youth soccer participation down 23.5% in key 6-12 year age group...

[Anonymous]

I am not a soccer person.

With so many talented kids in this area, why do all the decent terms need to travel around every weekend and spend all that money on hotels, gas, etc? Why can't they just play other talented teams in the M.D. DC VA area and maybe only travel one trip at the end of the season?

Shouldn't this area have ample talented competitive teams at every age level so the kids get a variety of hard competition without wasting all that extra money and time?

When I played soccer back in the 80s our city had the rec and community leagues, then "select soccer which was try out soccer for more competitive kids. They played city wide and had plenty of good competition. They did not travel. It worked well and almost all of the select kids played through high school and some on to college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not a soccer person.

With so many talented kids in this area, why do all the decent terms need to travel around every weekend and spend all that money on hotels, gas, etc? Why can't they just play other talented teams in the M.D. DC VA area and maybe only travel one trip at the end of the season?

Shouldn't this area have ample talented competitive teams at every age level so the kids get a variety of hard competition without wasting all that extra money and time?

When I played soccer back in the 80s our city had the rec and community leagues, then "select soccer which was try out soccer for more competitive kids. They played city wide and had plenty of good competition. They did not travel. It worked well and almost all of the select kids played through high school and some on to college.

Did you play travel in this area in the 80s? I played travel '80-87 in this area and we traveled constantly. And, if there was a WAGS make-up it was sometimes moved to a weeknight. I remember my parents bitching about having to drive from Fairfax to Mt. St Mary's Maryland after work. We routinely played teams from the far reaches of Maryland and VA. We also traveled to at least 3 out of state tournaments a year--usually NY, NJ, CT, etc. Our Eastern regional tournament was held in Toronto, Canada one year. My family had 3 kids at 3 different Clubs in the area and we were in the car a lot.

But, I agree with your point. With the sheer number of kids/teams playing at a high level in the DMV, there really should not be need to travel far for regular season games.

[Anonymous]

In Vienna we see kids participating in many sports that have a great commitment all year so commitment doesn't seem to be a detractor. Many parents here have more experience with other sports than soccer, so sometimes rec soccer is short on coaches. There is also a more recent issue with the age change and now travel doesn't follow grades which I think has had an effect on the number of kids interested overall. There are also so many travel leagues around here. Why does the DC area need so many travel leagues?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a soccer person.

With so many talented kids in this area, why do all the decent terms need to travel around every weekend and spend all that money on hotels, gas, etc? Why can't they just play other talented teams in the M.D. DC VA area and maybe only travel one trip at the end of the season?

Shouldn't this area have ample talented competitive teams at every age level so the kids get a variety of hard competition without wasting all that extra money and time?

When I played soccer back in the 80s our city had the rec and community leagues, then "select soccer which was try out soccer for more competitive kids. They played city wide and had plenty of good competition. They did not travel. It worked well and almost all of the select kids played through high school and some on to college.

Did you play travel in this area in the 80s? I played travel '80-87 in this area and we traveled constantly. And, if there was a WAGS make-up it was sometimes moved to a weeknight. I remember my parents bitching about having to drive from Fairfax to Mt. St Mary's Maryland after work. We routinely played teams from the far reaches of Maryland and VA. We also traveled to at least 3 out of state tournaments a year--usually NY, NJ, CT, etc. Our Eastern regional tournament was held in Toronto, Canada one year. My family had 3 kids at 3 different Clubs in the area and we were in the car a lot.

But, I agree with your point. With the sheer number of kids/teams playing at a high level in the DMV, there really should not be need to travel far for regular season games.

I played in another city.

Select was between travel and rec. There were only a handful.of travel.teams and they were usually the really really serious kids. Almost all of the strong players played select. Travel was cream of the crop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a soccer person.

With so many talented kids in this area, why do all the decent terms need to travel around every weekend and spend all that money on hotels, gas, etc? Why can't they just play other talented teams in the M.D. DC VA area and maybe only travel one trip at the end of the season?

Shouldn't this area have ample talented competitive teams at every age level so the kids get a variety of hard competition without wasting all that extra money and time?

When I played soccer back in the 80s our city had the rec and community leagues, then "select soccer which was try out soccer for more competitive kids. They played city wide and had plenty of good competition. They did not travel. It worked well and almost all of the select kids played through high school and some on to college.

Did you play travel in this area in the 80s? I played travel '80-87 in this area and we traveled constantly. And, if there was a WAGS make-up it was sometimes moved to a weeknight. I remember my parents bitching about having to drive from Fairfax to Mt. St Mary's Maryland after work. We routinely played teams from the far reaches of Maryland and VA. We also traveled to at least 3 out of state tournaments a year--usually NY, NJ, CT, etc. Our Eastern regional tournament was held in Toronto, Canada one year. My family had 3 kids at 3 different Clubs in the area and we were in the car a lot.

But, I agree with your point. With the sheer number of kids/teams playing at a high level in the DMV, there really should not be need to travel far for regular season games.

I played in another city.

Select was between travel and rec. There were only a handful.of travel.teams and they were usually the really really serious kids. Almost all of the strong players played select. Travel was cream of the crop.

Okay. Yes. In this area there was only select and rec. Select eventually was termed “travel”, but it was the cream. Very hard to make. Only 1 team. Many of my teammates ended up on National teams and NCAA champion teams. Several got full rides when it was almost unheard of in soccer.

It’s really hard to see the business it’s become and the heart is gone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a soccer person.

With so many talented kids in this area, why do all the decent terms need to travel around every weekend and spend all that money on hotels, gas, etc? Why can't they just play other talented teams in the M.D. DC VA area and maybe only travel one trip at the end of the season?

Shouldn't this area have ample talented competitive teams at every age level so the kids get a variety of hard competition without wasting all that extra money and time?

When I played soccer back in the 80s our city had the rec and community leagues, then "select soccer which was try out soccer for more competitive kids. They played city wide and had plenty of good competition. They did not travel. It worked well and almost all of the select kids played through high school and some on to college.

Did you play travel in this area in the 80s? I played travel '80-87 in this area and we traveled constantly. And, if there was a WAGS make-up it was sometimes moved to a weeknight. I remember my parents bitching about having to drive from Fairfax to Mt. St Mary's Maryland after work. We routinely played teams from the far reaches of Maryland and VA. We also traveled to at least 3 out of state tournaments a year--usually NY, NJ, CT, etc. Our Eastern regional tournament was held in Toronto, Canada one year. My family had 3 kids at 3 different Clubs in the area and we were in the car a lot.

But, I agree with your point. With the sheer number of kids/teams playing at a high level in the DMV, there really should not be need to travel far for regular season games.

I played in another city.

Select was between travel and rec. There were only a handful.of travel.teams and they were usually the really really serious kids. Almost all of the strong players played select. Travel was cream of the crop.

And travel was for older kids only, middle schoolers and older. No second graders. No elementary kids.

It gave younger kids something to look forward to and aspire to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a soccer person.

With so many talented kids in this area, why do all the decent terms need to travel around every weekend and spend all that money on hotels, gas, etc? Why can't they just play other talented teams in the M.D. DC VA area and maybe only travel one trip at the end of the season?

Shouldn't this area have ample talented competitive teams at every age level so the kids get a variety of hard competition without wasting all that extra money and time?

When I played soccer back in the 80s our city had the rec and community leagues, then "select soccer which was try out soccer for more competitive kids. They played city wide and had plenty of good competition. They did not travel. It worked well and almost all of the select kids played through high school and some on to college.

Did you play travel in this area in the 80s? I played travel '80-87 in this area and we traveled constantly. And, if there was a WAGS make-up it was sometimes moved to a weeknight. I remember my parents bitching about having to drive from Fairfax to Mt. St Mary's Maryland after work. We routinely played teams from the far reaches of Maryland and VA. We also traveled to at least 3 out of state tournaments a year--usually NY, NJ, CT, etc. Our Eastern regional tournament was held in Toronto, Canada one year. My family had 3 kids at 3 different Clubs in the area and we were in the car a lot.

But, I agree with your point. With the sheer number of kids/teams playing at a high level in the DMV, there really should not be need to travel far for regular season games.

I played in another city.

Select was between travel and rec. There were only a handful.of travel.teams and they were usually the really really serious kids. Almost all of the strong players played select. Travel was cream of the crop.

Okay. Yes. In this area there was only select and rec. Select eventually was termed “travel”, but it was the cream. Very hard to make. Only 1 team. Many of my teammates ended up on National teams and NCAA champion teams. Several got full rides when it was almost unheard of in soccer.

It’s really hard to see the business it’s become and the heart is gone.

My dw did mclean travel and it was a big mistake. Took the fun out. She really liked it but got burned out. Waste of time and money

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a soccer person.

With so many talented kids in this area, why do all the decent terms need to travel around every weekend and spend all that money on hotels, gas, etc? Why can't they just play other talented teams in the M.D. DC VA area and maybe only travel one trip at the end of the season?

Shouldn't this area have ample talented competitive teams at every age level so the kids get a variety of hard competition without wasting all that extra money and time?

When I played soccer back in the 80s our city had the rec and community leagues, then "select soccer which was try out soccer for more competitive kids. They played city wide and had plenty of good competition. They did not travel. It worked well and almost all of the select kids played through high school and some on to college.

Did you play travel in this area in the 80s? I played travel '80-87 in this area and we traveled constantly. And, if there was a WAGS make-up it was sometimes moved to a weeknight. I remember my parents bitching about having to drive from Fairfax to Mt. St Mary's Maryland after work. We routinely played teams from the far reaches of Maryland and VA. We also traveled to at least 3 out of state tournaments a year--usually NY, NJ, CT, etc. Our Eastern regional tournament was held in Toronto, Canada one year. My family had 3 kids at 3 different Clubs in the area and we were in the car a lot.

But, I agree with your point. With the sheer number of kids/teams playing at a high level in the DMV, there really should not be need to travel far for regular season games.

I played in another city.

Select was between travel and rec. There were only a handful.of travel.teams and they were usually the really really serious kids. Almost all of the strong players played select. Travel was cream of the crop.

And travel was for older kids only, middle schoolers and older. No second graders. No elementary kids.

It gave younger kids something to look forward to and aspire to.

Nope. It started in 4th grade when I was age 10 in 1980 in Northern VA.

Same with my older siblings. That age is just about right. I’ve seen kids hate the 3 day 90 minute year round practices at age 6/7 and sitting in the car. I also have seen friends with girls that didn’t really start liking soccer until 4th/5th grade and now doing well.

This little kid shit in travel—6, 7 is idiotic. To develop great skill and creativity that structured environment is no needed so young and completely age-inappropriate. European academies don’t even go over 60 minutes at those ages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a soccer person.

With so many talented kids in this area, why do all the decent terms need to travel around every weekend and spend all that money on hotels, gas, etc? Why can't they just play other talented teams in the M.D. DC VA area and maybe only travel one trip at the end of the season?

Shouldn't this area have ample talented competitive teams at every age level so the kids get a variety of hard competition without wasting all that extra money and time?

When I played soccer back in the 80s our city had the rec and community leagues, then "select soccer which was try out soccer for more competitive kids. They played city wide and had plenty of good competition. They did not travel. It worked well and almost all of the select kids played through high school and some on to college.

Did you play travel in this area in the 80s? I played travel '80-87 in this area and we traveled constantly. And, if there was a WAGS make-up it was sometimes moved to a weeknight. I remember my parents bitching about having to drive from Fairfax to Mt. St Mary's Maryland after work. We routinely played teams from the far reaches of Maryland and VA. We also traveled to at least 3 out of state tournaments a year--usually NY, NJ, CT, etc. Our Eastern regional tournament was held in Toronto, Canada one year. My family had 3 kids at 3 different Clubs in the area and we were in the car a lot.

But, I agree with your point. With the sheer number of kids/teams playing at a high level in the DMV, there really should not be need to travel far for regular season games.

I played in another city.

Select was between travel and rec. There were only a handful.of travel.teams and they were usually the really really serious kids. Almost all of the strong players played select. Travel was cream of the crop.

Okay. Yes. In this area there was only select and rec. Select eventually was termed “travel”, but it was the cream. Very hard to make. Only 1 team. Many of my teammates ended up on National teams and NCAA champion teams. Several got full rides when it was almost unheard of in soccer.

It’s really hard to see the business it’s become and the heart is gone.

I know, seriously, instead of a niche youth sport soccer has now grown to be among the most popular youth sports in the nation. How terrible that there are competitive soccer opportunities for kids.

SMH

[Anonymous]

^^yet kids are leaving in droves which is what started this thread. And as big as it’s gotten it still is a niche sport because only wealthy white kids can pay to play.

[Anonymous]

what? my DDs team in NOVA was over 75% minority on on sode of NOVA and 50% the other side of the area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:what? my DDs team in NOVA was over 75% minority on on sode of NOVA and 50% the other side of the area.

Our teams are almost all-white even though there is a big Hispanic population where we are located. It depends on the commmunity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what? my DDs team in NOVA was over 75% minority on on sode of NOVA and 50% the other side of the area.

Our teams are almost all-white even though there is a big Hispanic population where we are located. It depends on the commmunity.

The rec teams however have lots of all Hispanic teams.

The DC travel teams we play are almost all white as well. That also is a statistically demographic anamoly given the population.

[Anonymous]

think youth basketball growth has something to do with it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:think youth basketball growth has something to do with it?

No, do you?