Start club soccer as early as possible?

[Anonymous]

Should we start club soccer at U6? Is the only downside that club requires some level of specialization at a very young age versus continuing to play various rec program sports and individual sports? My spouse and I played other sports at a time when it was still possible to be a 3-sport high school athlete. We know that being good at this young age may not correlate to later success, but DC did stand out in the rec league this year, and DC likes soccer more than everything else we've tried.

[Anonymous]

Once you get on the train it is hard to get off.

Oh and it will cost you $$$$

[Anonymous]

In the early Club years there should be and there normally is a little leeway. Travel basketball definitely, travel baseball. All kinds of rec sports. I’d say before U13 most Clubs are good with this. Be upfront and know everyone’s rules about what missing a practice means for game play.
That said there’s nothing wrong with rec with classmates, maybe making an all star team.
Skills are sometimes ahead of attention span, even when they are passionate. It all does move awfully fast.

[Anonymous]

If you have the time and money, it's not going to hurt anything. I certainly wouldn't feel obligated to do so, but if you think it's something your DC will continue on with there should still be plenty opportunity to try other things.

[Anonymous]

Our top team has been 90% the same kids since Ulittles. The parents are expecting the club to keep them there for as long as possible. Needless to say, it’s not exactly a meritocracy

[Anonymous]

Yes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes

Your competition will be starting that early and it will be evident by u9

[Anonymous]

Avoid this cesspool as long as you can!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes

Your competition will be starting that early and it will be evident by u9

And irrelevant by U14.

[Anonymous]

I would definitely not start at u6. It’s a recipe for burnout. I didn’t even know u6 existed in travel. DS started at u9. His club had a development program beforehand with strong coaching (but not travel). We skipped that but maybe 1/3 of the players in his age group started there. I remember some of those parents being upset their kids were placed on the 2nd or 3rd team so I don’t think it helped much. U9 seemed like a good age to start but there were kids who started at u10 and caught up fast so we could have even waited. He is now u16 and clearly no worse for not starting sooner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would definitely not start at u6. It’s a recipe for burnout. I didn’t even know u6 existed in travel. DS started at u9. His club had a development program beforehand with strong coaching (but not travel). We skipped that but maybe 1/3 of the players in his age group started there. I remember some of those parents being upset their kids were placed on the 2nd or 3rd team so I don’t think it helped much. U9 seemed like a good age to start but there were kids who started at u10 and caught up fast so we could have even waited. He is now u16 and clearly no worse for not starting sooner.

Early programs help those who were talented/athletic in the first place.

We started one kid early bc we knew they were not athletic and he turned out to be a solid travel player bc of the consistency.

Another kid started even earlier and is now on MLSNext. Every kid on his team started at U6 or earlier. Not everyone started at a formal club program and but every kid had been in an environment where they were regularly playing soccer.

[Anonymous]

No absolutely not

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would definitely not start at u6. It’s a recipe for burnout. I didn’t even know u6 existed in travel. DS started at u9. His club had a development program beforehand with strong coaching (but not travel). We skipped that but maybe 1/3 of the players in his age group started there. I remember some of those parents being upset their kids were placed on the 2nd or 3rd team so I don’t think it helped much. U9 seemed like a good age to start but there were kids who started at u10 and caught up fast so we could have even waited. He is now u16 and clearly no worse for not starting sooner.

What is burnout and how does it happen exactly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Should we start club soccer at U6? Is the only downside that club requires some level of specialization at a very young age versus continuing to play various rec program sports and individual sports? My spouse and I played other sports at a time when it was still possible to be a 3-sport high school athlete. We know that being good at this young age may not correlate to later success, but DC did stand out in the rec league this year, and DC likes soccer more than everything else we've tried.

He’s six. This is psychotic

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would definitely not start at u6. It’s a recipe for burnout. I didn’t even know u6 existed in travel. DS started at u9. His club had a development program beforehand with strong coaching (but not travel). We skipped that but maybe 1/3 of the players in his age group started there. I remember some of those parents being upset their kids were placed on the 2nd or 3rd team so I don’t think it helped much. U9 seemed like a good age to start but there were kids who started at u10 and caught up fast so we could have even waited. He is now u16 and clearly no worse for not starting sooner.

What is burnout and how does it happen exactly?

https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2014/12/10/understanding-student-athlete-burnout.aspx