obssessed with DS' U7 soccer

[Anonymous]

21:36 No scoring but that was a joke because the kids ALWAYS knew the score!

[Anonymous]

I also love to watch my son play soccer. He was not nearly as talented as your son, but boy, he has gotten really good because travel teams see him and ask him to join without try-outs. He has said and continues to say no. He likes to play, but not at that level. I think you got good advice here: this is your obsession. Your son will want to please you - don't make soccer in something he does for you. It should be what he wants to do.

I have a friend who's son is playing professionally in Europe. Her other son could've cared less and did other things. She said it was very hard to keep sight of the needs of her other child (they were only 2 years apart) because soccer was so dominating of their family life. Then he went off to college and boy, did that change their freetime.

[Anonymous]

OP here - thx for the advice, pls keep them coming. i guess there's a fine line between passionate (healthy) and obsession (unhealthy) but i'm definitely on the wrong side of the line...

answers to PPs questions -

* it's rec not travel. he's only 6.5 playing in U7 and travel doesn't start until U9. but i'd be lying if i said i haven't already envisioning him on a travel team...

* no we haven't missed any game yet, but will likely miss two. bad writing on my part. he's played in just one game this season but has had two practices. he's pretty good last season in U6 as well.

* i do cheer for his teammates in fact i clapped for the opponents too when they scored goals i guess i just like watching high score games

* no there's no goalie, and yes, all kids know the scores

* 21:19 - sorry to hear that. so you found out their secret obsession which upset you? what advice could you give me if any? tks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/119/6/1242

You might also want to read this report on Overuse injuries and burnout among athletes especially ones that play one sport year round.

OP here - just want to say thank you 13:26 PP for the link. Great info and advice. His health is more important than my obsession.

[Anonymous]

I get bored watching my kids sports activities. I go, I cheer, but I am so happy when its done. sitting around for a couple hours is pretty dull. My kid participates in the same sports I did as a child so I understand the game, etc. so its not that I don't have an idea of what's going on...

[Anonymous]

PP, parent of a travel player, chiming in on overuse. We saw the most repetitive use injuries at ages 11 - 13, growth plates were a factor. With rec, you aren't playing more than three times a week. When rec players also play travel, it's pushing it but tons of players do both.

[Anonymous]

13:26

Your welcome.Good Luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:yup i'm describing myself as obsessing with my 6-yo's soccer activities because i just can't get enough of watching him in action. he's one of the top players on his team and scores often so it's really satisfying to watch, to the point that i find myself looking forward to the next practice/game when bored and was sad when we had to miss two games due to conflicts. i even worry days ahead about practice might be canceled due to rain. this is not healthy right? i think this is when someone secretly saying 'get a life' and calling me 'living through children' right?

i know this would pass when he fell back to earth and it wouldn't be as enjoyable (i've watch some HS travel soccer matches and they're boring due to lack of goals), but what do i do about it right now? one thing i'm doing right is i've refrained myself from showing him how passionate i am in his 'success' on the field...

thoughts?

Dear OP:

I worry for you. Travel tryouts are not too far off for you. Do not be surprised if your son does not make the team. There are typically over a 100+ boys who try out for the team. Only 12 will make it. Even if your son makes it, the odds are that he will not be as dominant as he is now. Each travel team is made up of the "Peles of the Rec World," which make them in the travel world, well, average. I'm sure that your son will take such disappoint just fine. I'm not at all sure about you.

[Anonymous]

20:35
Fair point but please note that 24 will make it, every club I know rosters two NCSL teams, and some clubs roster a third team that plays MSI.
OP, when travel tryouts come, try out for a couple of teams just in case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: its always worth it because there's nothing greater than seeing your kid have a great moment on the field.

This is sad. There are a lot of things that are greater than this. Unless your kid is playing for something critical, like a scholarship or a profession.

[Anonymous]

I don't think the kid was playing for her profession. Seriously.

[Anonymous]

6:30 Disagree. It was glorious to see my son develop as a youth soccer player. Why the judgment?

[Anonymous]

What was so glorious about it? Did it make him a better person? Did he development as gloriously socially and academically?

I have trouble understanding what all this athletic pushing really gets the kid. For a small percentage it will get them to college. For the rest, there is a sacrifice in time to be able to give to other areas. AT the end of the day, most of these kids will not play soccer in college or professionally so what are they sacrificing?

[Anonymous]

10:21 No pushing. It came from within. We said not to travel at U-8. He was peeved. Started the next year. Yes it made him a better, fuller person. There was and is no sacrifice on his part or mine. He joined a travel team when he was having a rough year in school, it was a refuge from that. His team is his community. He's learned to budget his time around practices.

Why do people mention college or professional play? That was never the idea. Never! We took it one year at a time. My son is in high school, he is not interested in playing in college, he wants a life.

Why study calculus? Or biology? Who uses that once they get out into the real world, save for mathematicians or biologists?

[Anonymous]

It's called developing your brain and your comment is why the US is becoming a backward nation and why we rank so low as compared to other countries as far as education.