is soccer coach trying to help my kid? or dump him off on another coach..

[Anonymous]

my kiddo going into frosh year and has been playing soccer for years - he did the mile time trial in soccer tryouts today, and said he ran something like 4:40. Soccer coach told him you should be running cross country. Don’t really have any context, but is the coach trying to gently dump him?

[Anonymous]

No. He's telling him he's a great runner. For reference, I played junior Olympics in the 90s and the cutoff to make the team was 6:25. Your son is probably a better runner than soccer player. I'd run with it and encourage him.

[Anonymous]

ugh thank you pp - we’ve always been the family that just let kids have fun and play multiple sports, seen too many horror shows in our town with seemingly normal parents going completely off the rails with travel sports and personal coaching etc. But this feels different encouraging him if there could be some talent. Soccer coach apparently said take off another ten seconds if you weren’t wearing basketball sneakers lol. Assuming he could indeed run a 4:30 with proper running shoes- Is there a mile time that makes it a no brainer? isn’t x country longer than a mile? he’s never even run more than a mile so who even knows if he would be good

[Anonymous]

He might enjoy cross country and have more fun with it. He’ll never know if he doesn’t have the opportunity to try it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:my kiddo going into frosh year and has been playing soccer for years - he did the mile time trial in soccer tryouts today, and said he ran something like 4:40. Soccer coach told him you should be running cross country. Don’t really have any context, but is the coach trying to gently dump him?

I wouldn’t really overthink this. Our DD plays a field sport and lots of coaches have told her she should run track. I don’t think they are actually trying to get her to leave her sport, I think it is just a euphemism for “hey, you are a good runner”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:my kiddo going into frosh year and has been playing soccer for years - he did the mile time trial in soccer tryouts today, and said he ran something like 4:40. Soccer coach told him you should be running cross country. Don’t really have any context, but is the coach trying to gently dump him?

I wouldn’t really overthink this. Our DD plays a field sport and lots of coaches have told her she should run track. I don’t think they are actually trying to get her to leave her sport, I think it is just a euphemism for “hey, you are a good runner”.

This.

However, if he's only "meh' about soccer and playing it to have fun, you could at least think about XC.

Have him run a 5k this weekend. Just map it out yourself, nothing formal needed. But tell him to get after it. And see what his time is. If he can do sub 18 with no real training as a freshman, then it might be worth considering switching

[Anonymous]

A 4:40 (in basketball shoes and untrained) is very impressive for rising freshman boy.

My son was finally able to get 4:17 as a senior. He was varsity all years in XC and track. All State his senior year in multiple events, including relays.

I’d have your son (only if he’s interested) to reach out to the XC/track coach. You cannot force a kid to be a competitive runner; it must come from within. My son, as an elementary kid, would rather run suicides in basketball, run the bases in baseball, etc. He was a midfielder in soccer because he could run nonstop. His skills were meh.

But, once he started XC and track, a whole new world opened up to him. He became a leader on the teams (at least 100 boys at 6A high school). Now he’s a military officer and frequently says how his time on those teams made such an impact on him (training, competition, leadership, resilience, grit, etc).

Good luck.

Buy the best quality shoes possible. Frequently change them. Go to a running store to be fitted probably.

Be prepared for massive grocery bill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A 4:40 (in basketball shoes and untrained) is very impressive for rising freshman boy.

My son was finally able to get 4:17 as a senior. He was varsity all years in XC and track. All State his senior year in multiple events, including relays.

I’d have your son (only if he’s interested) to reach out to the XC/track coach. You cannot force a kid to be a competitive runner; it must come from within. My son, as an elementary kid, would rather run suicides in basketball, run the bases in baseball, etc. He was a midfielder in soccer because he could run nonstop. His skills were meh.

But, once he started XC and track, a whole new world opened up to him. He became a leader on the teams (at least 100 boys at 6A high school). Now he’s a military officer and frequently says how his time on those teams made such an impact on him (training, competition, leadership, resilience, grit, etc).

Good luck.


Buy the best quality shoes possible. Frequently change them. Go to a running store to be fitted probably.

Be prepared for massive grocery bill.

Yes, your son is in rare air. And that is a rare coach who seems to unselfishly want the best for your kid.

[Anonymous]

What does your son want to do?

A lot of kids find running boring, but find games like soccer fun. And of course a lot of kids prefer running. Everyone is different.

[Anonymous]

kid seems maybe above average but probably a couple of kids on every soccer team in state can run that - don’t think he’s gonna be competing in the olympics or even D1 with that type of frosh time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:kid seems maybe above average but probably a couple of kids on every soccer team in state can run that - don’t think he’s gonna be competing in the olympics or even D1 with that type of frosh time

You can't really say anything like that yet. He hasn't even trained in the sport and likely is still maturing rapidly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:kid seems maybe above average but probably a couple of kids on every soccer team in state can run that - don’t think he’s gonna be competing in the olympics or even D1 with that type of frosh time

You seem like a bitter person. Why feel the need to make a comment like this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:kid seems maybe above average but probably a couple of kids on every soccer team in state can run that - don’t think he’s gonna be competing in the olympics or even D1 with that type of frosh time

I know it’s hard to believe that super talented kids can actually play a D1 sport after starting it in 9th grade but they do.

[Anonymous]

He can play soccer and run track (indoor and outdoor).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:my kiddo going into frosh year and has been playing soccer for years - he did the mile time trial in soccer tryouts today, and said he ran something like 4:40. Soccer coach told him you should be running cross country. Don’t really have any context, but is the coach trying to gently dump him?

Humble brag or