Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And you don't have to jump to a crazy-competitive club that drives 9 year olds all over the east coast.

Nobody drives 9 year olds all over the east coast.

Oh yes they do. I won't, but some do.

Anonymous wrote:And you don't have to jump to a crazy-competitive club that drives 9 year olds all over the east coast.

Nobody drives 9 year olds all over the east coast.

I believe it was 2nd grade / 8 or 9 ish

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Appreciate the feedback.

Have to be honest, comments about "snack and participation trophy" players are really, really offputting.

Not when your kids love to play the sport and actually has a competitive bone in his body. For them to play the game while two kids on the field are picking flowers or talking to a teammate about the planes flying overhead is frustrating. Those same kids look more forward to the post game snack than winning the game. Thats when you know its time to separate and move on to travel.

Exactly. It's not a statement about Rec, but a statement about a competitive kid's frustration level. When your own kid is not having fun, time to move. And you don't have to jump to a crazy-competitive club that drives 9 year olds all over the east coast. There are a ton of options with different levels of commitment, travel, attitudes toward other sports your kid might play, etc.

Anonymous wrote:Appreciate the feedback.

Have to be honest, comments about "snack and participation trophy" players are really, really offputting.

I didn't make such a comment - but I think you are being overly sensitive.

Anonymous wrote:Appreciate the feedback.

Have to be honest, comments about "snack and participation trophy" players are really, really offputting.

Not when your kids love to play the sport and actually has a competitive bone in his body. For them to play the game while two kids on the field are picking flowers or talking to a teammate about the planes flying overhead is frustrating. Those same kids look more forward to the post game snack than winning the game. Thats when you know its time to separate and move on to travel.

Have to be honest, comments about "snack and participation trophy" players are really, really offputting.

Why? There is nothing wrong about wanting that and it is fun and fine for some kids. But, if your kid wants to be competitive, snacks will not be involved. Frankly, even in rec, I was opposed to them. Kids do not need a snack after an hour of exercise, and if parents think they do they are welcome to give their own at home. Also, participation trophies are not necessary, and after around age 7-8 kids know they don't mean anything. Not necessary to fill one's house with more junk, whether one plays rec or travel.

Appreciate the feedback.

Have to be honest, comments about "snack and participation trophy" players are really, really offputting.

Anonymous wrote:... and would you make the same choice if you had it to do over?

Curious how other families handle this.

8 and 3rd grade one (u10), 7 and 2nd grade another (u9). I think where you live, how your rec program is, and what part of the year your child is born matters. For example, my kids have late year bdays and we live in MoCo. That means that for travel they play with (mostly) a grade up but for rec MSI is still tiny field 4 v. 4 with PUGG goals in 2nd grade. You get a gap with the move to travel where a lot of the kids have been playing on the big field, and you are basically jumping a year from rec. Long way of saying I'd be more aggressive with the late year birthdays.

The bday caveat on sooner rather than later aside, I think u9/10 is a good start.

Anonymous wrote:U10, but looking back should have done U9 when he was first asked. The rec experience wasn't as fun when the differences in skill levels became more dramatic.

Same comment. My view is that professional coaching and travelling to games is unnecessary so young. My DS played rec at until half way through his U10 year at which point he had to move as he was being pulled off the field, or told not to score any more, well before half time in every game.

***snacks***

u9 so they could at minimum get some decent coaching and you can start to weed out the kids who want to actually compete from the socks after games participation trophy kids.

U10, but looking back should have done U9 when he was first asked. The rec experience wasn't as fun when the differences in skill levels became more dramatic.

U9 when the travel teams formed. At the age, their rec teams were combining and reforming any way so it was a good break point. We're at a smaller club where travel (aside from the actual travel) is still low key at that age, so no regrets.

... and would you make the same choice if you had it to do over?

Curious how other families handle this.