Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure exactly what advice I am looking for. My son is a U12 on a mid-level travel team. He plays midfield or defense, which he likes. He does not want to switch positions. But this year, he seems to have lost all of the joy he previously had in playing. He constantly complains about what seem like relatively minor contact injuries. He complains that he is too small and gets pushed around. He is short in statute, but not slight - he's a muscular kid with a broad chest. He is almost always in a bad mood and exhausted after games and practices. He says he absolutely doesn't want to quit travel soccer, but he doesn't seem to be having fun.

Is this normal? Is there anything we could change or do differently to help him get some of his joy in playing back?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Lots of kids don't play soccer cause it's a contact sport. Maybe he can try some contactless sport, and make a switch.

If he wants to continue with soccer, try drills where he can effectively use his body and hold his ground.

For my DD, if she is benched and stagnant, she is not having fun. Figure out what he likes about soccer, if it's missing for him.

trophy participation Mom alert!

Anonymous wrote: Lots of kids don't play soccer cause it's a contact sport. Maybe he can try some contactless sport, and make a switch.

If he wants to continue with soccer, try drills where he can effectively use his body and hold his ground.

For my DD, if she is benched and stagnant, she is not having fun. Figure out what he likes about soccer, if it's missing for him.

I'm not sure exactly what advice I am looking for. My son is a U12 on a mid-level travel team. He plays midfield or defense, which he likes. He does not want to switch positions. But this year, he seems to have lost all of the joy he previously had in playing. He constantly complains about what seem like relatively minor contact injuries. He complains that he is too small and gets pushed around. He is short in statute, but not slight - he's a muscular kid with a broad chest. He is almost always in a bad mood and exhausted after games and practices. He says he absolutely doesn't want to quit travel soccer, but he doesn't seem to be having fun.

Is this normal? Is there anything we could change or do differently to help him get some of his joy in playing back?


From the soccer I see, he’s probably not wrong, especially if he’s a skilled U12 playing 9v9 on a smaller field. Next year he’ll move to u13 and the full field. There will be more space and a little less contact. The contact doesn’t go away, but I think the impact of it dissipates somewhat as they age up - bigger field and better skills neutralize the kids who are overly-reliant on playing the body, so they either adjust or don’t stay on the field...that’s what I see, anyway, watching u15-u19.

Probably move him to rec. You mentioned he;s a mid level travel player. People like to blame all sorts of things...coaches yelling, parents yelling, burnout, etc but the truth is...it's not fun playing when you aren't as good as your teammates, friends, etc. If he was kicking ass then 99/100, he'd be having fun. Maybe he just needs to drop to a lower level where he can find success.

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure exactly what advice I am looking for. My son is a U12 on a mid-level travel team. He plays midfield or defense, which he likes. He does not want to switch positions. But this year, he seems to have lost all of the joy he previously had in playing. He constantly complains about what seem like relatively minor contact injuries. He complains that he is too small and gets pushed around. He is short in statute, but not slight - he's a muscular kid with a broad chest. He is almost always in a bad mood and exhausted after games and practices. He says he absolutely doesn't want to quit travel soccer, but he doesn't seem to be having fun.

Is this normal? Is there anything we could change or do differently to help him get some of his joy in playing back?

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure exactly what advice I am looking for. My son is a U12 on a mid-level travel team. He plays midfield or defense, which he likes. He does not want to switch positions. But this year, he seems to have lost all of the joy he previously had in playing. He constantly complains about what seem like relatively minor contact injuries. He complains that he is too small and gets pushed around. He is short in statute, but not slight - he's a muscular kid with a broad chest. He is almost always in a bad mood and exhausted after games and practices. He says he absolutely doesn't want to quit travel soccer, but he doesn't seem to be having fun.

Is this normal? Is there anything we could change or do differently to help him get some of his joy in playing back?