Getting Out Of The Rat Race Early - Looking For Others

[Anonymous]

First season has come to a close for my U9 son for a travel team in Northern Virginia. As everyone here says with any club, don't like it, get out. I decided its time to get out early and make informed decision based on everything I read on this forum and talked to others. Not a knock on the club where I am currently at but the whole system as a whole. My family decision based on coaching staff, training style, costs, time, my child's mentality, and upcoming birth year to school year change are issues I'll face at any club. Maybe in 2-3 years we may change our mind and jump back into travel.

At this time, I think its best to take into my own hands my son's training. I grew up playing soccer all my life, attended many camps, previously coached NCSL U12-15 and there are abundance of training material and information out there. I'm looking for other parents interested in doing the same and getting out of the rat race for now. Looking for a parent who has lots of playing experience or coached at a high level and has a child U8-U10 age range. If we can get anywhere from 8-10 kids, we could run practices like a real club on technical aspects, team play and slow down to teach the kids soccer. We could run scrimmages within our own group. Practices will be run seriously, kids can get the closer attention they need, but take away most the pressure associated with travel soccer. I ask for parents with playing/coaching experience because we would all could be involved and contribute during our sessions. There is no better investment than from ourselves.

I am training my child individually 3-4 times a week but I can't replace the team play and challenge from other children his age. Recreational soccer is not good enough, hiring a private trainer and doing constant camps is too pricey. This could act as a standalone soccer training or maybe supplement to recreational soccer. Practice once a week and a scrimmage once a week during each season. I do have a higher goal for my son which is actually attainable which is why I want to do this. And as stated previously, can still jump back in to travel soccer in few years. Please leave your contact information if you are interested, I will reach out and try to organize. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Why are you training your u9 kid 3-4 times a week, you are crazy

[Anonymous]

Ummm OP you are the definition of rat race.
Take it down a notch.

[Anonymous]

Yeah man. Read about Todd Marinovich, and his dad.

[Anonymous]

You sound crazy.
Also, what field are you planning on using for this training? They are booked solid.

[Anonymous]

To be fair, I don't think the OP ever said club training was too rigorous or hard. Travel soccer is already on average 4 times a week. He stated child mentality and taking away pressure from travel. So maybe talking the politics of it all. Just my guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To be fair, I don't think the OP ever said club training was too rigorous or hard. Travel soccer is already on average 4 times a week. He stated child mentality and taking away pressure from travel. So maybe talking the politics of it all. Just my guess.

Its not four times a werk at U9.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are you training your u9 kid 3-4 times a week, you are crazy

In addition to the 2-3 team practixes and games? Yikes!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To be fair, I don't think the OP ever said club training was too rigorous or hard. Travel soccer is already on average 4 times a week. He stated child mentality and taking away pressure from travel. So maybe talking the politics of it all. Just my guess.

Its not four times a werk at U9.

Two to 3 practices a week plus a weekend game or two is pretty standard for club soccer, even at U9

[Anonymous]

That’s a lot of commitment to seek other parents to join you - sounds like you have the time and energy, many others may not…

While the way soccer is conducted in (at least this part of) the US, it does feel like a rat race and all the clubs dangle that there is only limited cheese… there are other benefits that I wish were emphasized more, but are there nonetheless - the camaraderie, the teamwork, learning to rebound after the agony of defeat (and the agony of the feet) - that help to build character and resilience. It’s too bad that gets lost in the sauce when the never ending search for the next phenom…

[Anonymous]

OP here, I completely understand previous posts concerns about me being a tyrant and will clarify. My mistake. I'm currently at 3-4 times a week training because our club has zero training for the winter months. I only train my son for 30 mins each time. And other clubs I know are still doing practices and internal scrimmages for total 4 times a week all of winter.

Come spring. Our club does 3 practices a week each 75 mins long and includes 1 game a week. And then some weeks have tournaments resulting 2-4 games a weekend for total of 4-7 sessions. I will not be doing any 1 on 1 training with my son during that time on top of that.

I will stop club soccer after this Spring season. If this winter or come Fall 2026 if i can put this group together. I hope to meet once or twice a week. For my son, a total of 3 or 4 sessions a week , whatever combination of this group, 1 on 1, and even joining back to rec games/practices so he can play with his friends.

I do understand the burnout and that's partially why I'm removing him from club. I would still like him to grow and develop without the dependence on how each club is run. I want him back in rec with his friends to play for fun. But to do well and grow, we still need some of 1 on 1 training or whatever this group i put togethrr. Our club philosophy is team training is for the team and not individually development.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First season has come to a close for my U9 son for a travel team in Northern Virginia. As everyone here says with any club, don't like it, get out. I decided its time to get out early and make informed decision based on everything I read on this forum and talked to others. Not a knock on the club where I am currently at but the whole system as a whole. My family decision based on coaching staff, training style, costs, time, my child's mentality, and upcoming birth year to school year change are issues I'll face at any club. Maybe in 2-3 years we may change our mind and jump back into travel.

At this time, I think its best to take into my own hands my son's training. I grew up playing soccer all my life, attended many camps, previously coached NCSL U12-15 and there are abundance of training material and information out there. I'm looking for other parents interested in doing the same and getting out of the rat race for now. Looking for a parent who has lots of playing experience or coached at a high level and has a child U8-U10 age range. If we can get anywhere from 8-10 kids, we could run practices like a real club on technical aspects, team play and slow down to teach the kids soccer. We could run scrimmages within our own group. Practices will be run seriously, kids can get the closer attention they need, but take away most the pressure associated with travel soccer. I ask for parents with playing/coaching experience because we would all could be involved and contribute during our sessions. There is no better investment than from ourselves.

I am training my child individually 3-4 times a week but I can't replace the team play and challenge from other children his age. Recreational soccer is not good enough, hiring a private trainer and doing constant camps is too pricey. This could act as a standalone soccer training or maybe supplement to recreational soccer. Practice once a week and a scrimmage once a week during each season. I do have a higher goal for my son which is actually attainable which is why I want to do this. And as stated previously, can still jump back in to travel soccer in few years. Please leave your contact information if you are interested, I will reach out and try to organize. Thank you.

Isn't everyone still in the middle of their season???

[Anonymous]

I wish you all the best in creating this training environment for your child. I don't have a kid that you could add to your training group, but was just thinking about my child's experience.

So, just finished U9. At that age, our club was still running a pool program and it also had a spring season. I thought that worked great for the kids. Everyone trained together, no set teams. Lots of different skills were worked on. Players groups mixed up regularly, though the best players did tend to stay together more frequently, and play was all small sided. 4x4 with the pop-up goals.

Not until U10, your sons year, did any real "teams" form and they played 7x7. My child played on one of the top teams and they practice 3 days a week plus 1 game on weekends. It meant making some changes for them and they had to drop another activity that they liked, but here we are now.

Good Luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That’s a lot of commitment to seek other parents to join you - sounds like you have the time and energy, many others may not…

While the way soccer is conducted in (at least this part of) the US, it does feel like a rat race and all the clubs dangle that there is only limited cheese… there are other benefits that I wish were emphasized more, but are there nonetheless - the camaraderie, the teamwork, learning to rebound after the agony of defeat (and the agony of the feet) - that help to build character and resilience. It’s too bad that gets lost in the sauce when the never ending search for the next phenom…

I agree its a lot of committment. We have 2 worlds currently. Join travel which is too much or join rec which is not good enough. What do you want? Its a tough balance to manage. I want him to grow individually, but learn the game well with proficient teammates, but still have fun. Hopefully some people agree with me and want join. If not its ok.

This forum is full of complaints for each club, I dont want to be that parent. Its each families choice to do best interest for their child.

[Anonymous]

So let him play rec for games and fun, and you work with him 2- times a week to get better. Why do you need to make a big dramatic post about this?