Stirrers travel soccer: can we wait until 10 yrs old to try out?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
I am new to the idea of travel soccer and could use some advice.
My daughter is very athletic, and is interested in a number of sports. Her favorite is soccer, and she is considering trying out for travel if we say it's alright. It looks like it would involve lots of driving, and blunt force her to quit other sports. Given her homework and other activities, I'm concerned that travel soccer might ironically result in her getting less exercise due to all the driving and inability to spend time playing outside, and doing other recreational sports teams. So, I am thinking it might make sense for her to wait until next year to try out for travel, both to keep her options open and to keep her fit and exercising as much as possible, which she loves. I'm also generally not a fan of kids, or any athletes, training too much in one sport, to the exclusion of others, because I do believe that cross training helps with general health, strength, and, ultimately, helps one be a better athlete and more fit in person. Does this approach makes sense, or does it seem crazy not to try out for travel at the earliest age possible? Am I just too old school on this? |
Anonymous
Um, no, your approach doesn't make sense. BUT if all you are interested in is getting your kid exercise then just stick with rec sports. If she wants to play travel then let her explore the option. No coach of ten year olds is going to tell you that your kid CAN"T play other sports. Many travel players continue to play basketball, LAX, and other sports along side soccer. Some sports work out better than others scheduling wise than others but that is always going to be a problem. My kid plays travel and other rec sports and the first commitment is travel if there is a conflict. If my kid misses a rec practice so what. Rec is about being exposed to another sport, learning and having fun. With that approach, it does not cause any issue with our family or the sport. Playing two travel sports is when things are hard to manage and maintain. |
Anonymous
|
Travel soccer is incredible exercise.
Nothing like rec. this is why these kids excel at cross-country, track, etc. They are moving 90 minutes hard at practices. Don't be fooled--younger years most training is with ball at their feet but it is high cardio. Soccer players, in general, are some of the overall fittest athletes. A pro midfielder runs over 10 miles in a single game. I took up marathoning when I left college soccer  .
|
Anonymous
| Research the available options. My children do travel/club sports but only because we found teams that fit what we wanted. Teams that supported kids playing other sports, and would even state and stand behind a philosophy that during another sport's season, that sport could take priority. Travel soccer conditioning practice during the summer could be missed for summer swim competition. |
Anonymous
| Thank you to those who responded. Again, I am new to this. It seems that all of the driving would really cut into other activities, but maybe I am over estimating it. Thanks |
Anonymous
| DD joined travel at 11. Her fitness increased enormously in the first year. She played with her old team friends during the winter six months after joining, and smoked them in fitness as well as soccer skills. All due to the intense travel training. |
Anonymous
| I would not expect to be able to maintain most other activities after joining travel. I know some who do travel + winter basketball or summer swim team or another off-season sport, but the couple who do Lacrosse or softball can't handle both easily. |
Anonymous
| There is a lot that happens that first year of travel, the gap between travel and house opens quickly. Not to say that there are not players that will go on to bridge that gap later, but it becomes much more difficult. |
Anonymous
We live 10-15 minutes to all of our different practice fields. If you pick a home club shouldn't have that problem. |
Anonymous
| Depending on the club, it can be very difficult to get a spot the second year. For instance, I don't think DC Stoddert took anyone new last year for u10, especially not on the blue (top) team. You want to get on the best team as earlier as possible as there is little movement down or up the ranks once the roster is set. Plus it's hard to come to travel (at a high level) a year or two late just because it's hard to develop the same skills in a rec program. It's almost a different game---the field is 4 times the size and it's all based on passing whereas rec at age 9 or 10 is still often the Lord-of-flies mad dash to the ball with a few stand-out players shooting. |
Anonymous
| Also, the travel commitment year one (U9) isn't overwhelming. It's 2 (one hour) practices a week plus a one hour game and the seasons are short (about 10 weeks in the fall and 8 in the spring) My daughter still takes piano, art class, and does Girls-on-the-run. The "travel" isn't bad either---thanks to living in the congested DC area all our opponents are a short drive away. I imagine it's different in middle America. |
Anonymous
This really depends on the club/team. Our U9 team practices 3 days (two-hour practices) a week. We go 'down' to 2 two-hour practices per week (plus one optional) during the 'off season.' |
Anonymous
Can I ask which club this is? |
Anonymous
Most clubs at U9 practice 3 days a week for an hour and a half. |
Anonymous
Plus winter indoor training and/or indoor soccer. Summer training (2+ days per week) and summer camps. |