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DCUdad wrote:SoccerQs wrote:
But the other is that the doctor is saying that he's spending too many hours on soccer and on sports in general, and should plan on taking the summer off this year and every year. Not just because of his wrist, because the next injury could be another body part. I'm not clear whether a summer "off" from soccer would include working with on his feet like you suggest or not.
Well, that is pretty odd, unless there is some diagnosed condition that makes him more susceptible to injury than most kids. If not, and this is just some general warning that this doctor would give to any soccer player, then I'd say it's quite unusual, or you are misunderstanding what they are saying. Sure, kids need some time off from training over the year -- even professionals do. But the idea that you are risking injury by not taking an entire summer off from soccer is hard to justify. And as you say, it's mostly running and jumping -- are they not going to do those anyway?
So, I'd ask for a clarification: is this general advice they would give to any soccer player of similar age, or is it specific to your child? If the latter, why? If the former, you can kinda ignore it as over-protective or find another doctor.
It matches the recommendation from most major organizations that relate to sports medicine for kids.
Here's the AAP
https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/119/6/1242/70751/Overuse-Injuries-Overtraining-and-Burnout-in-Child
And NATA
https://www.nata.org/press-release/101619/national-athletic-trainers-association-releases-official-statement
The recommendations seem to be pretty universally:
No more than 5 days a week of training, with 2 days off
No more than one sport per season
At least 2 - 3 months off from the sport per year.
DCUdad wrote:SoccerQs wrote:Well, the concern is coming from a Sports Medicine specialist, so I feel like I have to take it seriously.
The injury is to his wrist, he's a GK so his wrists are probably more at risk than for players who play other positions.
(Parent of two GKs here...) There is nothing wrong with taking a chunk of the summer off from handling the ball. You won't "lose it" that fast, and everyone is a little rusty when they come back in August. However, this may be the perfect time for him to work on his feet. If he wants to play at a high level, he needs to be good with his distribution and touch (both feet). And most GKs under-train this aspect of their game. So use the summer for that. (And work on some hand-eye coordination stuff -- learn to juggle tennis balls or something low impact on his hands/wrists.)
When he comes back, make sure to tape his wrists every time he trains with his hands. Use pre-wrap and athletic tape (J&J Coach tape tears well) just like a wristband right below his hand (there are YouTube videos or ask a trainer or your sports medicine dude).
OP here,
I think there are two different things going on. One is that he needs to heal the injury to his wrist.
But the other is that the doctor is saying that he's spending too many hours on soccer and on sports in general, and should plan on taking the summer off this year and every year. Not just because of his wrist, because the next injury could be another body part. I'm not clear whether a summer "off" from soccer would include working with on his feet like you suggest or not.
Thanks for the taping suggestion!
Well, the concern is coming from a Sports Medicine specialist, so I feel like I have to take it seriously.
The injury is to his wrist, he's a GK so his wrists are probably more at risk than for players who play other positions.
The injury is to his wrist, he's a GK so his wrists are probably more at risk than for players who play other positions.
If you have a kid who loves to play soccer, and plays a lot of soccer, what steps or limits do you put on him/her to prevent overtraining/overuse injuries?
I have a U12 boy whose doctor is concerned that overuse is a factor in a recent injury. He's suggesting that DS take the summer off from soccer, which we can do this summer, but I wonder what it means for next year once he moves up, because MLS Next teams (his goal) seem to run from September to mid July.
Also, if you stop your kid from playing soccer, do you stop things like pick up, or practicing on his own in the backyard? Or just team membership? If they just do something else (summer swim, sports camps for another sport, playing basketball in the neighborhood) does that still help?
I have a U12 boy whose doctor is concerned that overuse is a factor in a recent injury. He's suggesting that DS take the summer off from soccer, which we can do this summer, but I wonder what it means for next year once he moves up, because MLS Next teams (his goal) seem to run from September to mid July.
Also, if you stop your kid from playing soccer, do you stop things like pick up, or practicing on his own in the backyard? Or just team membership? If they just do something else (summer swim, sports camps for another sport, playing basketball in the neighborhood) does that still help?
So above when the poster says that EDP D1 is below ECNL, do they mean Premier I or all the Premier teams?
SoccerCzar wrote:The next level is EDP D1 and that's because I don't feel they are scouted as much but make no mistake about it. Many EDP D1 teams can and do beat ECNL teams. Jeff Cup for U15s and older was just this weekend. You can look through and see EDP teams beating ECNL teams. ECNL teams beating MLS Next teams and EDP teams beating MLS Next teams, etc etc. Then after EDP D1, you have EDP D2,/quote]
It looks like EDP has Premier and Championship teams. The Premier teams are divided into I - IV, and the Championship teams are divided into 1 - V.
Which do you consider D1 vs. D2?
SoccerCzar wrote:The next level is EDP D1 and that's because I don't feel they are scouted as much but make no mistake about it. Many EDP D1 teams can and do beat ECNL teams. Jeff Cup for U15s and older was just this weekend. You can look through and see EDP teams beating ECNL teams. ECNL teams beating MLS Next teams and EDP teams beating MLS Next teams, etc etc. Then after EDP D1, you have EDP D2,/quote]
It looks like EDP has Premier and Championship teams. The Premier teams are divided into I - IV, and the Championship teams are divided into 1 - V.
Which do you consider D1 vs. D2?
MLSNext?
ECNL?
Where does EDP fit in?
Are there others?
ECNL?
Where does EDP fit in?
Are there others?
I had asked here about programs for a kid who is equally happy in Spanish or English, and someone suggested Cerritos. It seems like a good option.
What can you tell me about EDP?
What can you tell me about EDP?
Both in comparison to each other, and in comparison to other Montgomery County clubs?
My U12 kid needs a new club next year. He’d like to play at a high level so we’re trying to figure out where he should try out. What are the strongest programs? We are in MoCo, might be willing to cross into DC or VA for a good fit, but would prefer not to.
Mdmom22 wrote:Is he great? That is, is he already talented or can he only be great if he does all the things he wants to do? What does it say about this skill level if he's already concerned about being left behind? FWIW, I don't believe all the extra training (on top of regular club practices, etc.) is going to make a huge difference if the talent is not there. And also, are his grades solid? If he has aspirations for going pro and he has the talent to do so, I would let him do what he wants but will make him cut down if his schedule imposes on his parent's ability to get him to places or because of finances. If he only has aspirations for playing in college, I don't think cutting back would hurt. He needs to be a solid player of course to play in college but he also needs the grades, being well rounded, etc. Good luck!
He’s 11, I think it’s way too early to sort out long term plans. For an 11 year old the feedback I get is that he’s very good, but I am far from an expert. Will he still be good at 18? Will he even want to play at 18? Who knows?
As far as being “behind”, I think that worry partially comes from hearing what other kids are doing and feeling like he needs to do the same, and partially because he wants to play and so he had to come up with some reason to convince me.
He’s a very capable student, his grades aren’t suffering. He has a couple other hobbies, but sports are his main passion.
whothey wrote:SoccerQs wrote:Should I not stop greatness by preventing a career ending overuse injury, or by allowing him to practice a ton and thus get great?
What career ending overuse injury do you expect a keeper to suffer?
My understanding is that GK’s can suffer the same kind of knee injuries as field players, albeit less frequently.
Should I not stop greatness by preventing a career ending overuse injury, or by allowing him to practice a ton and thus get great?
I'm the parent of a male U12 goalie, trying to reconcile recommendations from my kid's coaches, my kid's desires, and guidance like this
https://www.nata.org/sites/default/files/yss_recommendation_infographic.pdf
From the National Athletic Trainer's Association.
My kid would like to do soccer 24/7, and then some other sports on top of it. He gets up on his own to work out before school. He really wants to join a team that practices 4 days a week, plus Super Y and private training and summer camps. Plus he's at a school that does a sport each season, is very attached to his summer swim team, and does sport related things a lot in his free time (e.g. goes for a bike ride, takes an online martial arts class, plays pick up basketball with siblings). If I let him do everything he wants he's way over some of those recommendations, such as no more than 8 months (he'd like 12), no more than one team a season (with school teams and swim team he's always got soccer plus something else), no more than 5 days a week (with either school or club practice every weekday plus weekend games). He also has the perception that if he doesn't do these things he'll be "behind".
How do other families find balance. Is him telling me that all the other kids are doing all these things (Super Y, private training, futsal, summer camps) like when other kids say that all the other parents let their kids play video games all night? Or is there some truth? If I tell him he has to play on a lower team, or he needs to take the whole summer off, am I ruling out playing in college?
https://www.nata.org/sites/default/files/yss_recommendation_infographic.pdf
From the National Athletic Trainer's Association.
My kid would like to do soccer 24/7, and then some other sports on top of it. He gets up on his own to work out before school. He really wants to join a team that practices 4 days a week, plus Super Y and private training and summer camps. Plus he's at a school that does a sport each season, is very attached to his summer swim team, and does sport related things a lot in his free time (e.g. goes for a bike ride, takes an online martial arts class, plays pick up basketball with siblings). If I let him do everything he wants he's way over some of those recommendations, such as no more than 8 months (he'd like 12), no more than one team a season (with school teams and swim team he's always got soccer plus something else), no more than 5 days a week (with either school or club practice every weekday plus weekend games). He also has the perception that if he doesn't do these things he'll be "behind".
How do other families find balance. Is him telling me that all the other kids are doing all these things (Super Y, private training, futsal, summer camps) like when other kids say that all the other parents let their kids play video games all night? Or is there some truth? If I tell him he has to play on a lower team, or he needs to take the whole summer off, am I ruling out playing in college?