Can you explain kids sports in this region for me?

[Anonymous]

I have a DD who is good, not great, at soccer. She likes it, has been playing since she was 4 and is pretty good. I think she could be really good but she would need to do some individual coaching, go to weekly footskills and probably do travel team (if she made the team). However I don't see how we could possibly do this since both DH and I work full time and have other kids who also do sports and other activities.

In order for a kid to really excel at sports doesn't it end up really taking a lot of the parents time and commitment?

I am conflicted though since I was a 3 sport varsity athlete in high school, played travel soccer and AAU basketball, etc. My parents gave up a ton of time to shuttle me around to year round sports.

[Anonymous]

TL;DR: Does improving/excelling at a sport require more time than if you just showed up once a week? It did when I was growing up, but maybe now there’s an AI hack or something?

[Anonymous]

Op - right I agree I did show up more than once a week when I was a kid. I just didn’t start that until like middle school. Now people are starting this at age 6! I feel like that is early to push kids that hard!

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry you were a travel sports kid and are asking what it takes?

Of course, it takes a ton of time.

Maybe your parents should have invested more in your brain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry you were a travel sports kid and are asking what it takes?

Of course, it takes a ton of time.

Maybe your parents should have invested more in your brain.

Op - as I said I did do travel sports but I didn’t after this till I was like 13.

Is it worth pushing a 6 or 7 year old to practice multiple times a week? On top of regular school and other enrichment?

[Anonymous]

OP, is your daughter willing to practice on her own?

I have two kids who play travel soccer, do the same clinics, play pickup with friends pretty regularly, but one puts in a lot more time juggling and playing wall ball.

It shows in skill level. And it doesn't require any parental involvement.

[Anonymous]

Just passing through. OP, sorry other posters replied so rudely. Your daughter is 6/7?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just passing through. OP, sorry other posters replied so rudely. Your daughter is 6/7?

Yes- op here. She is 7.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry you were a travel sports kid and are asking what it takes?

Of course, it takes a ton of time.

Maybe your parents should have invested more in your brain.

Op - as I said I did do travel sports but I didn’t after this till I was like 13.

Is it worth pushing a 6 or 7 year old to practice multiple times a week? On top of regular school and other enrichment?

No, why would anyone push a six year old to play a game multiple times a week?

[Anonymous]

Per usual DCUM is filled with jerks and know-it-alls. This could be a great resource for parents who are asking totally reasonable questions (like OP here) to get advice and opinions from parents who have already been through the same situation. But as we see with all social media the small percentage of maladjusted people ruin it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TL;DR: Does improving/excelling at a sport require more time than if you just showed up once a week? It did when I was growing up, but maybe now there’s an AI hack or something?

Yes. There’s a super secret AI hack. IYKYK. Maybe you can google it.

[Anonymous]

You answered your own question. Yes, it takes up a ton of time for parents. One kid sometimes has 3pm y and they can have games that go until 9:30 at night. You really need to have a flexible job or a many or an Au pair who can shuttle around.

[Anonymous]

How old are all your kids?

I'd just sign your kid up for Rec soccer. If she is better than her grade level, and she was born in the fall (Oct-Dec) see if she can play up a year.

If by 3rd grade she's doing awesome still and is very interested, maybe look at other teams to join. But honestly, travel soccer in elementary school is mainly around just to make money off over eager Type A parents.

You played 3 sports yourself, let your daughter explore some. Don't worry about being The Best At Soccer in the 1st grade.

[Anonymous]

It's only worth putting in all that time and committment if it's what your kid wants.

I have two softball pitchers, sort of. One of them has been basically dragging us, her parents, out of the door to practice pitching multiple times a week since she started. The other is mildly interested, but not like that. One will stick at pitcher, the other will not. I'm not going to push the one who only sort of cares to be good. It's not worth it for her.

And at 7 I don't think either of them would have been dragging us out the door to do much of anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old are all your kids?

I'd just sign your kid up for Rec soccer. If she is better than her grade level, and she was born in the fall (Oct-Dec) see if she can play up a year.

If by 3rd grade she's doing awesome still and is very interested, maybe look at other teams to join. But honestly, travel soccer in elementary school is mainly around just to make money off over eager Type A parents.

You played 3 sports yourself, let your daughter explore some. Don't worry about being The Best At Soccer in the 1st grade.

OP - thank you! This is a very reasonable approach. DD wants to try basketball in the winter. But then another parent mentioned that she really should be playing winter soccer to improve her skills. I don't have the bandwidth to have her play 2 sports in one season.

I have a 4 year old, 7 year old and 9 year old. They all play one sport per season, oldest two do tutoring, girl scouts, church classes and both elementary aged kids are in an academically rigorous catholic school. I don't know how much more time I have. DH and I both work full time with no nanny or family support.