Anyone have a kid for whom soccer clicks later?

[Anonymous]

DS is 8 and a decent player, but the speed and skills he shows in practice never make it into game situations. Then it’s like he’s moving in slo mo. He hesitates, takes to long to pass, etc. Coach says things will click for him when he’s older. Does anyone have any experience with this or could it be that he just doesn’t handle the pressure of games well. If it’s a pressure thing is there anything anyone can do to help him?

[Anonymous]

your kid is 8 relax, and you are worried bout how he handles pressure in a game? I wonder where is is feeling the most pressure from.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think you can predict anything so early on. Here’s what I have seen. DS started on A team at u9 but was quickly demoted to B. By age 11 he is bottom of B and will likely move to C for u12. Some boys from the C team at u9 moved to B team at u10. A few are the top on the team. One is now moving to A team for u12. Last year a few of the original A team players moved to B and are almost indistinguishable from those C team players that moved up. Kids develop at different rates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:your kid is 8 relax, and you are worried bout how he handles pressure in a game? I wonder where is is feeling the most pressure from.

+1

My DS's U12 team has a star player whose was very average at 8. His dad said he didn't ramp up the practicing or anything and has been very shocked himself. He just basically grew into playing soccer. The only thing you can tell at age 8 is the kids who are maturing faster and who are taller and bigger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:your kid is 8 relax, and you are worried bout how he handles pressure in a game? I wonder where is is feeling the most pressure from.

Well, we’ve been told he has to move into travel in the next two years. He’s nowhere close to travel level in game play.

We don’t pressure him at all, but as a former player myself I,m puzzled by the fact that skills that are there in practice - ball handling, dribbling, strong passing, powerful kicks - all disappear during games. It’s like he’s two different players. I don’t see other kids with such a big difference between practices and games. That’s why I’m asking.

Personally I think soccer has gotten way too competitive. When I was a kid there was no such thing as travel soccer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:your kid is 8 relax, and you are worried bout how he handles pressure in a game? I wonder where is is feeling the most pressure from.

Well, we’ve been told he has to move into travel in the next two years. He’s nowhere close to travel level in game play.

We don’t pressure him at all, but as a former player myself I,m puzzled by the fact that skills that are there in practice - ball handling, dribbling, strong passing, powerful kicks - all disappear during games. It’s like he’s two different players. I don’t see other kids with such a big difference between practices and games. That’s why I’m asking.

Personally I think soccer has gotten way too competitive. When I was a kid there was no such thing as travel soccer.

In this area there is a travel team for everyone if you are willing to pay. Only suckers think their kids have to do travel at age 9.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Well, if we have to do travel we’d like it to be with a good coach and team.

DS wants to play and seems to enjoy the game even though he’s not the best player during games. So,etimes I think he likes practice more than games.

[Anonymous]

I would strongly suggest hiring him a personal trainer and nutritionist. Every bit counts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:your kid is 8 relax, and you are worried bout how he handles pressure in a game? I wonder where is is feeling the most pressure from.

Well, we’ve been told he has to move into travel in the next two years. He’s nowhere close to travel level in game play.

We don’t pressure him at all, but as a former player myself I,m puzzled by the fact that skills that are there in practice - ball handling, dribbling, strong passing, powerful kicks - all disappear during games. It’s like he’s two different players. I don’t see other kids with such a big difference between practices and games. That’s why I’m asking.

Personally I think soccer has gotten way too competitive. When I was a kid there was no such thing as travel soccer.

Why do you "have to" do travel? Says who? What happens if you don't?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:your kid is 8 relax, and you are worried bout how he handles pressure in a game? I wonder where is is feeling the most pressure from.

Well, we’ve been told he has to move into travel in the next two years. He’s nowhere close to travel level in game play.

We don’t pressure him at all, but as a former player myself I,m puzzled by the fact that skills that are there in practice - ball handling, dribbling, strong passing, powerful kicks - all disappear during games. It’s like he’s two different players. I don’t see other kids with such a big difference between practices and games. That’s why I’m asking.

Personally I think soccer has gotten way too competitive. When I was a kid there was no such thing as travel soccer.

It is very normal, game is way harder. The opportunity of touches is limited, opponents show more efforts etc. A learned skill will take time to be seen into the game. You should expect to see it a lot in scrimmage first, then game. The very athletic kids normally shows better at games, but skill will eventually show too.

It is a long journey and every kids has different growth curve. Your kids already have some advantage of having a formal player to play/practice with. Taking the pressure off him will help more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:your kid is 8 relax, and you are worried bout how he handles pressure in a game? I wonder where is is feeling the most pressure from.

Well, we’ve been told he has to move into travel in the next two years. He’s nowhere close to travel level in game play.

We don’t pressure him at all, but as a former player myself I,m puzzled by the fact that skills that are there in practice - ball handling, dribbling, strong passing, powerful kicks - all disappear during games. It’s like he’s two different players. I don’t see other kids with such a big difference between practices and games. That’s why I’m asking.

Personally I think soccer has gotten way too competitive. When I was a kid there was no such thing as travel soccer.

Why do you "have to" do travel? Says who? What happens if you don't?

+1. OP, what do you worry will happen if he doesn't do travel? Does he have other interests?

[Anonymous]

DH says he was terrible until about 7th grade, then it clicked. He played soccer in college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:your kid is 8 relax, and you are worried bout how he handles pressure in a game? I wonder where is is feeling the most pressure from.

Well, we’ve been told he has to move into travel in the next two years. He’s nowhere close to travel level in game play.

We don’t pressure him at all, but as a former player myself I,m puzzled by the fact that skills that are there in practice - ball handling, dribbling, strong passing, powerful kicks - all disappear during games. It’s like he’s two different players. I don’t see other kids with such a big difference between practices and games. That’s why I’m asking.

Personally I think soccer has gotten way too competitive. When I was a kid there was no such thing as travel soccer.

In this area there is a travel team for everyone if you are willing to pay. Only suckers think their kids have to do travel at age 9.

This. Don't be a sucker, OP. Stay in rec until your child is mature, then play for his school team.

[Anonymous]

Myself. Youngest of 3 wanted ballet or something else, but soccer was the family sport. I'm the kid that drew in the dirt and did cartwheels with my friend in the back at Kindergarten soccer.

A few years later, I changed. By 4th grade I was plucked out of rec by a travel coach that saw me. I ended up on a very winning team--Nationally and Freshmen Varsity player, scholarships.

It may never click with your kid as it may not be their sport. The best thing you can do is not push it. Let them come around to on their own---and if they aren't having fun after awhile--find something new.

I do think this push of putting first and second graders in travel with 3 ninety minute practices per week and travel to games and tournaments every holiday weekend is why so many children burn out.

My kids started doing travel in 3rd grade. And, frankly, I would have rather seen it start in 4th.

[Anonymous]

Why do you have to do travel?