Leaving A Travel Soccer Team
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TheSoccerMom
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My DS (13) has become incredibly uninterested in soccer over the late fall/winter. Instead he wants to pour more time and energy into a different sport. He plays on a travel soccer team that has 17 boys. I am wavering back and and forth on making him stay vs pulling him. I get that I’d likely lose my money, but I care most about breaking the commitment we made when he made this team last spring.
What advice would you all give me? How often do clubs see this, and do they have a chance to fill the open seat? Thanks. |
soccer_dc
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| Sounds similar to my son at that age. We made him finish out the season because it was something he committed to and owed it to his teammates. We were a little more lax about missing practices but still attended most practices and all games. We also didn't tell anyone that he was done after the season even though we knew. Didn't see any reason to inform early. |
Arch
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With 17 other players the team won't have a problem sustaining losing someone, and if they really want to fill that slot that probably could find someone but it won't be necessary. The upshot is it's more potential PT for the 17 kids remaining and for the coach(es) it's one less person to worry about regarding PT. If your DS is one of the better players, of course that will be a hit for the team, but that's life. You can tell the coaching staff that you know they want committed players, and they will likely understand that. And even if they don't, it's your family's decision, not theirs. OP, has your son asked to stop playing? |
DMVCoach
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Do you know why he is uninterested? Is this a sudden thing?
New team? New coach? |
NoYou
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First, welcome to the majority of American parents. By age 13, 75% of kids have quit travel sports.
As for your specific situation, I would encourage you a) to talk to the coach and b) consider a break. If you get a coach that is like "fine, leave, we'll replace you easily enough" than leave--this isn't a coach who is really interested in your development. Chances are if you have a good coach they'll work with you on a plan to get your kid through this and give you some time to make the right choice, which leads to the second part. Consider taking a 3-4 week break and let your kid go without soccer and see if they are still certain they want to leave after. Keep them fit of course doing other sports or even a kick about or something like that, but after 3 weeks re-engage with them about their long term plans for soccer. |