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[quote=Anonymous]OP might want to check this other thread for some perspective of a U12 parent who waited.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1274459.page

Also note all the people there discussing the advantage of getting in early for making the team.  If your kid is a freak athlete, will do expensive private training in lieu of the extra practices, or will spend hundreds of hours alone in the yard working on juggling and dribbling/shooting drills, you can probably safely wait.  If you have a slightly above average athlete who will barely practice extra on his/her own, unfortunately, you may have to risk travel earlier than you like or you'll get left behind.

I watched this happen to one of my daughter's best friends.  She was one of the strongest in rec when they were all 7-9 years old.  All the other strong players left rec for travel teams in second and third grade.  This girl said she just wanted to stay in rec, both Spring and Fall.  She was a good runner, still a good athlete, smart, did a couple summer camps put on by the local high school, but otherwise no extra practice.  My daughter went to a couple of her rec games to cheer for her friend.  This friend was the best rec player left there, but half the kids were barely playing.  In fifth grade, she changed her mind and decided to try out for the same travel club as her school friends.  She couldn't even make the B team, and she was shocked at the gap that had formed in 2 years.  She definitely could have made a team at another club, but the whole point was to play at the same club as her friends (who were mixed between A and B there).  So she instead quit soccer.

I often hate aspects of travel as much as others, and the race into travel for 6-8 year olds is ridiculous.  But people are doing a (dishonest) disservice to others claiming that it's so easy to just wait and join later.
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