Son's travel team is awful

[Anonymous]

What is the coach teaching in practice? I think it would be refreshing to see a team of 9 year olds that are over passing. Aggressive play at young ages gets results, but it can mask bad habits or deficiencies. A lot of players up the contact if they are struggling to get results when they really may need more practice on refining their foot skills to beat a defender 1v1 or work on how they are positioning themselves defensively, moving their feet and challenging for the ball.

[Anonymous]

If you breakdown a soccer game into small parts, specially areas in which your child was involved in. I would try to focus on the positives/negatives of those. When you break down wins/losses by play and not by score you might be able to engage and educate better.

Trust me, the coach would much rather be winning than loosing, but many times he/she inherits the team based on player pool and you make the best of it. If they are good at coaching, they will focus on a lesson plan that build week to week. Something that we do every season is to film a game in its entirety at the beginning and then again at the end. Let the them watch it and you will all see some improvements. That's what you are paying for, no one cares about wins/losses in the long run at that age. Good luck and remember that time on the field is better than time on the xbox.

[Anonymous]

I agree with PP. Endless passing at that age sounds like the coach is doing a great job.

My kids have been on good and bad teams. Some of the hardest times have come with the good teams. My daughter's first travel team was indescribably awful. They lost every single game during the fall and spring seasons, except for one tie. You know what? Most of the girls are still playing soccer and the girls and parents have remained friends after many years. The coach had a bond with the girls and the girls with each other.

Was it hard to watch each game? Yes. Is it demoralizing if you lose 15-0? Absolutely. But in the end, what my daughter got out of that year was worth more than the year my son spent on a top team with a bully coach. Each season brings new challenges. It is easy to say, and much harder to do, I know, but sit back and enjoy the ride. Don't try to change him. Trust me, if your son is happy, getting better, and having fun, that's worth more than goals or team wins.

[Anonymous]

I would
a) get him to try some of the other sports, even if just for a summer camp or something. Maybe he doesn't want to do them because he has never experienced them? (Baseball is good for the type of personality you are describing and is still a team-oriented "ball" sport. Tennis is another one, though the team aspect is quite different.)

b) See if some of the teammates he likes most would be interested in Rec next year. They may dominate the rec league, and you can always supplement with clinics.

(I can't imagine putting the FAMILY through the travel aspect if you don't see route for more success later on.)

[Anonymous]

Have you talked to the coach? What does he have to say about the losses?

[Anonymous]

All three of my kids played in college. Two went to college final fours. On a younger team--and this may be hard to understand--wins and losses really do not matter. I've seen terrible teams win games over teams that patient coaches were doing an excellent job with players and the team. Do not worry about Ws. The idea is to have fun and learn some life lessons. If he is happy, you should be!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Why not rec? Lower pressure, lower expectations, lots more fun.

I have no problem with rec but DS wanted to do travel, and he does really seem happy to go to the more frequent practices, skill clinics etc. He is getting better at soccer, but the problem is that even though he is relatively athletic, he lacks aggression. He likes physical exercise. I think he would be great at something like track and field or swim team, but that's not what he wants to do.

Sounds like your son is playing the right sport for him, but it's a game that you don't really understand or appreciate. It is not all about "aggression".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the coach teaching in practice? I think it would be refreshing to see a team of 9 year olds that are over passing. Aggressive play at young ages gets results, but it can mask bad habits or deficiencies. A lot of players up the contact if they are struggling to get results when they really may need more practice on refining their foot skills to beat a defender 1v1 or work on how they are positioning themselves defensively, moving their feet and challenging for the ball.

I agree with some of this. I would start though by saying - unless you have watched a practice to know - sometimes what a coach teaches and what happens in practice aren't the same. Is he teaching aggressive play, or is this the immaturity of the player.

I do agree though that passing, touches on the ball, various basic skills are what matters at this age. 1v1 skills are also not only technique but experience. All of these concepts are important foundations.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like your son is playing the right sport for him, but it's a game that you don't really understand or appreciate. It is not all about "aggression".

Well, while I admit I am a relatively casual soccer fan, when I hear the coach talking to the team after the game, his main point seems to be that there is a lack of aggressiveness. I am assuming that he know what he is talking about. Anyway, it seems like the main advice is to focus on learning and having fun, and try not to let DS get too down/negative about losing.

[Anonymous]

So, OP, your son is placed on an appropriate team for his skill level, is enjoying himself, and wants to continue playing on this team, and is learning valuable skills like passing. What is the problem again?

Other that some his teammates being unhappy about losing, the only person who has an issue here appears to be you. You don't like them losing, you think they aren't aggressive enough, and (reading between the lines here) you aren't happy with the experience of vicariously living through your son.

The problem in this scenario is you, and your attitude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Why not rec? Lower pressure, lower expectations, lots more fun.

That is simply not true. My son plays rec and does Arlington ADP and he LOVES the structure of the academy style practices.
Rec practice is a shit show of disorganization.
My son would rather have adp pool practice than a game in adp or rec.

[Anonymous]

any C team is not worth a thing and probably the same level as top rec teams.

You are just putting money into their pockets.

[Anonymous]

Same with my son’s U9 C trabelbteam. Wonder if we are on the same team? If not we should play each other!

[Anonymous]

any C team is not worth a thing and probably the same level as top rec teams.

You are just putting money into their pockets.

If OP has the money to spare, so what?

[Anonymous]

Surely there must be something coaches can do to teach players when to stop passing and try for a goal?