Anonymous wrote:It’s called Recreation for a reason. At about $30 per child to play each season, don’t expect the parents and/or their kids to be serious about soccer especially at the younger ages (U8-U11).

Where is this? We pay around $190/kid per season out in the boonies for regular rec soccer.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, PP. any suggestions for what we can do in the meantime? DS is quick on the pick up and It hasn’t escaped his notice that he is not one of the chosen ones. I’m feeling bad for him and the other 90% of the team.

I don’t want to have him quit. There’s probably some value in scrimmaging, but he’s not getting any coaching.

If he has a coach who actually cares about soccer, he's probably getting better "coaching" than many other rec teams. And I am not anti-rec, all my kids just play rec. But every season they are begging for volunteer coaches and if your kid ends up on one of those last-minute-reluctant-coach teams, he isn't better off either. You aren't going to get individual coaching the way you seem to be envisioning in a rec league.

Are the kids all getting equal play time in the game?

Anonymous wrote:Nothing wrong with keeping your kid out of travel at u9 but they tend to fall behind. If you wait 3 years to put your DC in travel, everyone else has had proper training and you tend to be playing catch up unless your kid is naturally talented. They are getting zero development or competition at the rec level, its mostly for the fun aspect.

Is travel training really that much better than rec?

Which travel leagues in DC are the best? Best being nurturing, supportively, about player developmental.

I thought rec leagues were supposed to be better for that and travel leagues were all about grooming stars.

It’s called Recreation for a reason. At about $30 per child to play each season, don’t expect the parents and/or their kids to be serious about soccer especially at the younger ages (U8-U11).

If he's in rec, the coach is a volunteer and may not know that much about coaching soccer. Many leagues offer supplemental training classes, try those if you don't want to do travel.

Nothing wrong with keeping your kid out of travel at u9 but they tend to fall behind. If you wait 3 years to put your DC in travel, everyone else has had proper training and you tend to be playing catch up unless your kid is naturally talented. They are getting zero development or competition at the rec level, its mostly for the fun aspect.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your kid doesn't have to play travel right now if you don't think he's getting anything out of it.

That’s the point. My kid is in a REC league, but we have a parent coach who has delusions of coaching the next Messi.

This is the problem with my kid...he doesn't like the intensity of travel but rec is just god awful. Parents just bring their kids "to run around and get some exercise" or to "socialize" and the parent volunteers...let's say they do their best. But kids don't pay attention, kick other kids' soccer balls, etc. It is so hard to watch. Parents...stick around and watch a practice now and then and, if your kid is a disrupting practice a lot, do something about it PLEASE! Ruining the experience for everyone.

Thanks, PP. any suggestions for what we can do in the meantime? DS is quick on the pick up and It hasn’t escaped his notice that he is not one of the chosen ones. I’m feeling bad for him and the other 90% of the team.

I don’t want to have him quit. There’s probably some value in scrimmaging, but he’s not getting any coaching.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your kid doesn't have to play travel right now if you don't think he's getting anything out of it.

That’s the point. My kid is in a REC league, but we have a parent coach who has delusions of coaching the next Messi.

Ask to transfer to another team next season. Not all parents a like that.

Agree. And / or that’s how we always end up coaching the team

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your kid doesn't have to play travel right now if you don't think he's getting anything out of it.

That’s the point. My kid is in a REC league, but we have a parent coach who has delusions of coaching the next Messi.

Ask to transfer to another team next season. Not all parents a like that.

Anonymous wrote:Your kid doesn't have to play travel right now if you don't think he's getting anything out of it.

That’s the point. My kid is in a REC league, but we have a parent coach who has delusions of coaching the next Messi.

Your kid doesn't have to play travel right now if you don't think he's getting anything out of it.

Anonymous wrote:So if a kid isn’t a soccer star at nine, is he all washed up?

I’m really sick of coaches who focus exclusively on a few star players and pay the minimum possible attention to kids who are trying their best and trying to get better.

Is here any league in the DC area that doesn’t just BS about developing players?

No, my son did not blossom until U14, he struggled to stay in a travel club U9 - U13. But something triggered his desire at U13.

Anonymous wrote:So if a kid isn’t a soccer star at nine, is he all washed up?

I’m really sick of coaches who focus exclusively on a few star players and pay the minimum possible attention to kids who are trying their best and trying to get better.

Is here any league in the DC area that doesn’t just BS about developing players?

League? Do you mean club or team?

So if a kid isn’t a soccer star at nine, is he all washed up?

I’m really sick of coaches who focus exclusively on a few star players and pay the minimum possible attention to kids who are trying their best and trying to get better.

Is here any league in the DC area that doesn’t just BS about developing players?