Anonymous wrote:meanwhile, i'm hoping my kid would quit
All that money back in the bank and less wear and tear on the vehicles

Truth, if i could put all the money i've invested in travel soccer into a 509 plan, i could pay for college for my kid and their kid.

Do you want him to continue with some kind of exercise? Then, ask him what he wants to try next?

Anonymous wrote:Son expressed that he doesn't want to continue with soccer. He's an average player and with some work can improve but doesn't want to put in the time or effort. He's 9 and I just think he's being short-sighted and wants to have fun without a committment. I feel that part of the reason that he doesn't want to continue is that his team consistently looses. But I just don't think he has the drive or cares that much. Maybe do rec and see if he wants to revisit travel in the future? I just feel it's so much harder to get on a team once you are off.

Why does he need to get on a team later if he doesn’t “have the drive or care that much”? Why would you want your kid to do something he doesn’t like.

At 9, we let our DD skip 1 practice a week (out of 3 practices per week), if she wanted to. Sometimes she was too tired, sometimes she wanted to play with friends in the neighborhood instead.

We did this to prevent burnout at his age...I'm a travel coach, and most kids get burnout with 3 practices per week. We noticed our kid had more passion when we let skip sessions.

She is 10 now, and we still let her skip sessions. Also, kids respond well to better weather. Maybe with a small break and some better weather, he will come around? Also, be sure to only tell him how much you liked watching him play! Don't criticize or correct any of his playing aspect. I certainly can't coach my own daughter, I give lots of praise and let other coaches help her improve.

Good luck! A no pressure environment with a little space, will help to reignight the passion.

How would you feel if your kid didn’t want to play video games anymore? Or don’t want to watch Marvel movies anymore. You’d probably be fine with it and encourage whatever he was into next.

Why do you feel different with soccer? It’s probably because YOU really want him to play. It’s important to you. We don’t get to pick what our kids like and can’t make them like the same things we do. Or maybe he doesn’t like it because you put a lot of pressure and expectations on soccer and it isn’t fun for him and this is his way of telling you.

Trust me. I understand how you are feeling—been there—but let it go. Let your kid do what makes him/her happy. Lots of life beyond soccer!!!

If he’s average, why is he playing travel.

meanwhile, i'm hoping my kid would quit
All that money back in the bank and less wear and tear on the vehicles

Find out why he likes playing soccer and then try to accommodate that. Some situations with teams, players, or coaches can cause conflict that is hard for a kid to resolve, and often appears as indifference.

My kid didn't even join a travel team until he was almost 11. Let him do some rec sports and other things. He might come back to travel.

How long was he doing travel?

Its not at all hard to get on a travel team at any age, LOL. If you are willing to pay, there is a team that will take him.

My son did the same at 9.

Then he discovered basketball and loves playing again.

Go figure.

He's 9. I thought you were going to say he was 15 or something.

Good lord. Let him do what he wants. This would be my same answer at 15 btw--but I'd understand your feelings more if the kid had 6 or more years of travel under his belt and a significant investment.

Son expressed that he doesn't want to continue with soccer. He's an average player and with some work can improve but doesn't want to put in the time or effort. He's 9 and I just think he's being short-sighted and wants to have fun without a committment. I feel that part of the reason that he doesn't want to continue is that his team consistently looses. But I just don't think he has the drive or cares that much. Maybe do rec and see if he wants to revisit travel in the future? I just feel it's so much harder to get on a team once you are off.