Recreational teams play kickball style. It doesn’t mean travel or pro teams that play direct or possession styles never try to play long ball. Watch a pro team game, there is a moment in the game likely when is close to the end when TD change players and style of play to get it more direct and faster. Likely because the team is losing or winning by small difference. Of course at younger ages you want your kid to learn how to play the game and therefore playin kickball style only harm the players development.

remember they only give points for goals. no matter how you get them as long as you get them. you can play a beautiful possession game and lose 1-0 to a dump and chase team. they get the 3 points and your team doesn't. An ugly win is better than any loss.

It was just a comment. I don't think it was meant to be offensive.

They're saying that just to give you a job. Playing kickball style doesn't require any skill level. They're letting you know that.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I have noticed that my son does have a different style of play than some teammates (he plays fustal seriously year rould outside of soccer and is very tiny). But, as I mentioned, I don't know the most about soccer or any sports, really. I feel like he is reasonably appreciated on the team. I am not sure exactly what "kickball" entails. Can someone explain?

Direct kicks/throws from keeper or back line to a fast forward (bypassing midfield) who chases down ball and drives to goal.

At very young ages, it is an effective exploit that bypasses development the offense should be doing (building out/midfield) and takes advantage of development that the defense should be doing (kids learning different positions/rotating). As the kids get older and become more positionally aware, this exploit should become easy to shut down if it is the only thing the O does, so it is an issue if the D can't. As a PP also mentioned, a valid way to mix things up (e.g., O catches D pushed up too high).

I had to sit next to a family whose son plays the same position as mine and listen to them be critical whenever my son was in and theirs was out. They did not know I was the parent of the kid. Until one minute somebody did and then it was 'shhh, hush'. What a bunch of losers.

They are so over the top with their kids. Mom and Dad push, push, push all 3 of their kids and of course are managers of the team. They are wound so tight at games they could literally break a quarter in half with their butt cheeks. They also lack the foresight with this being their first son that he's going nowhere. Literally, Just shut up and let your kid have fun instead of screeching at him every time he makes a mistake. And, this shitty league game really isn't so dire that you need to scream at the ref over calls.

OP- I'm guessing the parent was critical of the way the team played, kick ball. We have been on possession based teams and now on a more kickball team. And, I really don't care anymore. The kids just want to win. Yes- sometimes it is really frustrating to watch and I'm guessing that is where the comment is stemming, especially when it seems nobody else seems to see what is happening on the field. The back and forth ping pong and air balls and 50-50 balls and launches for somebody to run onto. It's not really fun to watch. But, hey, they won. Your kid is probably happy because of that. Go home and enjoy the rest of your day.

My DS U12 team will either play it out of the back and build offense, or, if the other team is playing super high and is unready, will put it over their heads and make them run.

Playing just kick ball isn't good but being unwilling to use every tool in the chest is silly.

OP here. I have noticed that my son does have a different style of play than some teammates (he plays fustal seriously year rould outside of soccer and is very tiny). But, as I mentioned, I don't know the most about soccer or any sports, really. I feel like he is reasonably appreciated on the team. I am not sure exactly what "kickball" entails. Can someone explain?

Plenty of teams in this area play kickball. It is up to the other team to figure out how to defend, regardless of what style of play you are using.

Anonymous wrote:While I understand that kick ball is not always the best way to play but the other team’s parents saying it is “sour grapes” I’m my opinion. This shows that their team is not able to defend properly.

+1. At U14 the team should have been able to defend/adjust against kickball.

While I understand that kick ball is not always the best way to play but the other team’s parents saying it is “sour grapes” I’m my opinion. This shows that their team is not able to defend properly.

This weekend, after a game, on the way to the parking lot, a parent from the other team commented that my U14 son's team "kicked it far and then it was a race to the finish line." I don't even know exactly what this meant, it is obviously not complementary, but what was the person implying that we did wrong? We won the game, but clearly he was implying that we did it in some improper way - I am just not sure how.


Your son’s team plays kickball. Kick it to the fast kid and try to score. Less skill. More speed.

Interesting. Our coach is a really great guy, I can't see that being what he wants, but perhaps the skill is not there. I don't have a basis to opine, really.

That's when you say, "race you to the parking lot!" and take off.

Anonymous wrote:This weekend, after a game, on the way to the parking lot, a parent from the other team commented that my U14 son's team "kicked it far and then it was a race to the finish line." I don't even know exactly what this meant, it is obviously not complementary, but what was the person implying that we did wrong? We won the game, but clearly he was implying that we did it in some improper way - I am just not sure how.

Your son’s team plays kickball. Kick it to the fast kid and try to score. Less skill. More speed.

This weekend, after a game, on the way to the parking lot, a parent from the other team commented that my U14 son's team "kicked it far and then it was a race to the finish line." I don't even know exactly what this meant, it is obviously not complementary, but what was the person implying that we did wrong? We won the game, but clearly he was implying that we did it in some improper way - I am just not sure how.