Tried travel and might go back to rec…opinions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I ask my spouse...what's the ultimate goal of all of this? Is it for some kind of scholarship to college so our kids can escape the mean streets of UMC suburbia? That's just not it for us. We want to foster a lifelong enjoyment of sport and make friends. Rec is the place for us for now.

Why are you asking your spouse? Ask your kid what they want to do and be the grounding force to support them but also bring them to reality (for example, if they’re not displaying the work ethic or skill to get a scholarship).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a high level young kid go from travel to rec last year. The biggest thing is level of play. If your kid won’t get frustrated by kids that have no idea what is going on, then it is okay. The coaches are so much more supportive, never yell, all around way better than the big club coaches.
We also asked to play up a year.
Soccer also isn’t kids primary sport so it makes it way easier with schedule conflicts to be in rec.

While DS prefers soccer over everything else, it’s not his only sport. Flexibility and lower stress when missing practices and games is my biggest driver in wanting to go back to rec.
regarding letting my child decide, that is not an option. He has decision-making paralysis, and he cannot make decisions like this. I have to ultimately weigh the pros and cons and make this decision for him. While my husband definitely has a say, I do all the transportation and scheduling so it’s ultimately my decision.
-OP

No wonder your husband is fine with it. Just switch back to rec and see if they’ll let your child play at a higher age level. The decision isn’t permanent and you can always switch back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a high level young kid go from travel to rec last year. The biggest thing is level of play. If your kid won’t get frustrated by kids that have no idea what is going on, then it is okay. The coaches are so much more supportive, never yell, all around way better than the big club coaches.
We also asked to play up a year.
Soccer also isn’t kids primary sport so it makes it way easier with schedule conflicts to be in rec.

While DS prefers soccer over everything else, it’s not his only sport. Flexibility and lower stress when missing practices and games is my biggest driver in wanting to go back to rec.
regarding letting my child decide, that is not an option. He has decision-making paralysis, and he cannot make decisions like this. I have to ultimately weigh the pros and cons and make this decision for him. While my husband definitely has a say, I do all the transportation and scheduling so it’s ultimately my decision.
-OP

It's not ideal to leave teams in a lurch for games even in lowly rec, fwiw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a high level young kid go from travel to rec last year. The biggest thing is level of play. If your kid won’t get frustrated by kids that have no idea what is going on, then it is okay. The coaches are so much more supportive, never yell, all around way better than the big club coaches.
We also asked to play up a year.
Soccer also isn’t kids primary sport so it makes it way easier with schedule conflicts to be in rec.

While DS prefers soccer over everything else, it’s not his only sport. Flexibility and lower stress when missing practices and games is my biggest driver in wanting to go back to rec.
regarding letting my child decide, that is not an option. He has decision-making paralysis, and he cannot make decisions like this. I have to ultimately weigh the pros and cons and make this decision for him. While my husband definitely has a say, I do all the transportation and scheduling so it’s ultimately my decision.
-OP

It's not ideal to leave teams in a lurch for games even in lowly rec, fwiw.

Its actually fine at rec level, thats the point, its recreational not competitive. You play when and how you can. You dont owe them your life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a high level young kid go from travel to rec last year. The biggest thing is level of play. If your kid won’t get frustrated by kids that have no idea what is going on, then it is okay. The coaches are so much more supportive, never yell, all around way better than the big club coaches.
We also asked to play up a year.
Soccer also isn’t kids primary sport so it makes it way easier with schedule conflicts to be in rec.

While DS prefers soccer over everything else, it’s not his only sport. Flexibility and lower stress when missing practices and games is my biggest driver in wanting to go back to rec.
regarding letting my child decide, that is not an option. He has decision-making paralysis, and he cannot make decisions like this. I have to ultimately weigh the pros and cons and make this decision for him. While my husband definitely has a say, I do all the transportation and scheduling so it’s ultimately my decision.
-OP

It's not ideal to leave teams in a lurch for games even in lowly rec, fwiw.

Its actually fine at rec level, thats the point, its recreational not competitive. You play when and how you can. You dont owe them your life.

OK, so all the other kids on the team don't deserve a good experience because they aren't vaunted travel players?

[Anonymous]

This is a really difficult position to be in. I think it depends on what your local rec options are. With clubs having 3-5 age groups in travel the level in rec is the bottom bottom of the barrel. Kids don't want to be there, they might show up for practice or a game and can't or don't want to run. If your kid is truly non competitive and just has fun doing things it may work. Being on a crappy travel team with a crappy coach (as long as not abusive) is going to be better than Rec in most cases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a high level young kid go from travel to rec last year. The biggest thing is level of play. If your kid won’t get frustrated by kids that have no idea what is going on, then it is okay. The coaches are so much more supportive, never yell, all around way better than the big club coaches.
We also asked to play up a year.
Soccer also isn’t kids primary sport so it makes it way easier with schedule conflicts to be in rec.

While DS prefers soccer over everything else, it’s not his only sport. Flexibility and lower stress when missing practices and games is my biggest driver in wanting to go back to rec.
regarding letting my child decide, that is not an option. He has decision-making paralysis, and he cannot make decisions like this. I have to ultimately weigh the pros and cons and make this decision for him. While my husband definitely has a say, I do all the transportation and scheduling so it’s ultimately my decision.
-OP

It's not ideal to leave teams in a lurch for games even in lowly rec, fwiw.

Its actually fine at rec level, thats the point, its recreational not competitive. You play when and how you can. You dont owe them your life.

Of course you don't owe them your life. But when enough families on the team treat games as optional, the remaining kids don't have enough players, and other adults scramble at the last minute for warm bodies so those kids can still have a decent experience.

[Anonymous]

Depending on where you are, MSI Classic is another option between travel and rec. Similar to ADP except MSI does not run the teams, just the league. The teams are independently run, either by volunteers or by clubs (and sometimes the volunteer/parent run teams have “professional” coaches). Your player will have to try out for teams individually, but also gives you flexibility to find the team with the right fit, practices close to you, etc. Competition can be similar to low level travel (eg, lowest levels of EDP) but it really varies depending on the age group and division.

[Anonymous]

Is it really fair to other kids if your DS goes back to rec and scores all the goals again? I mean, think about the other kids experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it really fair to other kids if your DS goes back to rec and scores all the goals again? I mean, think about the other kids experience.

Seriously

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I ask my spouse...what's the ultimate goal of all of this? Is it for some kind of scholarship to college so our kids can escape the mean streets of UMC suburbia? That's just not it for us. We want to foster a lifelong enjoyment of sport and make friends. Rec is the place for us for now.

What age is your kid?

They're 11 and 8

[Anonymous]

Try in between. MSI has the Academy level in between rec and travel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it really fair to other kids if your DS goes back to rec and scores all the goals again? I mean, think about the other kids experience.

Kids do like to win games, so they may not be upset if the kid scores a lot.

Also you can teach your superstar kid to learn how to pass and assist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I ask my spouse...what's the ultimate goal of all of this? Is it for some kind of scholarship to college so our kids can escape the mean streets of UMC suburbia? That's just not it for us. We want to foster a lifelong enjoyment of sport and make friends. Rec is the place for us for now.

Kids can have a life long enjoyment of the sport while playing travel. Your kid just doesn't have that love.

Eh, I was a D1 athlete. I've seen a lot of people burn out on their sport because it was too competitive. Many of the people I went to college with no longer do our sport recreationally because it felt more like a job than a love. Now, maybe it's different for your family, but I think delaying the single-mindedness of one sport above all others for as long as possible will be the route for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depending on where you are, MSI Classic is another option between travel and rec. Similar to ADP except MSI does not run the teams, just the league. The teams are independently run, either by volunteers or by clubs (and sometimes the volunteer/parent run teams have “professional” coaches). Your player will have to try out for teams individually, but also gives you flexibility to find the team with the right fit, practices close to you, etc. Competition can be similar to low level travel (eg, lowest levels of EDP) but it really varies depending on the age group and division.

Is MSI only in Maryland? We are in Virginia.
-OP