wyatt beyond his love of soccer is his ability to excel at the things you can't teach, like knowing where the opponents and your teammates are at all times.

"He has great natural ability," Walker said. "The timing and awareness -- as much as you try to coach one or two points of that -- you're definitely born with that talent."

Wyatt is still an 11-year-old kid who also likes skiing and is a pretty good pitcher and catcher when he plays baseball. But he says he wants to play professional soccer someday, and Walker feels comfortable projecting him a few steps down the road.

"Time's on his side," Walker said.

"In Europe, you become a professional player at 16. I'd like to see Wyatt continue to play and progress with his own age group and also get tested maybe a little bit older. I'd like to see him progress to play at high school, and I'd like to see him definitely go on to become a college player, and gain a scholarship to play soccer at one of the top colleges in the U.S."

Matt DiFilippo -- 861-9243

mdifilippo@centralmaine.com