Three year old really good at soccer

[Anonymous]

I know this will be flamed. I have a 3.5 year old who is oddly good at soccer in my opinion. He kicks the ball harder than my 2nd grader. He is also faster. He is doing a soccer shots program and the dads there make comments about how they’ve never seen a kid like him. I think they’re probably just making conversation, I have no idea what signs I might see that my kid has a real gift. Can anyone whose child grew up to be a college soccer player, etc tell me what their kid looked like at 3.5?

[Anonymous]

I hope people aren’t too mean, op-that sounds pretty cool. My own kids weren’t like that (though they ended up being good at soccer, not playing in college though) but I have encountered a couple really little kids (more like 5yo, not 3) who really stood out! The one I still know ended up playing a different sport in college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope people aren’t too mean, op-that sounds pretty cool. My own kids weren’t like that (though they ended up being good at soccer, not playing in college though) but I have encountered a couple really little kids (more like 5yo, not 3) who really stood out! The one I still know ended up playing a different sport in college.

Thanks! I hope people aren’t mean too. I’m honestly just kind of curious if he is truly a stand out or just better than most other preschoolers which doesn’t mean much. It’s a large soccer shots type program with like 40 kids and every time I’ve gone, I’ve overheard different parents talking about my kid and joking (like “that kid in the red should play up in my kids U9 club!” type jokes to each other). So I know he stands out but I don’t know how common it is to stand out since my second grader isn’t into the sports scene. But yeah, interested to know what true standouts (college players I guess?) looked like as little ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this will be flamed. I have a 3.5 year old who is oddly good at soccer in my opinion. He kicks the ball harder than my 2nd grader. He is also faster. He is doing a soccer shots program and the dads there make comments about how they’ve never seen a kid like him. I think they’re probably just making conversation, I have no idea what signs I might see that my kid has a real gift. Can anyone whose child grew up to be a college soccer player, etc tell me what their kid looked like at 3.5?

I will both answer you and simultaneously give you the eyeroll you expect. My son was recruited to play D1 soccer, but ended up playing a diffferent D1 sport. (He just graduated in May). He started playing soccer when he was about 2. Organized soccer around 4. He was always very aggressive in playing--not physically necessarily, but always had to score. That really manifested early when some kids were still more interested in watch the planes or birds than in the game. It levelled off and changed throughout the years; puberty is a big game changer in terms of skill. The one constant was (is) that any sport he plays, he's surprisingly good quickly. Skiing, golf, tennis, riding, hockey, football, basketball, surfing, diving, whatever. It's a long list because we let him play or take lessons in whatever he wanted.

DS2 is the same and is headed to play another D1 sport next fall. Same story. No pushing from us, just letting them play and develop, and not fixating on any one sport. He had 2 offers (in different sports I mean, not two total).

The relative skill may come and go, but just let him be and enjoy all sports. He'll get to where he's meant to be.

[Anonymous]

OP, you should learn about Tom Byer and his philosophy on how the younger years are critical for development and most of that starts at home. https://tomsan.com/en/
My son is not yet college age, but a teen who plays at a high level and is similar in that he / we had no intention of picking up soccer as "the sport". He was consistently told that he had innate skills for it and encouraged to keep showing up. Surrounding yourself with the right people is key in the process. Don't pay for something you don't need. Don't let the shiny objects distract you from real development and joy with the game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this will be flamed. I have a 3.5 year old who is oddly good at soccer in my opinion. He kicks the ball harder than my 2nd grader. He is also faster. He is doing a soccer shots program and the dads there make comments about how they’ve never seen a kid like him. I think they’re probably just making conversation, I have no idea what signs I might see that my kid has a real gift. Can anyone whose child grew up to be a college soccer player, etc tell me what their kid looked like at 3.5?

I will both answer you and simultaneously give you the eyeroll you expect. My son was recruited to play D1 soccer, but ended up playing a diffferent D1 sport. (He just graduated in May). He started playing soccer when he was about 2. Organized soccer around 4. He was always very aggressive in playing--not physically necessarily, but always had to score. That really manifested early when some kids were still more interested in watch the planes or birds than in the game. It levelled off and changed throughout the years; puberty is a big game changer in terms of skill. The one constant was (is) that any sport he plays, he's surprisingly good quickly. Skiing, golf, tennis, riding, hockey, football, basketball, surfing, diving, whatever. It's a long list because we let him play or take lessons in whatever he wanted.

DS2 is the same and is headed to play another D1 sport next fall. Same story. No pushing from us, just letting them play and develop, and not fixating on any one sport. He had 2 offers (in different sports I mean, not two total).

The relative skill may come and go, but just let him be and enjoy all sports. He'll get to where he's meant to be.

Thank you! That sounds like my kid (aggressive and really into the sport when other kids aren’t, at his age). Combined with some weird innate talent at ball handling/ big kicks with the laces. But he loves all sports he “tries” (not much to really try at his age) so who knows if he will even end up preferring soccer, like your older son!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you should learn about Tom Byer and his philosophy on how the younger years are critical for development and most of that starts at home. https://tomsan.com/en/
My son is not yet college age, but a teen who plays at a high level and is similar in that he / we had no intention of picking up soccer as "the sport". He was consistently told that he had innate skills for it and encouraged to keep showing up. Surrounding yourself with the right people is key in the process. Don't pay for something you don't need. Don't let the shiny objects distract you from real development and joy with the game.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this will be flamed. I have a 3.5 year old who is oddly good at soccer in my opinion. He kicks the ball harder than my 2nd grader. He is also faster. He is doing a soccer shots program and the dads there make comments about how they’ve never seen a kid like him. I think they’re probably just making conversation, I have no idea what signs I might see that my kid has a real gift. Can anyone whose child grew up to be a college soccer player, etc tell me what their kid looked like at 3.5?

I will both answer you and simultaneously give you the eyeroll you expect. My son was recruited to play D1 soccer, but ended up playing a diffferent D1 sport. (He just graduated in May). He started playing soccer when he was about 2. Organized soccer around 4. He was always very aggressive in playing--not physically necessarily, but always had to score. That really manifested early when some kids were still more interested in watch the planes or birds than in the game. It levelled off and changed throughout the years; puberty is a big game changer in terms of skill. The one constant was (is) that any sport he plays, he's surprisingly good quickly. Skiing, golf, tennis, riding, hockey, football, basketball, surfing, diving, whatever. It's a long list because we let him play or take lessons in whatever he wanted.

DS2 is the same and is headed to play another D1 sport next fall. Same story. No pushing from us, just letting them play and develop, and not fixating on any one sport. He had 2 offers (in different sports I mean, not two total).

The relative skill may come and go, but just let him be and enjoy all sports. He'll get to where he's meant to be.

Thank you! That sounds like my kid (aggressive and really into the sport when other kids aren’t, at his age). Combined with some weird innate talent at ball handling/ big kicks with the laces. But he loves all sports he “tries” (not much to really try at his age) so who knows if he will even end up preferring soccer, like your older son!

He can start ice hockey now. That's when my DS1, who played in college, started. It made him a far better soccer player too, since hockey moves so much faster--he could really read the field well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this will be flamed. I have a 3.5 year old who is oddly good at soccer in my opinion. He kicks the ball harder than my 2nd grader. He is also faster. He is doing a soccer shots program and the dads there make comments about how they’ve never seen a kid like him. I think they’re probably just making conversation, I have no idea what signs I might see that my kid has a real gift. Can anyone whose child grew up to be a college soccer player, etc tell me what their kid looked like at 3.5?

I will both answer you and simultaneously give you the eyeroll you expect. My son was recruited to play D1 soccer, but ended up playing a diffferent D1 sport. (He just graduated in May). He started playing soccer when he was about 2. Organized soccer around 4. He was always very aggressive in playing--not physically necessarily, but always had to score. That really manifested early when some kids were still more interested in watch the planes or birds than in the game. It levelled off and changed throughout the years; puberty is a big game changer in terms of skill. The one constant was (is) that any sport he plays, he's surprisingly good quickly. Skiing, golf, tennis, riding, hockey, football, basketball, surfing, diving, whatever. It's a long list because we let him play or take lessons in whatever he wanted.

DS2 is the same and is headed to play another D1 sport next fall. Same story. No pushing from us, just letting them play and develop, and not fixating on any one sport. He had 2 offers (in different sports I mean, not two total).

The relative skill may come and go, but just let him be and enjoy all sports. He'll get to where he's meant to be.

Thank you! That sounds like my kid (aggressive and really into the sport when other kids aren’t, at his age). Combined with some weird innate talent at ball handling/ big kicks with the laces. But he loves all sports he “tries” (not much to really try at his age) so who knows if he will even end up preferring soccer, like your older son!

He can start ice hockey now. That's when my DS1, who played in college, started. It made him a far better soccer player too, since hockey moves so much faster--he could really read the field well.

Oh nice! He did take skating lessons last winter when he turned 3 and loved them and was pretty coordinated on his skates. Maybe I’ll let him try it out this winter!

[Anonymous]

My kid at 3.5 was noticeably faster and dribbled better than others, scored a ton. I didn't push him at all, I'm not a sports guy and didn't think it would lead to much. But he excelled and got noticed, he's now playing on a fully funded academy team. Who knows how that will turn out!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid at 3.5 was noticeably faster and dribbled better than others, scored a ton. I didn't push him at all, I'm not a sports guy and didn't think it would lead to much. But he excelled and got noticed, he's now playing on a fully funded academy team. Who knows how that will turn out!

Thanks! And that’s great for your son. I don’t know what a fully funded academy team is but it sounds like a big deal!

[Anonymous]

Lol. I'm sorry your kid may be amazing but the thread title and post are still hilarious! (Fwiw my ds was the same. At 5 was kicking the ball down the entire length of the field and scoring in the other goal while outrunning everyone. By the time he's 11, the talent gap won't be as wide. Many kids will have caught up and he may or may not be the best. Just focus on his development.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lol. I'm sorry your kid may be amazing but the thread title and post are still hilarious! (Fwiw my ds was the same. At 5 was kicking the ball down the entire length of the field and scoring in the other goal while outrunning everyone. By the time he's 11, the talent gap won't be as wide. Many kids will have caught up and he may or may not be the best. Just focus on his development.)

I know, there was no way to phrase it where I wouldn’t get everyone laughing at me- which is why I’m asking anonymously and not asking neighbors and friends 😂 I’m not offended. And thanks for sharing what your kid looked like as a little one.

[Anonymous]

sorry just came to say here to say "lol"

[Anonymous]

This sounds very exciting, OP. But please temper your expectation, just in case his growth/puberty don't match age expectations. That can be traumatic for some talented kids, and there isn't much you can do about it.