AAP and Travel Soccer?

[Anonymous]

DD will start AAP in the Fall and we just found out she is eligible for travel soccer. This would involve three practices and a game each week. I'm already concerned about the increased workload for AAP. Although DD does alright and is interested in soccer, she is no superstar and not particularly competitive. Presently she thinks soccer is fun. I'm torn whether to give travel a shot so she can take it to the next level, but risk overloading her and/or turning her off to soccer (or worse, school). She's the kind of kid who needs a fair amount of down time. Would appreciate any thoughts from anyone who's BTDT.

[Anonymous]

Have a 4th grader in AAP and she has been able to keep up with her many activities (not travel soccer) and also do well in AAP. If your DD really likes soccer, I'd give it a try. I think the AAP part isn't really a factor.

[Anonymous]

I have a 3rd & 5th grader in AAP and they participate in activities at this level. Honestly, everybody does it - most of these kids are high achievers with other interests in addition to academics.

The 3rd grader plays football, which is, IMO, more intense than travel soccer on a day-to-day basis. They practice 5 nights a week for all of August, and when school starts, at a minimum, they practice 4 weeknights (often 5) for at least 2 hours, plus a game (away games can be an hour or so from home; I know travel soccer games are sometimes even farther, and sometimes there are weekend events with multiple games, which we don't have in football). He also plays basketball in the winter (easy - just 2x/week) and in the spring, AAA baseball, which is 5 days/week on average. And he usually does a baseball clinic during basketball season since we have so much free time then!

My 5th grader is also involved in a sport similar to a travel team - practices 3x/wk with extensive travel for competitions. In addition, she is involved in girl scouts, takes music lessons, and is in a couple of clubs at school.

It is a very busy schedule (I also have 2 little ones, one of whom also has sports/activities), but my kids have managed to keep up with school and keep their grades up. One of the nice things about AAP is that they tend to give the homework for the week in Monday so you can plan when you'll have time to do it. They also do a lot of longer-term projects so again, you can do it when there's time available. My kids have both learned they need to be organized and responsible with their schoolwork. They do almost all of it independently. I help here and there if they ask, but on a daily basis, they just do their homework. I don't look at it until it comes home in the weekly folder.

[Anonymous]

Thank for this thread, I also have a rising 3rd grader in AAP who will be starting travel soccer. I think we'll give it try and see how it all comes together for DC.

[Anonymous]

The real issue is the work load of AAP vs. General Ed. From what I can tell, there is not much difference in homework...the AAP tends to have fewer harder problems. I am comparing DD's work to friends that are not in AAP. Officially, the level of HW is the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD will start AAP in the Fall and we just found out she is eligible for travel soccer. This would involve three practices and a game each week. I'm already concerned about the increased workload for AAP. Although DD does alright and is interested in soccer, she is no superstar and not particularly competitive. Presently she thinks soccer is fun. I'm torn whether to give travel a shot so she can take it to the next level, but risk overloading her and/or turning her off to soccer (or worse, school). She's the kind of kid who needs a fair amount of down time. Would appreciate any thoughts from anyone who's BTDT.

You can try it for one year and see how things go. You can always go back to regular class next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a 3rd & 5th grader in AAP and they participate in activities at this level. Honestly, everybody does it - most of these kids are high achievers with other interests in addition to academics.

The 3rd grader plays football, which is, IMO, more intense than travel soccer on a day-to-day basis. They practice 5 nights a week for all of August, and when school starts, at a minimum, they practice 4 weeknights (often 5) for at least 2 hours, plus a game (away games can be an hour or so from home; I know travel soccer games are sometimes even farther, and sometimes there are weekend events with multiple games, which we don't have in football). He also plays basketball in the winter (easy - just 2x/week) and in the spring, AAA baseball, which is 5 days/week on average. And he usually does a baseball clinic during basketball season since we have so much free time then!

My 5th grader is also involved in a sport similar to a travel team - practices 3x/wk with extensive travel for competitions. In addition, she is involved in girl scouts, takes music lessons, and is in a couple of clubs at school.

It is a very busy schedule (I also have 2 little ones, one of whom also has sports/activities), but my kids have managed to keep up with school and keep their grades up. One of the nice things about AAP is that they tend to give the homework for the week in Monday so you can plan when you'll have time to do it. They also do a lot of longer-term projects so again, you can do it when there's time available. My kids have both learned they need to be organized and responsible with their schoolwork. They do almost all of it independently. I help here and there if they ask, but on a daily basis, they just do their homework. I don't look at it until it comes home in the weekly folder.

Our AAP does not do this...homework (other than long term projects) is given one night at a time. There is always math, word study, and reading...and on any one night there could also be science, social studies, poetry, WordMasters, buddy letters to write, etc.
Some nights homework is minimal and other nights she is swamped. My daughter is a gymnast and trains 12+ hours a week. She does math and reading in the car, and some nights it's absolutely crazy, but she gets it all done. She loves gymnastics more than anything and wouldn't want it any other way.

[Anonymous]

Another one with kids in AAP and travel sports. Agree that there are a lot kids in class that are also very involved in competive sports (as well as other time intensive activities). It can be done. (My kids still spend way too much time playing electronics. ) I think it's up to you to decide what will work for your child and your family.

[Anonymous]

13:00 Wow That is almost word for word what our 4th grader is about except she is in advanced strings (violin) too. Like yours she gets it all done somehow and is really enthusiastic about it As long as she is happy and she keeps up with her grades we are comfortable with it.

// What gym does yours go to?

[Anonymous]

it must really depend on the family and the child. i can not imagine my kid doing his homework in the car.

i guess my child could keep up--but could I? with a near full time job and a 3 year old, i just can't imagine my 3rd grade aap kid going to multiple after school activities and enjoying his education. we would all suffer the loss of down time and family time.

that being said, i prefer after school activities close to home and once a week at most.

[Anonymous]

I have a rising 6th grader in AAP and she's played travel soccer since 3rd grade, along with several classmates. No problems whatsover with homework load. These kids are responsible and bright so they can manage the workload just fine. My DD also swims twice a week and takes piano lessons.

I also have a freshmand at TJ who's been playing travel soccer since 3rd grade and he's also managed to fit it all in. In addition to travel soccer, this year he also played on the freshman football team, refereed soccer & basketball, performed community service, and squeezed in some social activities.

Time management is key. And no, my kids have never done homework in the car. Changed clothes, yes. Homework, no.

[Anonymous]

In our experience, our kids that are "busy" ie have multiple time commitments outside of school like competitive sports, are really good at time management and have had no problems getting the work done and maintaining great grades.

Our "bit of a slacker/video game playing/hater of sports & outdoor activities" son is a huge procrastintor with his school work and it takes him easily, twice as long as his siblings to start and finish homework and projects...even though he may actually be the smartest one of our bunch.

All kids are different and are talented in varying ways. Trust your instincts and just make the best choice you can for your child. You know her best.

[Anonymous]

that being said, i prefer after school activities close to home and once a week at most.

Once a week works fine if your child wants to do a recreational activity or take a weekly lesson or class for fun. But if your child is serious about competitive sports or other activities, those are always multiple times a week. Really the child's interests are the driver, IMO.

So if your child is interested in pursuing competitive sports and/or training seriously (gymnastics, ice skating, etc), you just find a way to fit it in. For instance, my 3rd-grader plays AAA baseball, which is 4-5x/wk. We have to do it that many days per week, or he can't play baseball at all. There are no teams at his level that practice once a week - when you cross the line from developmental to competitive league play, the time commitment increases. It is not like soccer where you can choose to stay in house league instead of travel. (And I also have a job & 3 other kids, including an infant - so I hear you, it is a lot to juggle and I don't blame you at all for trying to limit activities. But on the other hand, the nature of the activity often dictates the time commitment & most of us are just trying to work with that as best we can.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

that being said, i prefer after school activities close to home and once a week at most.

Once a week works fine if your child wants to do a recreational activity or take a weekly lesson or class for fun. But if your child is serious about competitive sports or other activities, those are always multiple times a week. Really the child's interests are the driver, IMO.

So if your child is interested in pursuing competitive sports and/or training seriously (gymnastics, ice skating, etc), you just find a way to fit it in. For instance, my 3rd-grader plays AAA baseball, which is 4-5x/wk. We have to do it that many days per week, or he can't play baseball at all. There are no teams at his level that practice once a week - when you cross the line from developmental to competitive league play, the time commitment increases. It is not like soccer where you can choose to stay in house league instead of travel. (And I also have a job & 3 other kids, including an infant - so I hear you, it is a lot to juggle and I don't blame you at all for trying to limit activities. But on the other hand, the nature of the activity often dictates the time commitment & most of us are just trying to work with that as best we can.)

Just a side track here - can you explain what you mean by AAA baseball? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Just a side track here - can you explain what you mean by AAA baseball? Thanks.

It's just the level within Little League. (Sorry, we are so immersed in baseball that I just assume everyone knows the lingo! :wink

Little League is divided into T-ball, Rookie, Single A, Double A, Triple A, and Majors. Moving up is a combo of age-based & ability-based. T-ball, Rookie, and Single A you pretty much just sign up for what is appropriate for your child's age and ability. At AA and above, there are tryouts and a somewhat complicated drafting process. Triple A is the 10-11 year old league, with a few 12-yr olds who don't get drafted onto a Majors team, and a handful of 9-yr olds who are good enough to be drafted into AAA rather than AA. So my DS was drafted onto a AAA team as a 9-yr old.