Hello All. Our son has been playing in the club soccer world for about 7 years now. High School starts next year and he wants to also play football and continue to play Club Soccer at the same time since the seasons overlap. I was curious if anyone here has experienced this same scenario, and if so were you able to navigate through it with both sets of coaches? Any advise would be great. Thanks!
Anyone here have a son who plays HS Football & Club Soccer?
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Paul Spacey
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I’ve seen two players do this in the last few years and BOTH were injured for extended periods of time because of the excessive load placed on their bodies with too many practices/games. I’m not sure 2-4 hour practices for football helped but if you want your son to stay fit and healthy, I’d give serious thought to whether he can manage both sports at the same time, especially during what is a critical period of physical growth and adaptation for most kids entering HS.
Very difficult in terms of scheduling and keeping football/soccer coach and teammates happy with attendance and commitment.
I’ve seen two players do this in the last few years and BOTH were injured for extended periods of time because of the excessive load placed on their bodies with too many practices/games. I’m not sure 2-4 hour practices for football helped but if you want your son to stay fit and healthy, I’d give serious thought to whether he can manage both sports at the same time, especially during what is a critical period of physical growth and adaptation for most kids entering HS.
justneededaname
SILVER ELITE
My son went through this last year. He dropped off his MLS Next team because he wanted to do soccer and high school football. Before he made his final decision he asked "Dad, if I can't handle it, can I drop something?" My answer was "absolutely". In middle school he got straight As, played club soccer, club basketball, rec flag football, and school volleyball, so I figured he had the constitution to pull it off. He moved to a club that I thought would be considerate of letting him play football also.
August hit. Two or three-a-day football practice and then going to soccer takes a toll. Not just on the body, but on the soul. Most of his friends were going to the beach. His summer was done Aug 1, when his friends had another month.
School started and homework got added into the mix. Football practice every day after school. Soccer after that most days. After two weeks he came home and said he didn't think he could pull it off. I asked what he was going to drop ("and it can't be school"). He said "I am a punt returner and it is terrifying. I am going to play soccer."
But no returning to MLS Next for him. He did learn that playing a sport for your high school in unlike anything at club. He LOVED playing high school soccer. So ECNL it is.
August hit. Two or three-a-day football practice and then going to soccer takes a toll. Not just on the body, but on the soul. Most of his friends were going to the beach. His summer was done Aug 1, when his friends had another month.
School started and homework got added into the mix. Football practice every day after school. Soccer after that most days. After two weeks he came home and said he didn't think he could pull it off. I asked what he was going to drop ("and it can't be school"). He said "I am a punt returner and it is terrifying. I am going to play soccer."
But no returning to MLS Next for him. He did learn that playing a sport for your high school in unlike anything at club. He LOVED playing high school soccer. So ECNL it is.
SD Sockers Gene Willrich's son Michael was kicker his Senior year for Scripps Ranch HS. The football coach only made him show up for practice one day a week, plus whatever games the team was in. I don't know if all coaches would be that accomodating.
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I played hoops in high school but was also a really good goal keeper. The varsity soccer coach said all I had to do was show up as a Soph and I would be back up and maybe start if the other guy struggled. He had no back up. I was quicker, faster and made better saves then the starter but I could not kick the goal kicks or punt the ball. I sucked!!! I rolled it out or kicked it out of bounds by accident. I say try and figure out to do both unless your kid is the nest LD. Good luck and High School sports is awesome and really good for the kids social life, regardless of the program.
years Ago when I was in high school a guy on my club team kicked. I don’t remember him ever showing up for practice during football season. He also happened to be our best player , so coach was very accommodating
he ended up getting a full ride to kick at Memphis
I always thought if I had attempted kicking I could have gone to college for free , which is pretty much what every has been soccer player thinks
years Ago when I was in high school a guy on my club team kicked. I don’t remember him ever showing up for practice during football season. He also happened to be our best player , so coach was very accommodating
he ended up getting a full ride to kick at Memphis
I always thought if I had attempted kicking I could have gone to college for free , which is pretty much what every has been soccer player thinks
I share this story a lot but you might have missed it. I played with my father in law a few times with his adult team vs a team from TJ. ((See pic with the white guy, that's me with the teams in TJ)). Gramps is two to the left of me, next to the guy with the head band. Grandpa told me last week that his pals at first thought he was on drugs and laughed at him about me playing GK. Well, we won both games and those guys were mad when I said "no mas" after the home and away tour. The regular GK came back but they wanted me. I didn;t like that and Gramps kind of agreed but I was better and family. I was getting old and my so was born and I still played adult hoops and softball. I was bating champ at 35 and then went down hill after that. The games in TJ were also played on dirt with small rocks and I got hurt from diving and boy did I. We played our home game in Whitter and on grass. It was a great time and probably the best I played GK in one month. I mean that. They loved to play from the back and I could throw good and accurate. If we had to punt, then Gramps took the kick.
Neighbors son played club soccer (very high level) up until sophomore year. Then decided to play HS football + be a kicker. Interestingly he was also a big hitter/tackler. Generally something you wouldnt expect from a soccer player.
Was awesome in HS football as a kicker.
Got a better than full ride to Navy as a kicker + starts playing this fall. Not only is all college paid for because he plays football the Naval Academy pays him hourly when hes at practice/games. After college he has to enlist for 5 years as an officer but wow you cant beat that situation.
Was awesome in HS football as a kicker.
Got a better than full ride to Navy as a kicker + starts playing this fall. Not only is all college paid for because he plays football the Naval Academy pays him hourly when hes at practice/games. After college he has to enlist for 5 years as an officer but wow you cant beat that situation.
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That's what my son did this season. Got 1st team kicker and 1st team keeper for his league. Not too bad...
thats awesome, Congrats !
twoclubpapa
SILVER ELITE
Over the years I've read a number of newspaper articles featuring both male and female soccer players who had a side gig as the HS football team kicker. If they have the FG/PAT skills then many football coaches are willing to work with them on how to accommodate both HS and soccer team practices.
What about three sports? Check out this story about Emma Baker, a California All-State kicker for the Rancho Christian HS football team who also played HS volleyball and club soccer. https://usatodayhss.com/2016/emma-b...national-record-for-points-by-a-female-kicker
What about three sports? Check out this story about Emma Baker, a California All-State kicker for the Rancho Christian HS football team who also played HS volleyball and club soccer. https://usatodayhss.com/2016/emma-b...national-record-for-points-by-a-female-kicker
That is awesome about Emma. My dd did Volleyball, Soccer and Track in HS. No special favors either. All in or don;t play were the rules. Track was hard because you had to stay and watch the whole meet and my kid was doing two races. She only wanted to do the 100 relay but coach said, "nice try, you also have to do the 200 or JV it is....lol!!! That was hard with club soccer as well. The kids that pull this off and get 4.0+ and higher are amazing. My dd chilled out the last two years because of Covid and this year to take a long break and chill.
