Forming Rec Team Fall 2026 - Looking for upcoming 3rd graders

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't realize current second graders even played travel. That's a thing?

lots of u8/u9 teams and even before then "developmental" groups

Use to be only 3 or 4 teams at clubs for 8 years old for travel teams. Im now seeing even 7 teams for a club. They are happy to take anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't realize current second graders even played travel. That's a thing?

lots of u8/u9 teams and even before then "developmental" groups

Use to be only 3 or 4 teams at clubs for 8 years old for travel teams. Im now seeing even 7 teams for a club. They are happy to take anyone.

Why wouldn’t they, there in the kid soccer business with paying customers

[Anonymous]

This ranks up there with one of the most ridiculous posts I've ever seen on this page.

This is not how rec soccer works, OP.

[Anonymous]

Making stacked teams isn’t the purpose of rec, especially at that age. Let the kids have fun and learn the game.

[Anonymous]

Building a bespoke team of players around your third grader isn't a rec sports thing.

[Anonymous]

If you wouldn't mind having a group that just plays 3v3 or 5v5, then why not do that?

Your players could opt to also play for a rec teams. Or not.

Even if your *intent* isn't to win a bunch of blowouts, that's going to be the outcome. Rec soccer is a mishmash of travel-level players, indifferent players, and players with autism or developmental issues. A team full of kids who take the sport so seriously that they want to be in training group will be lucky to have 1-2 competitive games a season.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you wouldn't mind having a group that just plays 3v3 or 5v5, then why not do that?

Your players could opt to also play for a rec teams. Or not.

Even if your *intent* isn't to win a bunch of blowouts, that's going to be the outcome. Rec soccer is a mishmash of travel-level players, indifferent players, and players with autism or developmental issues. A team full of kids who take the sport so seriously that they want to be in training group will be lucky to have 1-2 competitive games a season.

OP - Im fine with doing 3 v 3 and 5 v 5. But I honestly don't think many parents would be down for that. Majority of parents I've spoken too on our rec teams all have the goal of going to travel in the near term. And even parents join rec to have that team atmosphere and competition of games.

I dont know anyone would take me seriously or how I would present the idea like some backyard neighborhood fun soccer club. And if i offer just as extra training then you're either going to get super serious kids willing to play both rec and mine. And the kids doing rec dont have the extra time commitment, hence why in rec in first place. I also dont have the credentials either to run as some "training" camp.

Im very open to ideas or how to present it doing in house training and mini games. I would be happy to do it if other parents where, but hard sell in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you wouldn't mind having a group that just plays 3v3 or 5v5, then why not do that?

Your players could opt to also play for a rec teams. Or not.

Even if your *intent* isn't to win a bunch of blowouts, that's going to be the outcome. Rec soccer is a mishmash of travel-level players, indifferent players, and players with autism or developmental issues. A team full of kids who take the sport so seriously that they want to be in training group will be lucky to have 1-2 competitive games a season.

OP - Im fine with doing 3 v 3 and 5 v 5. But I honestly don't think many parents would be down for that. Majority of parents I've spoken too on our rec teams all have the goal of going to travel in the near term. And even parents join rec to have that team atmosphere and competition of games.

I dont know anyone would take me seriously or how I would present the idea like some backyard neighborhood fun soccer club. And if i offer just as extra training then you're either going to get super serious kids willing to play both rec and mine. And the kids doing rec dont have the extra time commitment, hence why in rec in first place. I also dont have the credentials either to run as some "training" camp.

Im very open to ideas or how to present it doing in house training and mini games. I would be happy to do it if other parents where, but hard sell in my opinion.

Then you may just have to sign up as a coach and accept that you're going to be assigned a couple of daisy-pickers and a couple of kids with developmental issues. Roll with it.

Christen Press was a daisy-picker until games got to 7v7 (which is what you'll have at U9). She did quite well for herself after that.

[Anonymous]

Just sign up to coach and work with who you get, like every other rec coach. If your kid hits it off with some of the other kids, you can meet up at a local park in the off season and kick the ball around. They are in 3rd grade.

[Anonymous]

I think the OP is just trying to get a group of kids that "want" to learn. I've coached Rec and travel, there is a difference. As a coach I didn't care about wins/losses or talent, but I did care about effort willingness to learn.

Good for you OP, no reason why a rec team shouldn't think about development. Our league doesn't mind coaches keeping kids together if that is the preference of the players. It's rec so wins/losses don't count, kids should be surrounded by like minded people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the OP is just trying to get a group of kids that "want" to learn. I've coached Rec and travel, there is a difference. As a coach I didn't care about wins/losses or talent, but I did care about effort willingness to learn.

Good for you OP, no reason why a rec team shouldn't think about development. Our league doesn't mind coaches keeping kids together if that is the preference of the players. It's rec so wins/losses don't count, kids should be surrounded by like minded people.

OP - Thank you understanding. Thats all I want. Kids come in all sorts of levels this age and I understand that. If they are willing to learn, im willing to learn.

Latest thoughts is to just run a free soccer camp for whoever kids want to join in the area. Whether your new, in rec, or in travel and want to learn more. This is probably best environment for my son to learn to play with others with same desire, still have fun in low pressure environment, and be friends.

[Anonymous]

You would have to pay to reserve field space through the County.