Reflections from an aging soccer dad

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^agree. All the A team players from my son’s U9 year quit the sport when they got demoted a few years later.

Curious as to why they quit. Bruised egos, other interests, not playing with the same group of players, ...? What I realize as an adult, is that I miss seeing a group of kids develop together as a team over multiple seasons with little roster tweaks. My kids dabbled in soccer and moved on to sports they prefer. However, these one year / season teams lack something in my mind and heart. Maybe it's the lack of support / unity around a club. What I mean is, that everyone at all levels is cheering on and commited to that club, attends the club's other level and age games to cheer them on. Right now it's like each kid brings their own cheerleaders (e.g. mom/dad). Something is just ... lacking.

It is club soccer not High School.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question from a happy parent. My 11yo kid has been playing for the same club for years. He is not a superstar but he easily made A team every year. His team is doing very well, winning a lot of games in league and tournaments. He’s happy and committed. I can’t think of any reason to move him, but can’t help wondering if I missed something in the big picture. I am not looking at scholarships or pro probabilities, even though my kid aspires to be one. I just thought it’d be nice to have a hobby and some friends and maybe a boost to college admissions. Any advice?

Things will change a lot in the next few years. If he’s happy I don’t even understand why you are posting, humble brags aside.

If he’s not doing a lot of work in his own in coming years, he may not stay on the A team and if that hurts his ego then he might lose the love. It’s often harder for kids that have everything go their way early in their sports career to handle failure down the road.

Thanks for your advice. What would you recommend he does on his own time? Running? Clinics?

Footskills, footskills, footskills.

Running is not a skill.

Running is not a skill? Funny. Spoken like a lazy player whose teammates complain about never getting back to play defense. Yes - foot skills AND conditioning. Soccer is an athletic sport, it is not a video game or golf. You need to be fast, quick, and have stamina - better than the other person to have the best chance at the greatest success. Running is a skill. The more efficient you become at it, the less energy it takes and the quicker you can move. This also includes flexibility, agility, and explosive power Let the PPs kid not train physically and just do foot skills, while your kid does both. I know whose kid will be selected 9 times out of 10 … yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question from a happy parent. My 11yo kid has been playing for the same club for years. He is not a superstar but he easily made A team every year. His team is doing very well, winning a lot of games in league and tournaments. He’s happy and committed. I can’t think of any reason to move him, but can’t help wondering if I missed something in the big picture. I am not looking at scholarships or pro probabilities, even though my kid aspires to be one. I just thought it’d be nice to have a hobby and some friends and maybe a boost to college admissions. Any advice?

Things will change a lot in the next few years. If he’s happy I don’t even understand why you are posting, humble brags aside.

If he’s not doing a lot of work in his own in coming years, he may not stay on the A team and if that hurts his ego then he might lose the love. It’s often harder for kids that have everything go their way early in their sports career to handle failure down the road.

Thanks for your advice. What would you recommend he does on his own time? Running? Clinics?

Footskills, footskills, footskills.

Running is not a skill.

Running is not a skill? Funny. Spoken like a lazy player whose teammates complain about never getting back to play defense. Yes - foot skills AND conditioning. Soccer is an athletic sport, it is not a video game or golf. You need to be fast, quick, and have stamina - better than the other person to have the best chance at the greatest success. Running is a skill. The more efficient you become at it, the less energy it takes and the quicker you can move. This also includes flexibility, agility, and explosive power Let the PPs kid not train physically and just do foot skills, while your kid does both. I know whose kid will be selected 9 times out of 10 … yours.

Working on footskills is lazy? Spoken like a ignorant person who has never had their kid in a HP session or other similar high intensity footskills training program to see the amount of FUNCTIONAL running and footskills can be accomplished in a 90 minute session. Also sounds like a ignorant person who believes a proper soccer practice is done via line drills versus small space rondo drills or other scrimmage games.

I'll tell you what, go have your kid run suicides while my kid does high intensity footskills drills, rondos, 1v1's and 2v2's and we'll see who gets better at soccer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question from a happy parent. My 11yo kid has been playing for the same club for years. He is not a superstar but he easily made A team every year. His team is doing very well, winning a lot of games in league and tournaments. He’s happy and committed. I can’t think of any reason to move him, but can’t help wondering if I missed something in the big picture. I am not looking at scholarships or pro probabilities, even though my kid aspires to be one. I just thought it’d be nice to have a hobby and some friends and maybe a boost to college admissions. Any advice?

Things will change a lot in the next few years. If he’s happy I don’t even understand why you are posting, humble brags aside.

If he’s not doing a lot of work in his own in coming years, he may not stay on the A team and if that hurts his ego then he might lose the love. It’s often harder for kids that have everything go their way early in their sports career to handle failure down the road.

Thanks for your advice. What would you recommend he does on his own time? Running? Clinics?

Footskills, footskills, footskills.

Running is not a skill.

Running is not a skill? Funny. Spoken like a lazy player whose teammates complain about never getting back to play defense. Yes - foot skills AND conditioning. Soccer is an athletic sport, it is not a video game or golf. You need to be fast, quick, and have stamina - better than the other person to have the best chance at the greatest success. Running is a skill. The more efficient you become at it, the less energy it takes and the quicker you can move. This also includes flexibility, agility, and explosive power Let the PPs kid not train physically and just do foot skills, while your kid does both. I know whose kid will be selected 9 times out of 10 … yours.

Are we really debating the definition of skill? You are either fast or not, you can improve your form to maximize your speed....but in the end some folks are just better at running.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^agree. All the A team players from my son’s U9 year quit the sport when they got demoted a few years later.

Curious as to why they quit. Bruised egos, other interests, not playing with the same group of players, ...? What I realize as an adult, is that I miss seeing a group of kids develop together as a team over multiple seasons with little roster tweaks. My kids dabbled in soccer and moved on to sports they prefer. However, these one year / season teams lack something in my mind and heart. Maybe it's the lack of support / unity around a club. What I mean is, that everyone at all levels is cheering on and commited to that club, attends the club's other level and age games to cheer them on. Right now it's like each kid brings their own cheerleaders (e.g. mom/dad). Something is just ... lacking.

It is club soccer not High School.

Exactly. I've seen 300+ people at a HS game that means nothing, and 50 people (mostly parents) at regional and national championship games. And the idea of going to another team's game in the club? It's a nice idea, but the most I've ever seen is someone watching a few minutes of the game prior/subsequent to their own players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question from a happy parent. My 11yo kid has been playing for the same club for years. He is not a superstar but he easily made A team every year. His team is doing very well, winning a lot of games in league and tournaments. He’s happy and committed. I can’t think of any reason to move him, but can’t help wondering if I missed something in the big picture. I am not looking at scholarships or pro probabilities, even though my kid aspires to be one. I just thought it’d be nice to have a hobby and some friends and maybe a boost to college admissions. Any advice?

Things will change a lot in the next few years. If he’s happy I don’t even understand why you are posting, humble brags aside.

If he’s not doing a lot of work in his own in coming years, he may not stay on the A team and if that hurts his ego then he might lose the love. It’s often harder for kids that have everything go their way early in their sports career to handle failure down the road.

Thanks for your advice. What would you recommend he does on his own time? Running? Clinics?

Footskills, footskills, footskills.

Running is not a skill.

Running is not a skill? Funny. Spoken like a lazy player whose teammates complain about never getting back to play defense. Yes - foot skills AND conditioning. Soccer is an athletic sport, it is not a video game or golf. You need to be fast, quick, and have stamina - better than the other person to have the best chance at the greatest success. Running is a skill. The more efficient you become at it, the less energy it takes and the quicker you can move. This also includes flexibility, agility, and explosive power Let the PPs kid not train physically and just do foot skills, while your kid does both. I know whose kid will be selected 9 times out of 10 … yours.

In the end the kid who worked on soccer in playing soccer and the kid who worked on running isn't:

http://www.espn.com/soccer/club/central-coast-mariners/5325/blog/post/3618449/usain-bolts-professional-soccer-debut-delivered-on-the-hype-but-not-technique

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question from a happy parent. My 11yo kid has been playing for the same club for years. He is not a superstar but he easily made A team every year. His team is doing very well, winning a lot of games in league and tournaments. He’s happy and committed. I can’t think of any reason to move him, but can’t help wondering if I missed something in the big picture. I am not looking at scholarships or pro probabilities, even though my kid aspires to be one. I just thought it’d be nice to have a hobby and some friends and maybe a boost to college admissions. Any advice?

Things will change a lot in the next few years. If he’s happy I don’t even understand why you are posting, humble brags aside.

If he’s not doing a lot of work in his own in coming years, he may not stay on the A team and if that hurts his ego then he might lose the love. It’s often harder for kids that have everything go their way early in their sports career to handle failure down the road.

Thanks for your advice. What would you recommend he does on his own time? Running? Clinics?

Footskills, footskills, footskills.

Running is not a skill.

Running is not a skill? Funny. Spoken like a lazy player whose teammates complain about never getting back to play defense. Yes - foot skills AND conditioning. Soccer is an athletic sport, it is not a video game or golf. You need to be fast, quick, and have stamina - better than the other person to have the best chance at the greatest success. Running is a skill. The more efficient you become at it, the less energy it takes and the quicker you can move. This also includes flexibility, agility, and explosive power Let the PPs kid not train physically and just do foot skills, while your kid does both. I know whose kid will be selected 9 times out of 10 … yours.

In the end the kid who worked on soccer in playing soccer and the kid who worked on running isn't:

http://www.espn.com/soccer/club/central-coast-mariners/5325/blog/post/3618449/usain-bolts-professional-soccer-debut-delivered-on-the-hype-but-not-technique

If you want to see this in person, go to any HS soccer game. Around here, each team might have 6 - 8 really good club soccer players, and the balance will be the best athlete's the coach could find that were not playing another sport. You can see the difference immediately on the field between the players with good technical skills and the kids that are fast and strong but have no real skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question from a happy parent. My 11yo kid has been playing for the same club for years. He is not a superstar but he easily made A team every year. His team is doing very well, winning a lot of games in league and tournaments. He’s happy and committed. I can’t think of any reason to move him, but can’t help wondering if I missed something in the big picture. I am not looking at scholarships or pro probabilities, even though my kid aspires to be one. I just thought it’d be nice to have a hobby and some friends and maybe a boost to college admissions. Any advice?

Things will change a lot in the next few years. If he’s happy I don’t even understand why you are posting, humble brags aside.

If he’s not doing a lot of work in his own in coming years, he may not stay on the A team and if that hurts his ego then he might lose the love. It’s often harder for kids that have everything go their way early in their sports career to handle failure down the road.

Thanks for your advice. What would you recommend he does on his own time? Running? Clinics?

Footskills, footskills, footskills.

Running is not a skill.

Running is not a skill? Funny. Spoken like a lazy player whose teammates complain about never getting back to play defense. Yes - foot skills AND conditioning. Soccer is an athletic sport, it is not a video game or golf. You need to be fast, quick, and have stamina - better than the other person to have the best chance at the greatest success. Running is a skill. The more efficient you become at it, the less energy it takes and the quicker you can move. This also includes flexibility, agility, and explosive power Let the PPs kid not train physically and just do foot skills, while your kid does both. I know whose kid will be selected 9 times out of 10 … yours.

Are we really debating the definition of skill? You are either fast or not, you can improve your form to maximize your speed....but in the end some folks are just better at running.

Exactly. Running is an attribute that has its own individual max based on God given genes. It can be maximized but not improved upon and maintained. Skill has no ceiling. Skill can be infinitely improved upon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^agree. All the A team players from my son’s U9 year quit the sport when they got demoted a few years later.

Curious as to why they quit. Bruised egos, other interests, not playing with the same group of players, ...? What I realize as an adult, is that I miss seeing a group of kids develop together as a team over multiple seasons with little roster tweaks. My kids dabbled in soccer and moved on to sports they prefer. However, these one year / season teams lack something in my mind and heart. Maybe it's the lack of support / unity around a club. What I mean is, that everyone at all levels is cheering on and commited to that club, attends the club's other level and age games to cheer them on. Right now it's like each kid brings their own cheerleaders (e.g. mom/dad). Something is just ... lacking.

It is club soccer not High School.

Exactly. I've seen 300+ people at a HS game that means nothing, and 50 people (mostly parents) at regional and national championship games. And the idea of going to another team's game in the club? It's a nice idea, but the most I've ever seen is someone watching a few minutes of the game prior/subsequent to their own players.

Sounds like a racket.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^agree. All the A team players from my son’s U9 year quit the sport when they got demoted a few years later.

Curious as to why they quit. Bruised egos, other interests, not playing with the same group of players, ...? What I realize as an adult, is that I miss seeing a group of kids develop together as a team over multiple seasons with little roster tweaks. My kids dabbled in soccer and moved on to sports they prefer. However, these one year / season teams lack something in my mind and heart. Maybe it's the lack of support / unity around a club. What I mean is, that everyone at all levels is cheering on and commited to that club, attends the club's other level and age games to cheer them on. Right now it's like each kid brings their own cheerleaders (e.g. mom/dad). Something is just ... lacking.

It is club soccer not High School.

Exactly. I've seen 300+ people at a HS game that means nothing, and 50 people (mostly parents) at regional and national championship games. And the idea of going to another team's game in the club? It's a nice idea, but the most I've ever seen is someone watching a few minutes of the game prior/subsequent to their own players.

Sounds like a racket.

That 300 people don't show up to watch 10 and 11 year old kids play?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question from a happy parent. My 11yo kid has been playing for the same club for years. He is not a superstar but he easily made A team every year. His team is doing very well, winning a lot of games in league and tournaments. He’s happy and committed. I can’t think of any reason to move him, but can’t help wondering if I missed something in the big picture. I am not looking at scholarships or pro probabilities, even though my kid aspires to be one. I just thought it’d be nice to have a hobby and some friends and maybe a boost to college admissions. Any advice?

Things will change a lot in the next few years. If he’s happy I don’t even understand why you are posting, humble brags aside.

If he’s not doing a lot of work in his own in coming years, he may not stay on the A team and if that hurts his ego then he might lose the love. It’s often harder for kids that have everything go their way early in their sports career to handle failure down the road.

Thanks for your advice. What would you recommend he does on his own time? Running? Clinics?

Footskills, footskills, footskills.

Running is not a skill.

Running is not a skill? Funny. Spoken like a lazy player whose teammates complain about never getting back to play defense. Yes - foot skills AND conditioning. Soccer is an athletic sport, it is not a video game or golf. You need to be fast, quick, and have stamina - better than the other person to have the best chance at the greatest success. Running is a skill. The more efficient you become at it, the less energy it takes and the quicker you can move. This also includes flexibility, agility, and explosive power Let the PPs kid not train physically and just do foot skills, while your kid does both. I know whose kid will be selected 9 times out of 10 … yours.

In the end the kid who worked on soccer in playing soccer and the kid who worked on running isn't:

http://www.espn.com/soccer/club/central-coast-mariners/5325/blog/post/3618449/usain-bolts-professional-soccer-debut-delivered-on-the-hype-but-not-technique

If you want to see this in person, go to any HS soccer game. Around here, each team might have 6 - 8 really good club soccer players, and the balance will be the best athlete's the coach could find that were not playing another sport. You can see the difference immediately on the field between the players with good technical skills and the kids that are fast and strong but have no real skills.

Well, it is apparent that the responders to my post don’t have very good reading skills. I did not say to not work on foot skills. I said that running (I.e. form and stamina) is a skill too and that those that forget soccer is a sport and not just a dribbling and juggling and trapping and shooting exercise are naive. Let me repeat so that the simpletons get it: work on BOTH foot skills AND physical training. Dummies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question from a happy parent. My 11yo kid has been playing for the same club for years. He is not a superstar but he easily made A team every year. His team is doing very well, winning a lot of games in league and tournaments. He’s happy and committed. I can’t think of any reason to move him, but can’t help wondering if I missed something in the big picture. I am not looking at scholarships or pro probabilities, even though my kid aspires to be one. I just thought it’d be nice to have a hobby and some friends and maybe a boost to college admissions. Any advice?

Things will change a lot in the next few years. If he’s happy I don’t even understand why you are posting, humble brags aside.

If he’s not doing a lot of work in his own in coming years, he may not stay on the A team and if that hurts his ego then he might lose the love. It’s often harder for kids that have everything go their way early in their sports career to handle failure down the road.

Thanks for your advice. What would you recommend he does on his own time? Running? Clinics?

Footskills, footskills, footskills.

Running is not a skill.

Running is not a skill? Funny. Spoken like a lazy player whose teammates complain about never getting back to play defense. Yes - foot skills AND conditioning. Soccer is an athletic sport, it is not a video game or golf. You need to be fast, quick, and have stamina - better than the other person to have the best chance at the greatest success. Running is a skill. The more efficient you become at it, the less energy it takes and the quicker you can move. This also includes flexibility, agility, and explosive power Let the PPs kid not train physically and just do foot skills, while your kid does both. I know whose kid will be selected 9 times out of 10 … yours.

In the end the kid who worked on soccer in playing soccer and the kid who worked on running isn't:

http://www.espn.com/soccer/club/central-coast-mariners/5325/blog/post/3618449/usain-bolts-professional-soccer-debut-delivered-on-the-hype-but-not-technique

If you want to see this in person, go to any HS soccer game. Around here, each team might have 6 - 8 really good club soccer players, and the balance will be the best athlete's the coach could find that were not playing another sport. You can see the difference immediately on the field between the players with good technical skills and the kids that are fast and strong but have no real skills.

Well, it is apparent that the responders to my post don’t have very good reading skills. I did not say to not work on foot skills. I said that running (I.e. form and stamina) is a skill too and that those that forget soccer is a sport and not just a dribbling and juggling and trapping and shooting exercise are naive. Let me repeat so that the simpletons get it: work on BOTH foot skills AND physical training. Dummies.

The context was for an 11 year old. Your advice within that context is stupid.

If fitness is a problem then certainly running can help a player get fit. Beyond general fitness elementary and middle school kids should focus their efforts on soccer specific skills if they wish to improve in soccer.

High School age kids may wish to do some strength and conditioning during the off season or down time. But to otherwise work on "running" even in concert with soccer training when overall fitness is not an issue is a waste of time. Well run, high intense soccer practices should be enough to keep a player fit. If your player is fit the focus should primarily be on soccer skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question from a happy parent. My 11yo kid has been playing for the same club for years. He is not a superstar but he easily made A team every year. His team is doing very well, winning a lot of games in league and tournaments. He’s happy and committed. I can’t think of any reason to move him, but can’t help wondering if I missed something in the big picture. I am not looking at scholarships or pro probabilities, even though my kid aspires to be one. I just thought it’d be nice to have a hobby and some friends and maybe a boost to college admissions. Any advice?

Things will change a lot in the next few years. If he’s happy I don’t even understand why you are posting, humble brags aside.

If he’s not doing a lot of work in his own in coming years, he may not stay on the A team and if that hurts his ego then he might lose the love. It’s often harder for kids that have everything go their way early in their sports career to handle failure down the road.

Thanks for your advice. What would you recommend he does on his own time? Running? Clinics?

Footskills, footskills, footskills.

Running is not a skill.

Running is not a skill? Funny. Spoken like a lazy player whose teammates complain about never getting back to play defense. Yes - foot skills AND conditioning. Soccer is an athletic sport, it is not a video game or golf. You need to be fast, quick, and have stamina - better than the other person to have the best chance at the greatest success. Running is a skill. The more efficient you become at it, the less energy it takes and the quicker you can move. This also includes flexibility, agility, and explosive power Let the PPs kid not train physically and just do foot skills, while your kid does both. I know whose kid will be selected 9 times out of 10 … yours.

In the end the kid who worked on soccer in playing soccer and the kid who worked on running isn't:

http://www.espn.com/soccer/club/central-coast-mariners/5325/blog/post/3618449/usain-bolts-professional-soccer-debut-delivered-on-the-hype-but-not-technique

If you want to see this in person, go to any HS soccer game. Around here, each team might have 6 - 8 really good club soccer players, and the balance will be the best athlete's the coach could find that were not playing another sport. You can see the difference immediately on the field between the players with good technical skills and the kids that are fast and strong but have no real skills.

Well, it is apparent that the responders to my post don’t have very good reading skills. I did not say to not work on foot skills. I said that running (I.e. form and stamina) is a skill too and that those that forget soccer is a sport and not just a dribbling and juggling and trapping and shooting exercise are naive. Let me repeat so that the simpletons get it: work on BOTH foot skills AND physical training. Dummies.

The context was for an 11 year old. Your advice within that context is stupid.

If fitness is a problem then certainly running can help a player get fit. Beyond general fitness elementary and middle school kids should focus their efforts on soccer specific skills if they wish to improve in soccer.

High School age kids may wish to do some strength and conditioning during the off season or down time. But to otherwise work on "running" even in concert with soccer training when overall fitness is not an issue is a waste of time. Well run, high intense soccer practices should be enough to keep a player fit. If your player is fit the focus should primarily be on soccer skills.

Fitness really has nothing to do with speed. A fit player can run the 6 - 7 miles he needs in a 90 minute game without needing to come out to rest. A fast player will run the exact same 6 - 7 miles, but will do it faster. They will both be equally fit. A speedy, fit player with no touch or soccer IQ may have some use on a middle level team, but will be of no use on a high level team.

[Anonymous]

Speed is genetic and has a limitation. A player can train to reach their personal top speed but in what? The 100 meter, 200, 400?

How much time dedicated to training would it take for a player to shave a tenth of a second off their 100 meter or 40 yard dash? What would that even matter if the players top speed is still half a second or a full second off from the fastest 5 kids on the team?

It is stupid to even worry about, especially with a 10 or 11 year old kid. The juice just isn't worth the squeeze regardless of what a personal trainer has sold you.

Get fit and game speed will take care of itself.

[Anonymous]

Fitness is a must on our teams, but running is a physical attribute, not a skill.