Ha! That reminded me of "hoverball" which we got for our daughter around age 7 or 8 and played it on the hardwood floors in our home. She went from one of the timid kids to one of the most physical on the field after about a month of hoverball with her sibs and me. Not much room in our place, so physicality was the only option.
Is club soccer a waste of time/money for youngers (under 10 yo)?
- Thread starter Socal-Soccer-Dad
- Start date
SoccerFan4Life
PREMIER
We always had a few soccer balls inside the house. My little girl at 6 years old would kick the ball up the stairs and trap it. She kicked it agains the walls of the house and dribble it around the house. This only works for a few years because once they get stronger they will break stuff. lol
My boys cracked the wallboard in several places around their laundry room door "goal". I resolved to repair it once they moved out, which I eventually did.
My boy is lucky that he goes to a school where kids play soccer. He plays soccer every recess. He comes home telling me today he megged so and so, how many times he scored with his off foot and little games he and his school mates made up. His love for soccer is genuine. Every dribbling moves he has he learned it on his own.
100% agree, but tell that to US Soccer that briefly hired Byer for a pilot program then unceremoniously fired him before the program had a chance to gain traction.
oh canada
GOLD
I must admit, any parents with youngers who ask me about youth soccer, I tell them make sure you expose your kids to every other sport you can--both team and individual. Only choose soccer as THE ONE by the time they're 12/13, if your kid shows no interest in any other sport. The potential upsides are much greater in every other sport, the criteria on who is "good" and who is "not so" are much more identifiable and objective in every other sport, and the time invested vs. improvement rate is much better in every other sport . If you have a daughter, then the serious injury risk/rate is less in every other sport too. (The ugly politics of youth soccer are just as bad in baseball and other sports.)
I say this as a parent of 3 soccer-playing kids, my youngest just getting her college soccer offer, and one of my olders currently playing in college. I am not anti-soccer...love the game...just think there are better/easier paths in this country for athletic kids to benefit from if the family is going to spend years of time and tens-of-thousands of dollars on sports.
I say this as a parent of 3 soccer-playing kids, my youngest just getting her college soccer offer, and one of my olders currently playing in college. I am not anti-soccer...love the game...just think there are better/easier paths in this country for athletic kids to benefit from if the family is going to spend years of time and tens-of-thousands of dollars on sports.
SoccerFan4Life
PREMIER
With our nephews and nieces, it felt like once they got to college athletics the drama and issues became exponential. (mental health, grades, career ending injuries, bullying, college transfers, pot, stress, lack of playing time, travel fees).
My boys were never good enough to make it to college soccer. I did have a big smile when I found out that my son was playing Intramurals soccer in college. He quit soccer once he got to his freshman year in high school and told me that he hated soccer. Now as an adult, he is playing again and on his own terms.
Sounds like your kids love the game. I tried to get my dd to play other sports. Nope, it had to be soccer. A healthy local soccer club ((like Boys and Girls clubs, but just soccer)) and some futsal mixed in would be all my kid would need and she would be in heaven. It's been too much about getting into college for the kiddos and not enough about playing for the love of the game.
Agree with the multi sports approach as well. One important effect of playing multiple sports that is often overlooked is the effect on parental attitude. When your child plays only one sport, you are vested in that one sport. The intense focus brings expectation on results, pushing to practice, comparing to others. All of these will eventually turn off the child and burn them out. When you are less vested in something, you are more relaxed and go with the flow.
My son plays another sport at a very high level. I pushed him hard since he was 4. His level in this sport is actually much higher than his level in soccer. But he loves soccer. Since soccer is now taking a lot more time, I have backed off on the other sport. I noticed by me backing off, he is enjoying it a lot more. His level in the other sport actually went up even though he is doing less of it. It's very strange. But this whole experience makes me realize that it's better to have the kid do something he likes, you just provide the environment and he does all the work because he wants to.
My son plays another sport at a very high level. I pushed him hard since he was 4. His level in this sport is actually much higher than his level in soccer. But he loves soccer. Since soccer is now taking a lot more time, I have backed off on the other sport. I noticed by me backing off, he is enjoying it a lot more. His level in the other sport actually went up even though he is doing less of it. It's very strange. But this whole experience makes me realize that it's better to have the kid do something he likes, you just provide the environment and he does all the work because he wants to.
One of the issues on the boys side is that there are physical requisites to the other team sports which may force a decision at age 12/13:
-boys football the skill position like qb are just as intense and start as early as soccer. Some of the other positions are just about being physically big
-ice hockey is just as intensive in training as soccer, has a precondition of being able to ice skate well plus favors kids of larger girth.
-waterpolo basketball and volleyball are all about the height. Don’t have the height the kid isn’t going to get very far
-baseball is really hard for some players with attention issues because it involves standing still and being attentive for long periods of time
That sorts of just leaves lacrosse and the individual sports.
I played every sport I could play in as a kid. Surfing ((all water sports)), beach volleyball, tennis, golf, baseball, soccer, football, basketball, bike riding, skate boarding and anything outside. In high school, I picked hoops and baseball. Let the kids pick and you just watch. I tried so hard to force my dd to play softball and basketball for obvious reasons. The college pull for kid is what drives the club soccer business. It should just be a fun sport to play and if your really good, go play college or go pro. Tom Brady came back for one more year because, "for the love of the game."
As a parent of a Futsal player. When doing Field I can easily point out the players that either have played Futsal or are currently playing.
Theres just certain movements that Futsal teaches. Specifically tight ball control, keeping your head up, and quick passes / decision making.
One thing Futsal does not teach is pure speed breakaway technique. But it will help with 1 on 1s with goalies during a breakaway.
Here is an example of club soccer craziness. Today a post popped up on my Facebook feed from my son's old club. The post said that a B2013 team was looking for an "impact player". The team is the 4th tier team at that club at that age group. What qualifies as an impact player at 8-9 years old on a 4th tier team? A kid that can walk and chew gum at the same time? What do you need an impact player for at this age group? Racking up wins at the lowest level of club soccer?
Keepermom2
GOLD
If I had it to do again I would spend my time and money on private training during those younger years, consider indoor soccer league and probably rec. soccer. My daughter would have had more fun with that plan. Hind site is 20/20.
They probably can't say "we need a kid born in the age group that can fog a mirror" to fill a spot.
The term "impact player" is the same as "elite", "academy", "development", and "pathway'". Buzzwords that everyone uses but nobody knows what they really mean any longer.
Or on the flip side, I took it to mean, "it's not a very good team and we need at least 1 player that can play and your son/daughter could be the star". Either way, I can't believe this would still work.
SoccerFan4Life
PREMIER
It doesnt, I tried it with our 2009 flight 2 team. LOL!!!! Ultimately we have to develop our own players (what a concept) to build them to become impact players. It's actually working now for us after 4 years of the team being together.
Paul Spacey
SILVER ELITE
Imagine that; actual development instead of recruitment. What a strange concept
Eagle33
PREMIER
"Why develop when you can recruit?!" - said a DOC at (insert name here) clubImagine that; actual development instead of recruitment. What a strange concept
Recruiting is the only way to truly win it all. You can't develop a bunch of 9 year olds on one team and make a champion. It's about winning at the highest level at each sport. Winning is in cream and to get the cream to rise to the top, you need the best of the best goats. When other Doc and parents saw Tad show up the first time to my kids game, they got pissed off and warned me to stay clear of the guru. Tad was not after the coaches teams or business, no, just one or two players he was after at most top clubs, ECNL or no ECNL. Today, Docs are going after teams and coaches and then buying clubs and knocking them out of leagues and out of business.