High School Team or Nothing
Don't waste their high school years in an activity that doesn't provide them with a HS peer/social group.

Anonymous wrote:U14 and under, no, unless you're on a nationally ranked team. It's useless and a waste of time and money and bad for the environment.

Nationally ranked by whom? Who ranks kids under 14 on a national level?

I can’t imagine why a 11 or 12 head would need to get on a plane for a soccer game when there are so many teams around.

Most “travel” is a misnomer. The correct term is “select” or club.

And any long-distance travel for any sport before about age 14 is pointless, a waste of money and probably the idea of some scammy club. Under 14 should be 100% about development. Ain’t no one getting recruited for anything at those younger ages.

OP- thanks all.

Appreciate the honestly, and yes, PP, thought maybe this could be a boondoggle for the coach to have the opportunity to NOT be with the family! HA!

Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something... and now I'm going to put a smile on my face and tell me kid how yes, this will be so.much.fun!!

One coach we knew chose travel so he could have a free vacation with his family funded by the players.

Anonymous wrote:I saw a funny post about Atlanta clubs flying to Texas for pre-season friendlies!

It makes no sense at all. In most metro regions there is more than enough competitive teams to play with a few longer drives to a nearby metro maybe plus a tournament or three for fun and college coach visibility.

The teams doing that are full of recruited players. No normal teams are flying period. Conversely, the teams good enough to fly for a preseason friendly would crush local teams

U14 and under, no, unless you're on a nationally ranked team. It's useless and a waste of time and money and bad for the environment.

At U15 the top teams that have kids who want to play in college start going to bigger tournaments that recruiters attend which unfortunately are concentrated in places like Florida. If your child has no interest in playing in college you can choose a more low-key team or have your child just do their school team. That's really common.

The trips to Germany, etc. make sense as a cultural experience. The trips to play Orange County FC U-16 Foxes A and stay at a Holiday Inn Express are a complete waste and what is wrong with our system.

I saw a funny post about Atlanta clubs flying to Texas for pre-season friendlies!

It makes no sense at all. In most metro regions there is more than enough competitive teams to play with a few longer drives to a nearby metro maybe plus a tournament or three for fun and college coach visibility.

We’ve gone overseas a couple times with DC’s teams. That was more of a cultural experience, although the soccer/futbol was also great. There is more to soccer than just the game. It is really fun to meet players from other parts of the country or world.

Only reason to travel that far is if it is going to help them develop as a person - culture, independence, etc. If you can't find equal competition in the DC area expanded, your kid should have already signed a pro contract at 14.

Unless your kids are older, and good enough to travel to tournaments with college coaches, there is no reason to get on a plane.
I see U-little kids flying all over the country, and it's utterly baffling.

Literally no reason why. It's total boondoggle.

They get money more out of you. Seriously there is no benefit in terms of soccer. None.

Tell me the benefit our kid gets from his travel team leaving the the DMV, missing two days of school, flying to the other side of the country, and competing in a soccer tournament.

We are a NOVA-based club, so not like we are in the boondocks with no competition nearby. These are not unprivileged kids that never travel - several kids on the team are actually world travelers already at 14yo.

A third of the team is new this year so still tbd if they will play well enough together to actually win games. So not like this is a play-in or "reward" for success.

I know we signed up for TRAVEL - years ago we signed up in part because we had a bad Dad Coach experience and thought we'd like to experience "professional" coaching. Honestly, it has not gone so well. But we think the level of play is still better for my kid than rec. BTW, he LOVES soccer in general. He's a good student, and (hopefully) two days out of school won't hurt. We also have the financial means that this will not be a hardship to send him/go with him.

I'm just not sure I get why/how the intensive travel out of state and across the country (or to Florida, which had also been mentioned) is beneficial to my kid/the team etc.

Is this just a - well, this is what travel teams do? Or is there value here I'm missing? Trip is in February.