What if there are No Leagues in the Fall, Spring?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here...So do you think playing pick up games will be enough motivation for most kids to hang in there with 3 practices a week, etc for the next...year? I'm just trying to think proactively how I can keep my kid motivated to train when there are no league games.

There are a couple of ways it can go.

Kids destined for a professional or college career: they are out there right now, kicking the ball against the wall, watching Youtube skills videos, juggling when they have the free time. The shutdown is annoying, but it's not going to deter them from their dream. If your kid is one of these than this setback is not going to stop them. Note: there are very few of these kids.

Kids in the middle (the majority). They want to play, but they are a bit annoyed not being able to have fun with their friends and play games. They miss the competition and the camaraderie, but don't really harbor the dream of playing at the next level after high school. If your kid is in the middle, you need to make the sport as fun as possible in other ways. If they are a good travel player, they'll probably be an awesome rec player and maybe you can find a local team (i.e. school friends, neighborhood friends) who are having a few scrimmages or games even if the travel sides are locked down. Playing with mates in a lower pressure situation maybe enough to keep them interested and maybe even help them keep their love of the game. You can also look at a small group session with say 4 friends (i.e. a training pod) that will minimize the risk and let them keep sharp without having to go to a formal socially distanced practice which can be pretty boring.

Kids who will give the game up soon enough: they're going through the motions right now, but it's going to be tough to keep them interested. This shutdown is accelerating the eventual "age 13" quit cycle (nearly 75% of kids quit youth sports by age 13).

Bravo. Perfect response. I have one of those kids in the middle who is really good, but doesn't have the passion or heart to be in that top category. The best thing all of us (including him ) ever did was realize that there is no need to play in an environment where the goal is a college or professional career. It doesn't matter that he could hang with those kids in terms of skill, because the culture did not align with where soccer fit in his life. If your player is destined for college or professional soccer, he or she won't lose interest. That player has never stopped playing.

Unfortunately, with even with that revelation, finding the sweet spot in the middle tier can be a challenge. In these times, regular play with a group of small group of friends might be better than joining a travel team.

Depending on how your child approaches the game, rec. can be fun with adjusted expectations. Rec can be frustrating for a player used to playing at a higher level. Be reasonable. You can't expect every player to hustle like a pro or to understand the game as well as a higher level travel player. But a kid can have fun trying new things, trying to help the less talented kids score, or playing a different position than the one he or she is used to. At least with rec. you won't waste a bunch of money if a season doesn't happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work in a medical office and we see a significant number of kids. All of them are playing their sport now, football, soccer, etc. They are playing 100% as if there are no restrictions. I don't see this changing in the fall unless moco is in phase 0 again. They will continue to play street ball. It may be some of our kids that get tired of just practices but most kids will still be playing their own pickup games.

As in you are seeing them because they are coming in with Covid?? Or just for routine check ups?

Neither- another department that sees kids and has to ask them lots of questions which leads to them telling all of the fun sports that they never really stopped playing their friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here...So do you think playing pick up games will be enough motivation for most kids to hang in there with 3 practices a week, etc for the next...year? I'm just trying to think proactively how I can keep my kid motivated to train when there are no league games.

If they add scrimmages in then yes. If no scrimmages i think my 8 yo will bail nov/dec. He thrives off of competition, has not learned the whole "practice makes you better" philosophy yet.

[Anonymous]

Talked to my 10 year old son tonight. He asked ... what is the point of practicing if we can't play games. That is the fun part
I felt bad... another whole year of practice is tough to stay motivated

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here...So do you think playing pick up games will be enough motivation for most kids to hang in there with 3 practices a week, etc for the next...year? I'm just trying to think proactively how I can keep my kid motivated to train when there are no league games.

There are a couple of ways it can go.

Kids destined for a professional or college career: they are out there right now, kicking the ball against the wall, watching Youtube skills videos, juggling when they have the free time. The shutdown is annoying, but it's not going to deter them from their dream. If your kid is one of these than this setback is not going to stop them. Note: there are very few of these kids.

Kids in the middle (the majority). They want to play, but they are a bit annoyed not being able to have fun with their friends and play games. They miss the competition and the camaraderie, but don't really harbor the dream of playing at the next level after high school. If your kid is in the middle, you need to make the sport as fun as possible in other ways. If they are a good travel player, they'll probably be an awesome rec player and maybe you can find a local team (i.e. school friends, neighborhood friends) who are having a few scrimmages or games even if the travel sides are locked down. Playing with mates in a lower pressure situation maybe enough to keep them interested and maybe even help them keep their love of the game. You can also look at a small group session with say 4 friends (i.e. a training pod) that will minimize the risk and let them keep sharp without having to go to a formal socially distanced practice which can be pretty boring.

Kids who will give the game up soon enough: they're going through the motions right now, but it's going to be tough to keep them interested. This shutdown is accelerating the eventual "age 13" quit cycle (nearly 75% of kids quit youth sports by age 13).

This makes sense for kids probably 16 and older but what about the 12 year old who loves it and probably says he wants to be the next Messi but it just sucks not having games. But yeah, I guess we, the parents and hopefully the club, need to find scrimmages and pick up and games so that the kids can apply the training they are receiving.

[Anonymous]

The younger the child, the bigger the percentage of her entire life covid will have screwed up. A 9 or 10 year old might end up having 25% of their life being pandemic before this is over. Sucks.

[Anonymous]

I am not sure - I see other sports pull off tournaments (not safely but still). From what I am hearing from my son's club, a tournament in a few weeks will probably move forward but games will be spaced and without parents watching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here...So do you think playing pick up games will be enough motivation for most kids to hang in there with 3 practices a week, etc for the next...year? I'm just trying to think proactively how I can keep my kid motivated to train when there are no league games.

There are a couple of ways it can go.

Kids destined for a professional or college career: they are out there right now, kicking the ball against the wall, watching Youtube skills videos, juggling when they have the free time. The shutdown is annoying, but it's not going to deter them from their dream. If your kid is one of these than this setback is not going to stop them. Note: there are very few of these kids.

Kids in the middle (the majority). They want to play, but they are a bit annoyed not being able to have fun with their friends and play games. They miss the competition and the camaraderie, but don't really harbor the dream of playing at the next level after high school. If your kid is in the middle, you need to make the sport as fun as possible in other ways. If they are a good travel player, they'll probably be an awesome rec player and maybe you can find a local team (i.e. school friends, neighborhood friends) who are having a few scrimmages or games even if the travel sides are locked down. Playing with mates in a lower pressure situation maybe enough to keep them interested and maybe even help them keep their love of the game. You can also look at a small group session with say 4 friends (i.e. a training pod) that will minimize the risk and let them keep sharp without having to go to a formal socially distanced practice which can be pretty boring.

Kids who will give the game up soon enough: they're going through the motions right now, but it's going to be tough to keep them interested. This shutdown is accelerating the eventual "age 13" quit cycle (nearly 75% of kids quit youth sports by age 13).

This makes sense for kids probably 16 and older but what about the 12 year old who loves it and probably says he wants to be the next Messi but it just sucks not having games. But yeah, I guess we, the parents and hopefully the club, need to find scrimmages and pick up and games so that the kids can apply the training they are receiving.

This actually starts to apply right around your kid's age. The coming of puberty changes many kids physically and mentally as to what they want. You'll see kids at 13-14 (and their parents) start to go "all in" on the sporting future after puberty strikes. I know of many 13 and 14-year-olds who are six to seven days a week of football, which is a bit crazy, but there are parents pushing that and the kids say they want that.

Try to keep them interested in the game--let them watch some Youtubes of youth team matches from Barcelona (Barcelona U13 v Real Madrid U13 is definitely a level above travel). Show them some tactics programs or get some tactics books, like Inverting the Pyramid or the Mixer. We let our kids play a bit more FIFA on the Xbox because they start to notice patterns of play, live overlaps and triangles that they can work into their own game. And of course try to keep it all as fun as possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here...So do you think playing pick up games will be enough motivation for most kids to hang in there with 3 practices a week, etc for the next...year? I'm just trying to think proactively how I can keep my kid motivated to train when there are no league games.

There are a couple of ways it can go.

Kids destined for a professional or college career: they are out there right now, kicking the ball against the wall, watching Youtube skills videos, juggling when they have the free time. The shutdown is annoying, but it's not going to deter them from their dream. If your kid is one of these than this setback is not going to stop them. Note: there are very few of these kids.

Kids in the middle (the majority). They want to play, but they are a bit annoyed not being able to have fun with their friends and play games. They miss the competition and the camaraderie, but don't really harbor the dream of playing at the next level after high school. If your kid is in the middle, you need to make the sport as fun as possible in other ways. If they are a good travel player, they'll probably be an awesome rec player and maybe you can find a local team (i.e. school friends, neighborhood friends) who are having a few scrimmages or games even if the travel sides are locked down. Playing with mates in a lower pressure situation maybe enough to keep them interested and maybe even help them keep their love of the game. You can also look at a small group session with say 4 friends (i.e. a training pod) that will minimize the risk and let them keep sharp without having to go to a formal socially distanced practice which can be pretty boring.

Kids who will give the game up soon enough: they're going through the motions right now, but it's going to be tough to keep them interested. This shutdown is accelerating the eventual "age 13" quit cycle (nearly 75% of kids quit youth sports by age 13).

This makes sense for kids probably 16 and older but what about the 12 year old who loves it and probably says he wants to be the next Messi but it just sucks not having games. But yeah, I guess we, the parents and hopefully the club, need to find scrimmages and pick up and games so that the kids can apply the training they are receiving.

This actually starts to apply right around your kid's age. The coming of puberty changes many kids physically and mentally as to what they want. You'll see kids at 13-14 (and their parents) start to go "all in" on the sporting future after puberty strikes. I know of many 13 and 14-year-olds who are six to seven days a week of football, which is a bit crazy, but there are parents pushing that and the kids say they want that.

Try to keep them interested in the game--let them watch some Youtubes of youth team matches from Barcelona (Barcelona U13 v Real Madrid U13 is definitely a level above travel). Show them some tactics programs or get some tactics books, like Inverting the Pyramid or the Mixer. We let our kids play a bit more FIFA on the Xbox because they start to notice patterns of play, live overlaps and triangles that they can work into their own game. And of course try to keep it all as fun as possible.

Thanks Dr. Phil.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here...So do you think playing pick up games will be enough motivation for most kids to hang in there with 3 practices a week, etc for the next...year? I'm just trying to think proactively how I can keep my kid motivated to train when there are no league games.

There are a couple of ways it can go.

Kids destined for a professional or college career: they are out there right now, kicking the ball against the wall, watching Youtube skills videos, juggling when they have the free time. The shutdown is annoying, but it's not going to deter them from their dream. If your kid is one of these than this setback is not going to stop them. Note: there are very few of these kids.

Kids in the middle (the majority). They want to play, but they are a bit annoyed not being able to have fun with their friends and play games. They miss the competition and the camaraderie, but don't really harbor the dream of playing at the next level after high school. If your kid is in the middle, you need to make the sport as fun as possible in other ways. If they are a good travel player, they'll probably be an awesome rec player and maybe you can find a local team (i.e. school friends, neighborhood friends) who are having a few scrimmages or games even if the travel sides are locked down. Playing with mates in a lower pressure situation maybe enough to keep them interested and maybe even help them keep their love of the game. You can also look at a small group session with say 4 friends (i.e. a training pod) that will minimize the risk and let them keep sharp without having to go to a formal socially distanced practice which can be pretty boring.

Kids who will give the game up soon enough: they're going through the motions right now, but it's going to be tough to keep them interested. This shutdown is accelerating the eventual "age 13" quit cycle (nearly 75% of kids quit youth sports by age 13).

This makes sense for kids probably 16 and older but what about the 12 year old who loves it and probably says he wants to be the next Messi but it just sucks not having games. But yeah, I guess we, the parents and hopefully the club, need to find scrimmages and pick up and games so that the kids can apply the training they are receiving.

This actually starts to apply right around your kid's age. The coming of puberty changes many kids physically and mentally as to what they want. You'll see kids at 13-14 (and their parents) start to go "all in" on the sporting future after puberty strikes. I know of many 13 and 14-year-olds who are six to seven days a week of football, which is a bit crazy, but there are parents pushing that and the kids say they want that.

Try to keep them interested in the game--let them watch some Youtubes of youth team matches from Barcelona (Barcelona U13 v Real Madrid U13 is definitely a level above travel). Show them some tactics programs or get some tactics books, like Inverting the Pyramid or the Mixer. We let our kids play a bit more FIFA on the Xbox because they start to notice patterns of play, live overlaps and triangles that they can work into their own game. And of course try to keep it all as fun as possible.

Thanks Dr. Phil.

No problem Dr. Stella Immanuel.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, since there is only online school, I find that soccer is the only group activity that my boys will have. They are both bummed that there probably won't be any games, but I was surprised how happy my 14 yo was to start Bethesda practice again. He was so happy to just see his teammates and coach and kick the ball around. Although he's played pick up with neighborhood friends (when the state said that we could), there's something to be said for playing with your actual team. I don't know how long this enthusiasm will last without "real" games, but I think we need to lower the bar during these covid times and think about the kids' mental and physical health first. And if that means just practice and small side scrimmages to keep the spread of covid low, I'm good with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure - I see other sports pull off tournaments (not safely but still). From what I am hearing from my son's club, a tournament in a few weeks will probably move forward but games will be spaced and without parents watching.

we may be at the same club- maybe not. not sure how I feel just yet about tournaments now. wonder if we can opt out of the tournament. They will probably say " why did you sign up?" but I feel like I want to play according to state guidelines and for the team to not try and get around them by changing locations, etc.

[Anonymous]

Montgomery County just said no to all soccer games for the near future...we'll see how widespread that gets.

[Anonymous]

It isn't over in Montgomery County until the fat lady sings! At yesterdays Council meeting they said they would revisit soccer as a high risk sport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It isn't over in Montgomery County until the fat lady sings! At yesterdays Council meeting they said they would revisit soccer as a high risk sport.

Of course it is. The only thing they should revisit is putting Lacrosse in a different category.