Three year old really good at soccer

[Anonymous]

My kid was just like that, then it turned out he wasn't actually a very aggressive/competitive player as he got older. Shrug.

[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?

This is a great sign - good at this age - because it reflects a natural ability. Keep him involved in soccer regularly.

[Anonymous]

So his birthday is in the spring? That’s good because soccer ages are by calendar year (kids born in Oct, Nov, Dec are the youngest in each group).

Have him practice playing barefoot so he has better control and never kicks with his toes.

Really though it sounds like your kid would be good in any sport so you really need to think where you will funnel that talent. Get ready for so many practices, games, tournaments. Pick a sport you don’t mind watching and supporting. You are going to didn’t countless hours on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So his birthday is in the spring? That’s good because soccer ages are by calendar year (kids born in Oct, Nov, Dec are the youngest in each group).

Have him practice playing barefoot so he has better control and never kicks with his toes.

Really though it sounds like your kid would be good in any sport so you really need to think where you will funnel that talent. Get ready for so many practices, games, tournaments. Pick a sport you don’t mind watching and supporting. You are going to didn’t countless hours on it.

+1000

countless

[Anonymous]

My kid was like this at 3 too, mostly I think because he was trying to keep up with his older brothers. You should keep him playing if he likes it and don't worry about what others say. My 6 year old now plays U8 in a U9 league, so there will be opportunities to play up if he keeps showing aptitude. You never know what will happen, but if he likes it, that's great!

[Anonymous]

It sounds like you a particularly athletic and coordinated kid who can probably do well in multiple sports. My own kids are more the “above average” type, but a kid who played with my youngest was like what you describe. The parents got a little too excited and put the kid in some pre travel program at age 5 where he proceeded to get crushed by athletic second graders who showed no mercy. He quit soccer entirely after that. So I’d say don’t push too hard and don’t put your kid on a team with kids more than one year older. Playing up one year could be the right move in order to get him around kids who are more similar with their skills. But two years is probably too much just because of the body size difference. And definitely try lots of other sports over the next few years and see what sticks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you a particularly athletic and coordinated kid who can probably do well in multiple sports. My own kids are more the “above average” type, but a kid who played with my youngest was like what you describe. The parents got a little too excited and put the kid in some pre travel program at age 5 where he proceeded to get crushed by athletic second graders who showed no mercy. He quit soccer entirely after that. So I’d say don’t push too hard and don’t put your kid on a team with kids more than one year older. Playing up one year could be the right move in order to get him around kids who are more similar with their skills. But two years is probably too much just because of the body size difference. And definitely try lots of other sports over the next few years and see what sticks.

Oh, that’s a good point. I’m worried now because he was begging to play in a winter soccer league like his rec level sister is, so I signed him up. He actually turns 4 in December so he is a 2019 birthday and the soccer league bracket for him is 2018/2019. It’s rec level , just for fun, I’m assuming they’re all so little I won’t run into the problem your friends kid had with competitive athletic older kids. I hope at least. I don’t want to kill his enthusiasm!

[Anonymous]

It's about desire when older. My kid was always noted by coaches because of natural talent of reaction, speed, left and right feet aptitude to use both - but at U12/13 the desire to play lessened and the biggest difference comes from desire even more than aggressive play. You really have to love and want to play and win. So at a certain level it's not just ability. Don't be too enthusiastic as you've a looooong way to go . Also the Dec bday is a killer. Esp for boys from a physical development perspective - the later years are easier than the tween years just note that.

[Anonymous]

My son was the opposite. He literally ran the other way at 3 year old soccer. I bribed him to finish the season but it was so so painful. We tried again at maybe age 7 when his friends were playing and he asked to join. Now in middle school he is a standout player and has college aspirations. Just commenting to say you never know but I hope you and he enjoy whatever you find!

[Anonymous]

Pay particular attention to the coaches he works with. My first DS had terrible first real coach and left soccer. A screamer and all around negative. Second DS had fab first coach - and after that experience I got smart - and only surrounded him with positive. He was just recruited at U14 to play on ECNL team (not DMV)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you a particularly athletic and coordinated kid who can probably do well in multiple sports. My own kids are more the “above average” type, but a kid who played with my youngest was like what you describe. The parents got a little too excited and put the kid in some pre travel program at age 5 where he proceeded to get crushed by athletic second graders who showed no mercy. He quit soccer entirely after that. So I’d say don’t push too hard and don’t put your kid on a team with kids more than one year older. Playing up one year could be the right move in order to get him around kids who are more similar with their skills. But two years is probably too much just because of the body size difference. And definitely try lots of other sports over the next few years and see what sticks.

Oh, that’s a good point. I’m worried now because he was begging to play in a winter soccer league like his rec level sister is, so I signed him up. He actually turns 4 in December so he is a 2019 birthday and the soccer league bracket for him is 2018/2019. It’s rec level , just for fun, I’m assuming they’re all so little I won’t run into the problem your friends kid had with competitive athletic older kids. I hope at least. I don’t want to kill his enthusiasm!

Your kid has a really, really awful sports birthday. My kids are born in December and it is really tough when it is based on calendar age (soccer, softball, hockey) vs grade (basketball). So you have to compare your kid to kids a year older to really see if they are going to excel. So if your kid starts winter soccer in December right before he turns 4, he will be three and will be playing with kids who are 4 AND 5 years old. And in January some of those kids will be turning 6 and in kindergarten while your kid will have just turned 4. Hopefully he will keep up and do great, but that is a big age gap.

[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.

I was going to post the same thing!

tldr; just get him a mini soccer ball (the mini kind that's appropriate for his age) and encourage him to dribble and walk with the ball around the house. That's the single best thing you can do for him. All the other stuff (big kicks, running, shooting goals, etc.) can and will come later. Right now it's all about building a bond between him and the ball at his feet -- muscle memory.

Have fun!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I was going to post the same thing!

tldr; just get him a mini soccer ball (the mini kind that's appropriate for his age) and encourage him to dribble and walk with the ball around the house. That's the single best thing you can do for him. All the other stuff (big kicks, running, shooting goals, etc.) can and will come later. Right now it's all about building a bond between him and the ball at his feet -- muscle memory.

Have fun!

Thanks! He does have a couple size 3 balls in the house but while he will dribble around with them a little here and there he mainly spends time setting them up in the hallway and then taking a few giant steps back and blasting them against the far wall. He gets air on them now and he has knocked pictures off the wall with the sheer force. So I yell and send him outside where he does the same thing but without damage to my artwork. He is definitely more interested in brute force shots in goal than dribbling.

[Anonymous]

At 3.5, I would solely focus on making sure he's having fun. Rec leagues are great and usually offered spring/fall. County rec may offer a winter soccer-type program, sign him up. But I wouldn't worry much beyond that at this point. I'd also introduce him to other sports: lacrosse, etc... since you don't want to lock in on soccer too early in case he decides he doesn't like it.

[Anonymous]

3.5 is way too early to tell generally. But some things like athleticism and interest can start to show. The biggest predictor of if they will go on to play at higher levels is if your family is athletic and active and encourages it - and then some factors can be if the kid has exposure and opportunities to play.