Anonymous
07/30/2024 13:52
Subject: When is it too late to start soccer?
Anonymous wrote:My kid can run and sort of kick a ball, but can’t do both. A lot of kids seem to have started at 3 and I see 6 year olds in “elite” travel teams that require tryouts and training. At what age would my kid feel too behind to be joining as a novice? I’m assuming by age 10-11, kids have at least casually played their chosen sport on rec or sports class if they are looking to join league play right?
Its never too late to start something, learn and have fun.
Anonymous
07/30/2024 13:41
Subject: When is it too late to start soccer?
Our oldest son, who was 12 and had focused only on soccer for the past 5 years, suddenly started playing basketball with his friends a ton last summer.
We basically forced him to play basketball in a house league in winter 2023-24 (i.e., I signed him up when he said he absolutely did not have time).
He loved it. He was the most athletic kid on the team (which was not the case for his top-level travel soccer team), and he picked up decent enough skills pretty quickly, for the house league level. They won the "championship" after some pretty competitive, fun playoff games. He had a blast, and I think the basketball experience actually helped his confidence with soccer.
We talked to some of the "basketball families" we are friends with, and it was funny to hear them talk about problems at the top/AAU level - players "reclassing," lack of playing time, fights between parents and referees! Their kids LOVED basketball for years but had an awful year, while our kid never really played before, and had a fantastic experience.
All that is to say, I think rec leagues are underrated, doing a variety of sports is valuable, and starting late is not a problem. The early-bloomers will mostly be playing at a different, more competitive level.
We basically forced him to play basketball in a house league in winter 2023-24 (i.e., I signed him up when he said he absolutely did not have time).
He loved it. He was the most athletic kid on the team (which was not the case for his top-level travel soccer team), and he picked up decent enough skills pretty quickly, for the house league level. They won the "championship" after some pretty competitive, fun playoff games. He had a blast, and I think the basketball experience actually helped his confidence with soccer.
We talked to some of the "basketball families" we are friends with, and it was funny to hear them talk about problems at the top/AAU level - players "reclassing," lack of playing time, fights between parents and referees! Their kids LOVED basketball for years but had an awful year, while our kid never really played before, and had a fantastic experience.
All that is to say, I think rec leagues are underrated, doing a variety of sports is valuable, and starting late is not a problem. The early-bloomers will mostly be playing at a different, more competitive level.
Anonymous
07/30/2024 10:28
Subject: When is it too late to start soccer?
Anonymous wrote:My 11 year old started last year and while she's not the best athlete on the team, she's not the worst.
Yes this. In rec play, anytime is fine. It might take a season or 2 to catch up, but I've watched complete beginners join my 10 year old's team each year and after a bit you can't even tell whose played "the longest". None of these players wants to do travel or higher level, just to play and have fun.