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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Unless your kid makes the 1st or 2nd travel team, don’t bother. Anything less is glorified rec for way more money and way more time commitment for all of you. Let her enjoy rec soccer and if she gets to the point where it’s not fun for her anymore because her skills have outpaced others, then it will be time to consider travel. [/quote]

What if you have a kid who wants to do travel but is more of a third team (or lower, at a really big club) level? Older sibling moved to travel at their age and started on second team, now on first. Younger one doesn't fully understand that they aren't at the level their sibling was, but as a parent not sure I want to say travel is allowed for one kid but not the other. I guess we could say you can only do travel if you get offered first or second team? But that feels kind of mean.

Rec has still been sufficiently challenging this year, some weeks more than others depending on the opposing team. But no idea how many of the good kids on DC's and other teams will be headed off to travel. At least a couple on DC's team most likely are. The coach has been great for motivating the kids and teaching passing and spacing, but does not know soccer well enough to teach things like footskills. The travel club DC would join seems to work a lot of ball control/footskills in the youngest age groups. The rec coach may also not be around next year because I suspect their kid is gravitating to a different sport. Really not sure what to do... [/quote]

Okay, so then that is different reasoning you take into consideration. If your kid wants travel just like big bro/sis you can say that it takes effort and commitment and you can discuss if you’re seeing that from your kid. I’m not talking drill sergeant level Debbie downwr convo but it’s definitely reasonable to teach an understanding of the value of a dollar & hard work at this age. “It’s not cheap, it’s more of a time commitment too, plus you need to practice on your own. So you should really love it for the economics to make sense. If not, stay in rec and have fun. Maybe for another year and let’s keep talking about this. Travel isn’t going anywhere.” 
If kid insists they are ready, then go for the 3rd or 4th team or wherever they land, but with eyes wide open about what this really is - a cash cow.  Doesn’t mean she can’t work hard and move up. She absolutely can. But that can also be done from rec (at that age), too.

TLDR: at this young age, 3rd team travel doesn’t mean she will always be in 3rd team travel.  She can move up with effort. But she can also do that while staying in rec longer too. If it’s more about sibling dynamics, have an open convo with your kid and then choose whatever is right for your family. [/quote]

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