Taking a year off from travel

[Anonymous]

My DS plays U11 travel soccer and was recently identified as a close contact of a classmate who tested positive for covid. DS must now quarantine for about a week. When I told DS, one of his first comments was being happy he could miss soccer practice and the upcoming game. We talked about what he wasn’t enjoying. He stated he still likes soccer but indicated he wasn’t enjoying the club anymore. We could look into switching teams but the aspects he said he doesn’t like I believe he would encounter on any travel team. He used to talk about being a pro player when he grows up (yes, I know….) but also I’d noticed his passion seemed to be waning while he’s taken an interest in 2 other sports over the last few months.

In any case, I think he should take some time off from travel and play rec in the spring (if he’s still interested). Maybe this is the end of his travel soccer career, but maybe he’ll decide in a year or 2 that he still loves it and wants to return. How difficult would this be? I’d appreciate hearing from anyone whose kid took some time off from competitive soccer.

[Anonymous]

My son loved travel soccer until the end of U11. Something happened with his coach and the situation went downhill quickly. We asked him what he wanted to do and he said he wanted to quit. We suggested he try out for another club but he didn’t want to. We decided it was his choice. As a compromise he moved to a select soccer team. I thought that would make it easier to come back if he changed his mind. The following year COVID hit and he decided not to play at all. At that point we assumed travel was behind him. Then this spring he decided he wanted to go back. He got 3 offers. Granted they weren’t high level teams but they were all nice options. He loves his new team and has a renewed commitment after the time off. If he hadn’t taken the break he would probably be further along but he’s really happy with where he is and enjoying lots of playing time.

[Anonymous]

I'd also say cut bait now for the betterment of your kids teammates. They don't want a half in teammate

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd also say cut bait now for the betterment of your kids teammates. They don't want a half in teammate

Also, at u11 referring to a travel soccer "career" seems to indicate the parent wants it more than the kid. Is his/her reaction to how the start of the season has gone and they just need a little rah rah enthusiasm

[Anonymous]

He could take a year or even two off and go back to travel if he really misses it. My kids never took time away from the sport but I kind of wish they had at times.

[Anonymous]

I would take time away and let him pursue his interest in the other two sports and see where it goes.

[Anonymous]

Another option is, next year, just take the Fall off of soccer and look to join a travel team in the winter. Lots of teams still have room at that point. This obviously only works if the other sport is a Fall sport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd also say cut bait now for the betterment of your kids teammates. They don't want a half in teammate

Also, at u11 referring to a travel soccer "career" seems to indicate the parent wants it more than the kid. Is his/her reaction to how the start of the season has gone and they just need a little rah rah enthusiasm

I didn't see OP write the word career? A lot of boys say this at that age, including mine. You are super judgmental.

[Anonymous]

I think this is the age when a lot of kids choose to focus on one primary sport or realize that soccer is not for them. Consider rec. There are some decent rec teams that could be challenging without the huge stress and commitment.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on whether you paid for a full year of travel. In our house, if you don't like an activity, you don't have to do it again, but absent blatant bullying by teammates or similar, if my kids say they want to do something and I pay for it, they finish whatever portion I have paid for.

Totally fine to try other sports instead after whatever you have paid for is up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd also say cut bait now for the betterment of your kids teammates. They don't want a half in teammate

Also, at u11 referring to a travel soccer "career" seems to indicate the parent wants it more than the kid. Is his/her reaction to how the start of the season has gone and they just need a little rah rah enthusiasm

I didn't see OP write the word career? A lot of boys say this at that age, including mine. You are super judgmental.

And daughters.

[Anonymous]

My oldest played travel soccer from U8 up to U12. His enthusiasm waned during his U12 year. The coach wasn't great and the kids on his team didn't click very well; I knew those were contributing factors. But it was also true that his interests were changing.

So the next year he switched to house/rec soccer with the same club; that meant only 1 day of practice per week, plus 1 game per week. That was enough to keep him happy playing, give him some exercise, and let him take a mental break from soccer for a while.

We stuck with house for a few years, until this year when he started high school. He made his high school JV team and has been having fun playing with his schoolmates; his enthusiasm and interest have gone back up; he's practicing every day after school and having fun.

He will never have a soccer "career" as a professional player, but I hope and expect that he will continue to enjoy representing his school and playing soccer with his friends over the next four years of high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd also say cut bait now for the betterment of your kids teammates. They don't want a half in teammate

Also, at u11 referring to a travel soccer "career" seems to indicate the parent wants it more than the kid. Is his/her reaction to how the start of the season has gone and they just need a little rah rah enthusiasm

I didn't see OP write the word career? A lot of boys say this at that age, including mine. You are super judgmental.

And where did they get it from?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My oldest played travel soccer from U8 up to U12. His enthusiasm waned during his U12 year. The coach wasn't great and the kids on his team didn't click very well; I knew those were contributing factors. But it was also true that his interests were changing.

So the next year he switched to house/rec soccer with the same club; that meant only 1 day of practice per week, plus 1 game per week. That was enough to keep him happy playing, give him some exercise, and let him take a mental break from soccer for a while.

We stuck with house for a few years, until this year when he started high school. He made his high school JV team and has been having fun playing with his schoolmates; his enthusiasm and interest have gone back up; he's practicing every day after school and having fun.

He will never have a soccer "career" as a professional player, but I hope and expect that he will continue to enjoy representing his school and playing soccer with his friends over the next four years of high school.

B.S. I don't particularly care if you want to make yourself feel good, but misinforming others about a soccer players chances of making. H.S team when they stop playing at 12 years old travel and move to rec on this forum is frustrating. So has your DC only played soccer two days a week, has he been practicing on his own, did his rec soccer coach turn out to be a really great teacher and avoids the three 3 L's?

The facts of the story just don't add up.

[Anonymous]

Small private school