youth soccer participation down 23.5% in key 6-12 year age group...

[Anonymous]

Soccer America Today article.

Pay-to-play (lack of free play opportunities), decline of in-town youth sports leagues (like traditional little league), low participation from low income families, and not enough trained coaches (soccer finished last in 4 of 6 training categories and no higher than 7th in any) cited. Smart phones and tablets also cited.

But while baseball participation dropped 5 percent and basketball 8 percent...soccer's 23.5% drop was striking!

[Anonymous]

The fun is gone too young. Too many parents ruining it for the kids and over-training them younger and younger. Clubs out to make $ and requiring too much structure and too much $$ at an age-inappropriate time.

The organized 90-minute travel practices 3+ times a week almost year round for SECOND graders is ridiculous...add in multiple tournaments each season and long drives and a culture that gives up on 90% of kids in an age group.

[Anonymous]

My son (9 yo/3rd grade) decided to quit soccer after this fall. He didn't want the competitive pressure of a travel program (which I agree on, I think these programs are incredibly developmentally inappropriate at this age), but since the program has pulled off so much of the talent on his rec team, he's not having fun being the only kid out there working. I'm sad that he's giving up something he used to love, but I really can't blame him given what I've seen out on the field.

I tend to agree that lack of skilled coaching may be a part of it as well. My son's team has had a series of parent coaches who never coach more than a single season and who don't have much (if any) of a soccer background, so they basically just herd cats rather than actually teaching soccer skills (that's not a knock on them, I appreciate them stepping up so we could have a team at all). For those kids on the team who got outside coaching (either from a private coach or from a parent who knows the game), they were able to play at a higher level despite the lack of coach instruction at their practices, but for kids more in the middle who have potential but need to be taught the skills, they just haven't progressed much since the beginning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son (9 yo/3rd grade) decided to quit soccer after this fall. He didn't want the competitive pressure of a travel program (which I agree on, I think these programs are incredibly developmentally inappropriate at this age), but since the program has pulled off so much of the talent on his rec team, he's not having fun being the only kid out there working. I'm sad that he's giving up something he used to love, but I really can't blame him given what I've seen out on the field.

I tend to agree that lack of skilled coaching may be a part of it as well. My son's team has had a series of parent coaches who never coach more than a single season and who don't have much (if any) of a soccer background, so they basically just herd cats rather than actually teaching soccer skills (that's not a knock on them, I appreciate them stepping up so we could have a team at all). For those kids on the team who got outside coaching (either from a private coach or from a parent who knows the game), they were able to play at a higher level despite the lack of coach instruction at their practices, but for kids more in the middle who have potential but need to be taught the skills, they just haven't progressed much since the beginning.

Not to pile on a 9 year old but something seems odd regarding the logic that you are using. He doesn't want the competitive pressure of travel but bemoans being the "only kid working" at the rec level. What is killing youth soccer is people constantly looking for these "Goldilocks"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son (9 yo/3rd grade) decided to quit soccer after this fall. He didn't want the competitive pressure of a travel program (which I agree on, I think these programs are incredibly developmentally inappropriate at this age), but since the program has pulled off so much of the talent on his rec team, he's not having fun being the only kid out there working. I'm sad that he's giving up something he used to love, but I really can't blame him given what I've seen out on the field.

I tend to agree that lack of skilled coaching may be a part of it as well. My son's team has had a series of parent coaches who never coach more than a single season and who don't have much (if any) of a soccer background, so they basically just herd cats rather than actually teaching soccer skills (that's not a knock on them, I appreciate them stepping up so we could have a team at all). For those kids on the team who got outside coaching (either from a private coach or from a parent who knows the game), they were able to play at a higher level despite the lack of coach instruction at their practices, but for kids more in the middle who have potential but need to be taught the skills, they just haven't progressed much since the beginning.

Not to pile on a 9 year old but something seems odd regarding the logic that you are using. He doesn't want the competitive pressure of travel but bemoans being the "only kid working" at the rec level. What is killing youth soccer is people constantly looking for these "Goldilocks"

Not the pp....but WTF are you talking about???

Our County destroyed the Rec soccer program by making everything pay-to-play. They were taking just about every kid that showed up at travel tryouts---with their 6 teams. Then--for the few that didn't make it--they ushered them into the Development program which was another 'tryout/paid program". The indoor Rec soccer program used to be a blast--but now since most 2nd/3rd graders are travel--you don't have these neighborhood teams anymore. Then---they had to make it so Developmental kid #s were unlimited. So now you have whole teams of developmental players with professional training going up against Rec players that are at much lower level. It's a disaster.

When my firstborn started the Rec program was boisterous and without the Developmental program there was still a high number of talented kids in the Rec program. Kids really forged school/neighborhood bonds and there were many talented parents filling into coach.

I am so glad my kids started prior to the birth year change which had FIRST graders trying out for travel. That is shameful. The amount of burnout I've seen by 10 is massive. It is way too formalized at such a young age. These Clubs also don't make it 'fun' age-appropriate.

[Anonymous]

It's downfall was when adults saw they could make a 'business' out of it. The travel system is horrible for individual development and designed for parents with deep pockets.

The first time a travel Coach said to us "you are the customer" when our child was 8---I almost threw up.

[Anonymous]

It's become year-round with almost zero downtime or opportunity to play other sports.

Since my 12-year old started---there are now practices all winter-long at all ages....as well as a good portion of the summer. The young kids really start to dread getting in the car and the lack of opportunity of free play after school.

My kids have said when they were younger---that they couldn't wait for the season to end so they could go back to "X park" in the evenings where they would play pick up for hours with kids of all ages and backgrounds. It's sad when kids can't do that because the adults have structured all of their time. It's less beneficial for their development in the sport as well. In this competitive area, parents just don't say 'no'. They fear their kid will get dropped if they don't make them do everything a Club offers or so they can get a step ahead of the kids that decided not to do it. What they aren't doing is checking in with their child and letting them decide how much is enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's downfall was when adults saw they could make a 'business' out of it. The travel system is horrible for individual development and designed for parents with deep pockets.

And feeding on parents who think it's the key to college scholarship money.

We're fully immersed in it with DS playing high-level travel soccer and it's amazing how many parents think college coaches are going to be calling them. It's not how it works, but sitting on the sidelines listening to them talk about it is at times more entertaining than the soccer play on the field.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's downfall was when adults saw they could make a 'business' out of it. The travel system is horrible for individual development and designed for parents with deep pockets.

And feeding on parents who think it's the key to college scholarship money.

We're fully immersed in it with DS playing high-level travel soccer and it's amazing how many parents think college coaches are going to be calling them. It's not how it works, but sitting on the sidelines listening to them talk about it is at times more entertaining than the soccer play on the field.

Oh I agree. That’s why they get away with what they do.

Girls have a much greater chance ,,, but boys it’s pennies if it’s anything...and not always a well-regarded academic school.

99% playing will get nothing.

[Anonymous]

My son (9 yo/3rd grade) decided to quit soccer after this fall. He didn't want the competitive pressure of a travel program (which I agree on, I think these programs are incredibly developmentally inappropriate at this age), but since the program has pulled off so much of the talent on his rec team, he's not having fun being the only kid out there working. I'm sad that he's giving up something he used to love, but I really can't blame him given what I've seen out on the field.

I find this odd. Maybe it is your particular rec league, but there is still a fair mix of kids putting in different levels of effort on my son's U10 rec team. Sure, many talented kids went to travel, but there are decent kids in rec because they play other sports, are in band etc., but are still "out there working" during rec soccer games.

[Anonymous]

DS u10 plays travel soccer. He begged us to play and we are on year 2. His coaches have been good and he plays with nice kids. But it is a huge commitment at such a young age. He also wants to play baseball and basketball but it’s hard to do it all. He wants to play travel soccer because it’s his favorite sport and he was incredibly frustrated by the lack of commitment and behavioral issues with teammates in rec. However I think the 10 month schedule is starting to take the fun out of it. We would love to find the sweet spot. A competitive level of play and dedicated teammates but just 2 seasons a year.

[Anonymous]

So what's your answer to fixing rec soccer?

Pay to train parent volunteers? It might help a little, but it still won't make up for never having played the sport. And you're still not going to attract the more serious players who will flock to paid coaching available through travel programs.

Pay professional coaches to run it, but keep the level of commitment low? I don't know...if I were a paid coach and good at what I did, I'd rather work for a travel club than a rec program. Again, doesn't address the exodus of players to travel and it would make the cost of rec go up.

I think it would be tough to 'undo' the availability of travel soccer for 2nd graders...that train left the station.

In Northern Virginia, there are lower key travel programs that allow kids to play other sports or pursue other interests. It's not like the DA is the only game in town.

Lots of complaining, but no solutions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son (9 yo/3rd grade) decided to quit soccer after this fall. He didn't want the competitive pressure of a travel program (which I agree on, I think these programs are incredibly developmentally inappropriate at this age), but since the program has pulled off so much of the talent on his rec team, he's not having fun being the only kid out there working. I'm sad that he's giving up something he used to love, but I really can't blame him given what I've seen out on the field.

I tend to agree that lack of skilled coaching may be a part of it as well. My son's team has had a series of parent coaches who never coach more than a single season and who don't have much (if any) of a soccer background, so they basically just herd cats rather than actually teaching soccer skills (that's not a knock on them, I appreciate them stepping up so we could have a team at all). For those kids on the team who got outside coaching (either from a private coach or from a parent who knows the game), they were able to play at a higher level despite the lack of coach instruction at their practices, but for kids more in the middle who have potential but need to be taught the skills, they just haven't progressed much since the beginning.

Not to pile on a 9 year old but something seems odd regarding the logic that you are using. He doesn't want the competitive pressure of travel but bemoans being the "only kid working" at the rec level. What is killing youth soccer is people constantly looking for these "Goldilocks"

My son wants to go to one practice and one game each week where everyone is putting in their best effort on the field and then gets to go home and enjoy other hobbies and activities as well. He wants a team where everyone shows up 95% of the time and you can rely upon them, but where it's okay to miss a game or practice if there is a compelling reason. Unfortunately that doesn't seem to be an option in our league.

He can go the developmental/travel route where people take it seriously and work hard, but it's multiple practices/games per week that would leave him with no time to commit to another activity he enjoys as well, and where there is no flexibility to miss a practice/game no matter how good the reason. He tried the league academy program for kids interested in travel, but we pulled him (with his agreement) after the program coach punished him by making him sit on the sidelines for an entire practice for having missed the previous practice with a stomach virus. The kid was actively vomiting, but apparently should have come to practice anyway and thrown up all over the field. This was in first grade, and I was deeply disturbed that the league either didn't appreciate or didn't can how inappropriate this was.

The alternative is to keep playing rec, where half the team doesn't even bother trying during practice and spend the games chatting on the field rather than actually playing, and half the parents can't be bothered showing up to practices and games on a regular basis. It's fine If you want to travel four weekends in the fall, but don't sign your kid up for soccer where it means they'll miss half the games. I would keep taking him if he wanted to do it, but he hated it and would rather switch to a different sport where the experience may be better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son (9 yo/3rd grade) decided to quit soccer after this fall. He didn't want the competitive pressure of a travel program (which I agree on, I think these programs are incredibly developmentally inappropriate at this age), but since the program has pulled off so much of the talent on his rec team, he's not having fun being the only kid out there working. I'm sad that he's giving up something he used to love, but I really can't blame him given what I've seen out on the field.

I tend to agree that lack of skilled coaching may be a part of it as well. My son's team has had a series of parent coaches who never coach more than a single season and who don't have much (if any) of a soccer background, so they basically just herd cats rather than actually teaching soccer skills (that's not a knock on them, I appreciate them stepping up so we could have a team at all). For those kids on the team who got outside coaching (either from a private coach or from a parent who knows the game), they were able to play at a higher level despite the lack of coach instruction at their practices, but for kids more in the middle who have potential but need to be taught the skills, they just haven't progressed much since the beginning.

Not to pile on a 9 year old but something seems odd regarding the logic that you are using. He doesn't want the competitive pressure of travel but bemoans being the "only kid working" at the rec level. What is killing youth soccer is people constantly looking for these "Goldilocks"

Not the pp....but WTF are you talking about???

Our County destroyed the Rec soccer program by making everything pay-to-play. They were taking just about every kid that showed up at travel tryouts---with their 6 teams. Then--for the few that didn't make it--they ushered them into the Development program which was another 'tryout/paid program". The indoor Rec soccer program used to be a blast--but now since most 2nd/3rd graders are travel--you don't have these neighborhood teams anymore. Then---they had to make it so Developmental kid #s were unlimited. So now you have whole teams of developmental players with professional training going up against Rec players that are at much lower level. It's a disaster.

When my firstborn started the Rec program was boisterous and without the Developmental program there was still a high number of talented kids in the Rec program. Kids really forged school/neighborhood bonds and there were many talented parents filling into coach.

I am so glad my kids started prior to the birth year change which had FIRST graders trying out for travel. That is shameful. The amount of burnout I've seen by 10 is massive. It is way too formalized at such a young age. These Clubs also don't make it 'fun' age-appropriate.

13:24/15:24 here, it sounds like we are/were in the same league, but unfortunately we're getting the brunt of the developmental disaster. At least I hope were are and there aren't multiple soccer leagues in the region that are this messed up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Soccer America Today article.

Pay-to-play (lack of free play opportunities), decline of in-town youth sports leagues (like traditional little league), low participation from low income families, and not enough trained coaches (soccer finished last in 4 of 6 training categories and no higher than 7th in any) cited. Smart phones and tablets also cited.

But while baseball participation dropped 5 percent and basketball 8 percent...soccer's 23.5% drop was striking!

Soccer American Today seems to be coming from the perspective that this is a bad thing.

What about positive reasons? Families realizing they were over scheduled. Kids discovering other sports?