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[quote=Anonymous]I think it's fairly common when kids hit the 12-14 age range, for a lot of reasons.

Their interests may change as they become more independent and aware of other sports/activities.

Some kids seem to move their focus away from sports altogether, while others find love of a new sport. I remember my oldest son was on a team with a 10 year old superstar soccer player. We moved away and when he went back to visit with his friends a few years later he reported that the former soccer superstar kid had dropped the sport and was in love with American football now (not as a kicker!).

Puberty hits for some kids much earlier than others (there are even racial difference in the start of puberty https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4118470/) which creates uneven competition, and many later-to-puberty kids who were once among the top players on their team get passed over for their mustachioed competitors.

And as much of a grind as high-level travel soccer is for parents, the kids are feeling that pressure every practice, every game, etc. Kids can burnout, too. One bad coach, one unfortunate injury, and their dedication to keep up with such an intense activity wanes.

I've had a few kids go through this. One is going through it now. He still "likes" soccer but is starting to see his personality as encompassing more than soccer and I think he's evolving from this boyhood dreams of being a professional soccer player to seeing a more realistic future for himself. It's a point that 99.99% of all the kids playing soccer will reach eventually.

So, he's trying new sports, playing soccer for his school, spending more time on his studies, and growing up. I'm just there to support him in any positive activity he wants to do.[/quote]

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