At what age do you think you can tell whether a kid has potential to be an athlete?

[Anonymous]

My kids play soccer. Most of the 'superstars' id'd by coaches in elementary school fizzled out. Some that had early growth spurts rode on that to mid-HS.

My kids come from athletic stock--family D1 players, etc. They had skill. They did not have parents that were brownnosers or sucked up their entire youth sports career. WE saw UNBELIEVABLE politics and a lot of ignorant coaches in the sport. Two gems in the 10+ years my kids have played.

IT was Senior year of HS before my oldest got recognition. Cuts, demotions, looked over, etc. He's a D1 starter now in college. The only other kid we know from his grade that made it there was on the lowest team with him when they started out even when they both clearly did not belong there. The coach at the time kept telling the club that but, politics and all.

Cream will rise to the crop---but most kids get so discouraged by the adults in this mess that they quit before they reach potential.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids play soccer. Most of the 'superstars' id'd by coaches in elementary school fizzled out. Some that had early growth spurts rode on that to mid-HS.

My kids come from athletic stock--family D1 players, etc. They had skill. They did not have parents that were brownnosers or sucked up their entire youth sports career. WE saw UNBELIEVABLE politics and a lot of ignorant coaches in the sport. Two gems in the 10+ years my kids have played.

IT was Senior year of HS before my oldest got recognition. Cuts, demotions, looked over, etc. He's a D1 starter now in college. The only other kid we know from his grade that made it there was on the lowest team with him when they started out even when they both clearly did not belong there. The coach at the time kept telling the club that but, politics and all.

Cream will rise to the crop---but most kids get so discouraged by the adults in this mess that they quit before they reach potential.

Oh and no varsity HS

[Anonymous]

Definitely not elementary school other than early specialization sports like gymnastics or figure skating. My kid was the best 8U-10U player but has been passed up by a lot of kids as a teenager because he still hasn't gotten his growth spurt. He will, but it's coming late. He's still grinding it out; hopefully, his day will return.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At first it's more about who obviously has NO chance.

That's clear by age 6 for many kids.

I agree with this. I have an 11 year old, and watching his rec basketball game this weekend was painful with some kids who are just so bad. It's why many kids go to travel, they have to in order to not play with kids who are absolutely horrible and cause the team to lose.

I’ve seen some of the “bad” kids who end up 6’5 play on the high school team. The glory days for many of the boys who end up short were middle school. Enjoy it while it lasts!

LOL. Middle school is not the time to judge a kid's height or sports trajectory. DH grew over a foot in his junior year of high school and another six inches senior year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At first it's more about who obviously has NO chance.

That's clear by age 6 for many kids.

I agree with this. I have an 11 year old, and watching his rec basketball game this weekend was painful with some kids who are just so bad. It's why many kids go to travel, they have to in order to not play with kids who are absolutely horrible and cause the team to lose.

I’ve seen some of the “bad” kids who end up 6’5 play on the high school team. The glory days for many of the boys who end up short were middle school. Enjoy it while it lasts!

LOL. Middle school is not the time to judge a kid's height or sports trajectory. DH grew over a foot in his junior year of high school and another six inches senior year.

Good for your husband. My point was that the kids who end up tall in high school - like your husband, I guess - can end up contributing in ways that would be surprising to some parents who saw them play when they were 11 and had to move their kid to a travel team to get away from their losing ways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids play soccer. Most of the 'superstars' id'd by coaches in elementary school fizzled out. Some that had early growth spurts rode on that to mid-HS.

My kids come from athletic stock--family D1 players, etc. They had skill. They did not have parents that were brownnosers or sucked up their entire youth sports career. WE saw UNBELIEVABLE politics and a lot of ignorant coaches in the sport. Two gems in the 10+ years my kids have played.

IT was Senior year of HS before my oldest got recognition. Cuts, demotions, looked over, etc. He's a D1 starter now in college. The only other kid we know from his grade that made it there was on the lowest team with him when they started out even when they both clearly did not belong there. The coach at the time kept telling the club that but, politics and all.

Cream will rise to the crop---but most kids get so discouraged by the adults in this mess that they quit before they reach potential.

Oh and no varsity HS

Wow he didn’t even make the V team and he’s playing D1? what position

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At first it's more about who obviously has NO chance.

That's clear by age 6 for many kids.

I agree with this. I have an 11 year old, and watching his rec basketball game this weekend was painful with some kids who are just so bad. It's why many kids go to travel, they have to in order to not play with kids who are absolutely horrible and cause the team to lose.

I’ve seen some of the “bad” kids who end up 6’5 play on the high school team. The glory days for many of the boys who end up short were middle school. Enjoy it while it lasts!

LOL. Middle school is not the time to judge a kid's height or sports trajectory. DH grew over a foot in his junior year of high school and another six inches senior year.

So he was about 5’ and grew to 6’6 in 2 years? that’s a huge amount to grow, 18 inches in 2 years. Is that even possible? My brother was about 5’3 and grew to 6’ by 22. Late bloomer.

[Anonymous]

Post puberty is the only time you can really tell. You can be the best gymnast in the world, but if you grow to 5’10”, there’s nothing you can do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids play soccer. Most of the 'superstars' id'd by coaches in elementary school fizzled out. Some that had early growth spurts rode on that to mid-HS.

My kids come from athletic stock--family D1 players, etc. They had skill. They did not have parents that were brownnosers or sucked up their entire youth sports career. WE saw UNBELIEVABLE politics and a lot of ignorant coaches in the sport. Two gems in the 10+ years my kids have played.

IT was Senior year of HS before my oldest got recognition. Cuts, demotions, looked over, etc. He's a D1 starter now in college. The only other kid we know from his grade that made it there was on the lowest team with him when they started out even when they both clearly did not belong there. The coach at the time kept telling the club that but, politics and all.

Cream will rise to the crop---but most kids get so discouraged by the adults in this mess that they quit before they reach potential.

Oh and no varsity HS

Wow he didn’t even make the V team and he’s playing D1? what position

Center mid

[Anonymous]

One unathletic child. Absolutely no interest or facility. Fabulous musician and mathematician.

One late bloomer who was one of those bad kids the PP so charmingly posted about. Recruited by D1 and D3 schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One unathletic child. Absolutely no interest or facility. Fabulous musician and mathematician.

One late bloomer who was one of those bad kids the PP so charmingly posted about. Recruited by D1 and D3 schools.

+1 my sons grow late

I have a really good athlete that is a junior and very behind the growth spurt. Really just coming into it now. Was always the most skilled. We haven't even bothered with the college emails or highlight tapes because we saw this play out with the older one. They won't look at him due to size---and w/out the testosterone 'fill out' yet. Boys when they go through it even if it's not a ton of height get the muscle and strength.

My older one was able to recruit the end of Senior year, late but was a very high academic student which helped with the high D1/D3 academic schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids play soccer. Most of the 'superstars' id'd by coaches in elementary school fizzled out. Some that had early growth spurts rode on that to mid-HS.

My kids come from athletic stock--family D1 players, etc. They had skill. They did not have parents that were brownnosers or sucked up their entire youth sports career. WE saw UNBELIEVABLE politics and a lot of ignorant coaches in the sport. Two gems in the 10+ years my kids have played.

IT was Senior year of HS before my oldest got recognition. Cuts, demotions, looked over, etc. He's a D1 starter now in college. The only other kid we know from his grade that made it there was on the lowest team with him when they started out even when they both clearly did not belong there. The coach at the time kept telling the club that but, politics and all.

Cream will rise to the crop---but most kids get so discouraged by the adults in this mess that they quit before they reach potential.

Oh and no varsity HS

Wow he didn’t even make the V team and he’s playing D1? what position

Center mid

That’s what my son plays too. Is he a big kid? My son is a tall/athletic kid. Not as good foot skills but good defensive player and has the size.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At first it's more about who obviously has NO chance.

That's clear by age 6 for many kids.

I agree with this. I have an 11 year old, and watching his rec basketball game this weekend was painful with some kids who are just so bad. It's why many kids go to travel, they have to in order to not play with kids who are absolutely horrible and cause the team to lose.

I’ve seen some of the “bad” kids who end up 6’5 play on the high school team. The glory days for many of the boys who end up short were middle school. Enjoy it while it lasts!

It has nothing to do with being short. It has everything to do with coordination.

Midgets are more coordinated at 10

[Anonymous]

Oldest son recruited athlete for football. The love of the sport was there from age 6 but the ability didn’t fully show until maybe 10.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids play soccer. Most of the 'superstars' id'd by coaches in elementary school fizzled out. Some that had early growth spurts rode on that to mid-HS.

My kids come from athletic stock--family D1 players, etc. They had skill. They did not have parents that were brownnosers or sucked up their entire youth sports career. WE saw UNBELIEVABLE politics and a lot of ignorant coaches in the sport. Two gems in the 10+ years my kids have played.

IT was Senior year of HS before my oldest got recognition. Cuts, demotions, looked over, etc. He's a D1 starter now in college. The only other kid we know from his grade that made it there was on the lowest team with him when they started out even when they both clearly did not belong there. The coach at the time kept telling the club that but, politics and all.

Cream will rise to the crop---but most kids get so discouraged by the adults in this mess that they quit before they reach potential.

Oh and no varsity HS

Wow he didn’t even make the V team and he’s playing D1? what position

Center mid

That’s what my son plays too. Is he a big kid? My son is a tall/athletic kid. Not as good foot skills but good defensive player and has the size.

6 feet now (was 5'4" fresh. yr HS and 5'11" sr year) with excellent foot skill/first touch--ambidextrous--plays equally as well on each foot. Alternates attacking mid/holding and sometimes center back.

It becomes about speed at the college level. Speed of play/decision making and you need to be technically sound in order to play that fast.

HS didn't even use the midfield so it was a lesson in frustration which is why he quit after sophomore year--plus the level of skill and speed was too slow.