Travel out of control: HP U5?

[Anonymous]

I’m surprised there isn’t a U3 and U4 teams already.

Youth soccer is a business, first and foremost.

And here in the dmv there’s money to blow left, right, up, and down.

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Question:

Why do you think each year there are more foreign coaches here in America? Hint: gots nothing to do with “learning and development”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I previously signed my kids up for gymnastics and swimming lessons at those ages…so glad the OP didn’t know about that! They might want to prevent me from spending my hard earned money on my next child too! I’ll just tell them, “Sorry little Becky, we have to waste our time and put you in Soccer Tots. Yes I know it’s my money, but if I put you in a better soccer class for 5 year olds, someone will be butt-hurt on the internet.”

Those sports are different because you can't really replicate the environment at home unless you have a large gym with lots of equipment or a pool at your house. And maybe you don't know what HP Elite is like. If they run the little kid classes like their other ones, it's not developmentally appropriate for 5 year olds. Even if they look like a future soccer star. But they'll be happy to take your money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I previously signed my kids up for gymnastics and swimming lessons at those ages…so glad the OP didn’t know about that! They might want to prevent me from spending my hard earned money on my next child too! I’ll just tell them, “Sorry little Becky, we have to waste our time and put you in Soccer Tots. Yes I know it’s my money, but if I put you in a better soccer class for 5 year olds, someone will be butt-hurt on the internet.”

Those sports are different because you can't really replicate the environment at home unless you have a large gym with lots of equipment or a pool at your house. And maybe you don't know what HP Elite is like. If they run the little kid classes like their other ones, it's not developmentally appropriate for 5 year olds. Even if they look like a future soccer star. But they'll be happy to take your money.

Thanks - you beat me to it.

To the gymnastics and swim parent, I don't know, I see what you are posting above and what the OP is talking about are two completely different things. Having a paid "coach" at gymnastics makes sense, not only for the equipment required, but it's one thing to be a Dad or Mom and have your kid kick a soccer ball around as their coach, but its another to have them do gymnastics stuff - if you don't know what you are doing, the likelihood of a hurt kid is much higher than scocer. Regarding the swimming, yeah, we belong to a community pool, but even though I am am a good swimmer, I didn't have the patience to teach my kid to swim. Swim lessons are kind of a universal thing for kids, IMO.

I think the issue is titles at age of U5 of "Pre-Travel" and the private trainings, etc. Hell, I hard enough time getting 5 year old kids to play attention in between sharks and minnows, yet alone thinking that "private" trainings would be beneficial at that age. Like I said in my previous post, I really like the approach that we took with our kids - co-ed soccer until U7. U8/U9 club ADP (Advanced Develop Program) that was more focused, but still all pool play. No real "teams". Then at U10, playing on a real team with a paid coach. It worked out well for us, FWIW. Son played soccer at the lowest travel level all the way through HS. Never had one overnight trip. DD who is a HS junior has traveled all over the US as part of her ENCL experience and is committed to play in college.

You be you and do what you want. That's what's great about things, right? We all get to decide how we want to manage our time and money. Good Luck!