tell me how travel soccer works
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
DS 8 (2nd grade) is asking to play travel soccer in the fall. He currently plays on an MSI rec team with a great coach and many friends from school but he complains that the other kids are always goofing off and he wants to practice and play more.
I really don't know the first thing about soccer. I don't even know if he would be trying out for U8 or U9. His birthday is 3/2008. Does anybody have feedback on Academy, Potomac, Lions and/or Rush? Do they really cut kids or just put the weaker players on lower teams and still call it travel? I don't want to just pay to play. If I pay, I want to know that it's because he really belongs in travel. The flip side is I would also hate for him to make a really competitive team and then spend a lot of time on the bench. I really don't feel like I can fairly assess his ability but he does gets lots of praise from coaches, parents and players. I'm also planning to check with MSI to see if he would able to play up a year and move to Classic (it doesn't officially start until 4th). Has anyone done this? |
Anonymous
|
With a 2008 birthday, he would be in U9 in the fall.
Being on a "weak" team in travel can still be a beneficial experience, both for the sheer fun of it and for the development as a soccer player. Plenty of D-teamers at U9 end up as elite players in their teens. Most clubs still cut a lot of players, though. I can't speak to the Bethesda area, but in larger NoVa clubs, they get twice as many candidates as they have spaces -- 80-100 people trying out for 40-50 spots in a given age group. If your son is annoyed with teammates that goof off, he may very well prefer travel. My son (U9) isn't going to play in the pros or college or maybe even high school. But he loves to play with other kids who love to play. MSI, like Arlington, might give you a sort-of in-between option. That's fine, too. I've had great experiences in rec soccer from U6 up to U12, but sometimes, the goof-offs really ruin it for everyone. |
Anonymous
| Thanks PP! That's helpful. I'm hoping someone else has had experience with one of the organizations I mentioned. Anyone? |
Anonymous
|
I think your son is at a good age to explore travel soccer if he is serious about it. The main reason to do it now is to make sure he learns the skills necessary to get to whatever level he decides he wants as he gets older. It's almost impossible to do that in MSI rec unless you have both an extremely dedicated, knowledgeable coach and a very committed team. At his age, most clubs require significant (though not necessarily equal) playing time for kids, so it's very unlikely that he'd be sitting on the bench as a U9 wherever he ends up. Most teams at this age also do not cut a lot of players, though big clubs may move kids up or down at the end of the season to put them on a team that matches their skill level.
With respect to the specific clubs you've mentioned, I'm not sure what you mean by "Academy." Do you mean MSC, the travel component of MSI? If so, I'd say that there is no way to generalize about that program or Rush overall, because neither is organized with a real "club" structure. There are good teams and coaches and bad in both MSC and Rush, and I think the teams tend to be independent of each other. I believe the Lions program was started by the Mbouh brothers, and they are both very focused on teaching good technique. Emile Mbouh has an extremely strong reputation as a skills based coach, and is a local soccer legend. He was the captain of a World Cup team from Cameroon that defeated Argentina in the 90s--a huge deal for African soccer. If they are convenient to your house, they would likely be a solid option though I don't think they have many competitive teams. This doesn't matter so much when kids are younger. Potomac is fine, and capable of teaching kids the basics. I think it generally has the reputation of being a weaker version of Bethesda though. If Bethesda soccer club has practices that are convenient to you, that's where I'd start. For all these clubs, you can just ask to have your son attend a practice or two to check it out over the next couple of months. They should be happy to oblige. |
Anonymous
|
Remember though that like any activity (arts, music or sports) kids get better by practicing on their own, or with friends/siblings/parents. Joining a travel team for soccer is not an end all/be all. At your kid's age -- there will be a couple 90 minute practices a week and a game on the weekends. The club might also have some drop in type sessions for skills or just pick up games. All fine, but to become a "good" player he will need to work on his own too. An hour day with the ball at his feet would be pretty typical. Some days there will be other things to do of course, but most days fooling around with the ball is what it takes.
Soccer is also a good team game. Do not worry about playing with friends. Like every team sport, your kid will friends with some of the kids on his team. He can have school friends and soccer friends. Be realistic, and do not get too invested in any one sport or activity until you are sure your kid likes it. Athletic kids can be good at lots of stuff. Your son has played some soccer, and he likes it. Probably he is more athletic than other kids on his rec team. As you play higher level travel the athleticism of all the players picks up. That is why technical ability with the ball becomes more and more important. Soccer is a sport where the primary athletic requirements are speed, quickness and coordination. A small kid can do just fine and bigger, slower, kids can get eaten up. So -- you have to be realistic about your own kid's interest in the game and athletic ability. There were a good many kids on my son's younger teams where you would think -- "he's just waiting around until he can play football". The nice thing though is that soccer in our area is sufficiently popular that there is a very wide range of teams and with a bit of effort you can find one that fits your and your kid's needs. Finally -- now is a good time to start looking at clubs in your area. Pick up the phone and call their office. Explain your situation and you will almost certainly be invited to come out and participate in a practice or two. Go check out two or three clubs. At your son's age there will be lots of parents standing around. Talk to them about what they thought about the coach, the costs, and the time commitments. |
Anonymous
|
Many clubs open up their training sessions to potential players during the spring, before formal tryouts happen. Contact the age group coordinator or head coach for the age group your son is interested in playing for, introduce your son/situation, and ask if you and your son could come by a practice. This will allow the club/coach to evaluate your son outside of the chaos of tryouts, you to evaluate the coach/experience (you can also speak to current parents), and for your son to get a taste of what a travel practices feels like. Some clubs publicize open training sessions - others don't, but will allow it if you ask.
At some of the larger clubs, the formal tryout sessions can be overwhelming and chaotic. If at all possible, try to get your son in front of the club beforehand. |
Anonymous
|
All the clubs are pretty much the same. Find the right coach for your kid, not the entire club. We have been at two clubs and they are different, find one that fits your style, go to the teams games this season and see how the coach coaches during the game and how the parents are. What annoys me the most are the parents.
My kid is one of the better players and one of the parents of a weaker player is constantly asking what we do to make them better etc. I looked at him and said, not what you are doing now. Just watch and let the kid be a kid. Parents like that are the most annoying part of it./ |
Anonymous
UGH!!! They don't announce the coaches until RIGHT before tryouts. We have fingers-crossed when our son switches birth/age groups his current coach will move with the younger group, but they still have not announced that yet. I notice most of the clubs have not announced the coaching roster for next year yet. This leaves many in a bind when shopping for a new 'coach'. The club isn't what I care about---the big ones are all pretty much the same. The coach and the training methods and skills taught in practice are what we care about for our kids. The coaching quality in our club varies greatly by age group. One year is a big commitment to be with a coach you don't clique with. |
Anonymous
I am the PP and that is the worst part besides the parents. With the birth year thing coming into play, they are really milking it as the excuse for not announcing the coaches |
Anonymous
|
Thanks everyone! You've been very helpful!
-OP |
Anonymous
| To the OP: Which age group + club? Someone here may know who your coach is going to be. |