Are there any good clubs in the DMV?

[Anonymous]

Most stresses for Parents in Youth Soccer are Self Induced. Mainly stemming from trying to use the sport/their kid to fill other personal needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The issue isn't the clubs per se, it is youth soccer in the US. If you think back 20 years (assuming you are old enough), most kids played rec, stayed rec and then maybe played high school. Very few played travel soccer and less played multiple teams. Now, many kids go from a few years of rec to this super competitive travel club level soccer. Not every kid is geared for that but it is a business so they push the parents to believe that the kids are amazing. That also means that the clubs need to show results when you are shelling out 3k for team dues alone.
Having been wrapped up in this for a while and actually pulling my child out of travel this year because of this crap, I would agree with others that the best approach is to chill and enjoy it. Don't worry about college scholarships or playing on the best team. Your child is most likely not going to get there. If she or he shows some great potential, then spend the time and money but otherwise, treat it like a fun weekend activity.

Please don't rock the delusional boat

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most stresses for Parents in Youth Soccer are Self Induced. Mainly stemming from trying to use the sport/their kid to fill other personal needs.

Most stresses are from things not being MERIT-BASED.

Signed,
A former All-American NCAA player with no need to live vicariously

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue isn't the clubs per se, it is youth soccer in the US. If you think back 20 years (assuming you are old enough), most kids played rec, stayed rec and then maybe played high school. Very few played travel soccer and less played multiple teams. Now, many kids go from a few years of rec to this super competitive travel club level soccer. Not every kid is geared for that but it is a business so they push the parents to believe that the kids are amazing. That also means that the clubs need to show results when you are shelling out 3k for team dues alone.
Having been wrapped up in this for a while and actually pulling my child out of travel this year because of this crap, I would agree with others that the best approach is to chill and enjoy it. Don't worry about college scholarships or playing on the best team. Your child is most likely not going to get there. If she or he shows some great potential, then spend the time and money but otherwise, treat it like a fun weekend activity.

Please don't rock the delusional boat

NEWSFLASH: if you grew up in the DMV travel has been around since the 70s and produced some of the country's best players.

Very few could make select/travel teams back in the day. The few that did traveled and competed all over the Country in the same manner kids do today.

The difference today is ANY KID THAT WANTS TO PLAY TRAVEL can find a team. Teams have 6 teams per age group and the Rec leagues have become non-existent. Parents think their kids are oh-so special because they are on a 'travel' team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most stresses for Parents in Youth Soccer are Self Induced. Mainly stemming from trying to use the sport/their kid to fill other personal needs.

Most stresses are from things not being MERIT-BASED.

Signed,
A former All-American NCAA player with no need to live vicariously

But you just did

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most stresses for Parents in Youth Soccer are Self Induced. Mainly stemming from trying to use the sport/their kid to fill other personal needs.

Most stresses are from things not being MERIT-BASED.

Signed,
A former All-American NCAA player with no need to live vicariously

But you just did

Not at all. Watching politics and roster changes AFTER teams are selected to pacify a donor or 'long-suffering manager' teaches the kid effort and results don't matter.

I'm the first one to say another kid is better than one of my own and to tell them 'look if you want to play that position you have to be better than Timmy. Currently, you are not. Here are some of the things you can work on. If you don't want to put in the work, stop complaining'.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most stresses for Parents in Youth Soccer are Self Induced. Mainly stemming from trying to use the sport/their kid to fill other personal needs.

Most stresses are from things not being MERIT-BASED.

Signed,
A former All-American NCAA player with no need to live vicariously

But you just did

Not at all. Watching politics and roster changes AFTER teams are selected to pacify a donor or 'long-suffering manager' teaches the kid effort and results don't matter.

I'm the first one to say another kid is better than one of my own and to tell them 'look if you want to play that position you have to be better than Timmy. Currently, you are not. Here are some of the things you can work on. If you don't want to put in the work, stop complaining'.

I agree with you on that. The inability for parents to let their kids try and fail is what creates adults not equipped for the real world. Parents who have “high levels of education” are typically the worst for this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most stresses for Parents in Youth Soccer are Self Induced. Mainly stemming from trying to use the sport/their kid to fill other personal needs.

Most stresses are from things not being MERIT-BASED.

Signed,
A former All-American NCAA player with no need to live vicariously

But you just did

Not at all. Watching politics and roster changes AFTER teams are selected to pacify a donor or 'long-suffering manager' teaches the kid effort and results don't matter.

Nah - teaches your kid that effort and results aren't the only things that matter. Valuable life lesson - that.

[Anonymous]

Agree with all of these points, parents should let kids fail and learn but plenty get involved when they shouldn’t 🚁 . Other kids need to learn to work around these situations of someone getting an extra advantage bc it happens all throughout life

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with all of these points, parents should let kids fail and learn but plenty get involved when they shouldn’t 🚁 . Other kids need to learn to work around these situations of someone getting an extra advantage bc it happens all throughout life

Yes. We did by leaving the Club and going elsewhere. That is the only thing that can get around behavior like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with all of these points, parents should let kids fail and learn but plenty get involved when they shouldn’t 🚁 . Other kids need to learn to work around these situations of someone getting an extra advantage bc it happens all throughout life

Yes. We did by leaving the Club and going elsewhere. That is the only thing that can get around behavior like that.

And when the kid is good enough--it's easy to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with all of these points, parents should let kids fail and learn but plenty get involved when they shouldn’t 🚁 . Other kids need to learn to work around these situations of someone getting an extra advantage bc it happens all throughout life

Yes. We did by leaving the Club and going elsewhere. That is the only thing that can get around behavior like that.

Just like in the work force. You don't stay put for that BS. You dust off your resume and find a better situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most stresses for Parents in Youth Soccer are Self Induced. Mainly stemming from trying to use the sport/their kid to fill other personal needs.

100%. And this got so much worse during COVID with parents having nothing better to do than go all-in with their kids sports, having no other outlet in life. Parents can really muck up the team's morale and spirit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most stresses for Parents in Youth Soccer are Self Induced. Mainly stemming from trying to use the sport/their kid to fill other personal needs.

100%. And this got so much worse during COVID with parents having nothing better to do than go all-in with their kids sports, having no other outlet in life. Parents can really muck up the team's morale and spirit.

I secretly can't wait until my boys decide they are done or phase out of this Club soccer BS. They are both great players and still love it---but is so full of BS. And the other parents are annoying as f*Ck on the sidelines...both Clubs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most stresses for Parents in Youth Soccer are Self Induced. Mainly stemming from trying to use the sport/their kid to fill other personal needs.

100%. And this got so much worse during COVID with parents having nothing better to do than go all-in with their kids sports, having no other outlet in life. Parents can really muck up the team's morale and spirit.

I secretly can't wait until my boys decide they are done or phase out of this Club soccer BS. They are both great players and still love it---but is so full of BS. And the other parents are annoying as f*Ck on the sidelines...both Clubs.

There should be a no parents at practice rule. That'd be awesome.

We changed teams to avoid some pretty terrible parents, though I have heard that overall crap parents are everywhere.