So you want to know how to nurture your kids soccer motivation?

[Anonymous]

Ask them in the morning or when you get home tomorrow “What is your most memorable soccer experience?”

It was a totally different answer than I thought...was hoping to hear “When I got a hat trick in the first two minutes of a game...

It also was not “When we got a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos for snack after the game.” Can’t stand when soccer coaches feed you that BS.

Interested to see your answers, than I will tell you mine. The reason why I ask is it may help you adjust to keep your kids happy playing soccer/sports.

BTW, my kid turns 12 next month.

[Anonymous]

Interesting. My son said most memorable was when he got over 500 juggles. That was just over a year ago and he was 9 and really into watching freestyle soccer videos on YouTube.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. My son said most memorable was when he got over 500 juggles. That was just over a year ago and he was 9 and really into watching freestyle soccer videos on YouTube.

Wow! Over 500 juggles? So amazing!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. My son said most memorable was when he got over 500 juggles. That was just over a year ago and he was 9 and really into watching freestyle soccer videos on YouTube.

I always love a good DCUM humblebrag.

In the unlikely event this were actually true a kid would be bragging about it not claiming it as his most memorable moment.

Both of my kids remember big goals they scored in close games to put their teams ahead, not some tedious practice accomplishment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. My son said most memorable was when he got over 500 juggles. That was just over a year ago and he was 9 and really into watching freestyle soccer videos on YouTube.

I always love a good DCUM humblebrag.

In the unlikely event this were actually true a kid would be bragging about it not claiming it as his most memorable moment.

Both of my kids remember big goals they scored in close games to put their teams ahead, not some tedious practice accomplishment.

Wow, you're a real peach. I bet you are assuming what your kids remember rather than asking and I am guessing your kid is not good at juggling either. My kid can't juggle either but geez....Anyway, 500 juggles is a big milestone, especially at that age. It means the young man is goal driven and has the drive to try and achieve those goals. I don't think there is any bragging there. Heck, wish my kid had the initiative to work on juggling!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. My son said most memorable was when he got over 500 juggles. That was just over a year ago and he was 9 and really into watching freestyle soccer videos on YouTube.

Wow! Over 500 juggles? So amazing!

Man. There are just some real miserable people on here.

[Anonymous]

we don't talk about soccer when it isn't soccer time. Let them drive the motivation, if they don't have it move on.

raise the kid you have not the one you want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:we don't talk about soccer when it isn't soccer time. Let them drive the motivation, if they don't have it move on.

raise the kid you have not the one you want.

Neither do we..and often I’ll come downstairs and my 13 year old and about to turn 11-year old son are watching EPL or La Liga. They know even the o most obscure FIFA players and are often dragging pug nets to the local basketball court when our yard is too muddy/snowy.

The intensity of a lot of the youth parents is too much for me. My siblings and I all reached very high levels and my parents didn’t constantly push and needle. Find coaches you see eye to eye with and let them do their thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:we don't talk about soccer when it isn't soccer time. Let them drive the motivation, if they don't have it move on.

raise the kid you have not the one you want.

I 100% understand what you are saying but following it would lead to a lot of kid specializing in video games and we all know how bad early specialization is!

[Anonymous]

If there is love for the game, there doesn't need to be any additional motivation. Our society is filled with sprinters, we need more marathon runners.

To answer the OP's question, I have 2 kids in travel and both will have very similar answers....Remember when we were at XYZ tournament and XYZ (fill in with teammate's name) did this at the hotel? I don't want to sound like a shrink, but the experiences with their teammates is valued more than the trophies. All my youth medals/trophies/letterman jacket is stored in a $10 plastic tote in the basement. I do however have a picture of my friends from grade school (whom I am still friends with) in our library.

[Anonymous]

For my 6 year old, it was the scorpion kick goal he scored as a U5, slightly beating out the extra time diving header he scored (game winner) on a corner this past fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For my 6 year old, it was the scorpion kick goal he scored as a U5, slightly beating out the extra time diving header he scored (game winner) on a corner this past fall.

Well just keep in mind that if he doesn't absolutely love it above all else, you have him quit and just move along and GOD FORBID don't say anything to him after one of these games!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we don't talk about soccer when it isn't soccer time. Let them drive the motivation, if they don't have it move on.

raise the kid you have not the one you want.

I 100% understand what you are saying but following it would lead to a lot of kid specializing in video games and we all know how bad early specialization is!

Funny you say that, we have an Xbox and Nintendo and guess how often they get used? They collect dust. a kid is either motivated or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we don't talk about soccer when it isn't soccer time. Let them drive the motivation, if they don't have it move on.

raise the kid you have not the one you want.

I 100% understand what you are saying but following it would lead to a lot of kid specializing in video games and we all know how bad early specialization is!

Funny you say that, we have an Xbox and Nintendo and guess how often they get used? They collect dust. a kid is either motivated or not.

We have both as well, Madden and FIFA get a good amount of play. Like anything else, too much of a good thing is bad.