Anonymous
Post 10/24/2024 16:11     Subject: Best option for winter?
Anonymous wrote:Our 7 year old son has been playing rec soccer and really enjoys it. He has pretty good dribbling and footwork for his age… not “wow” but solid. We got lucky with coaches this season and they are teaching the kids some good skills. He does well in the drills they come up with. But once it’s time to scrimmage or play a game, he looks kind of lost. He is pretty good at getting open and passing, but doesn’t have that “killer instinct” of trying to win the ball or block the other team from scoring.

He wants to continue some kind of soccer over the winter, I’m thinking once per week. Would it be better to do a skills development clinic, or a game only league situation? We have both nearby but would need to pick one or the other. I can’t tell if will get more comfortable in games if he gets more experience with them, if this is something that comes with time anyway, or maybe it will never come because it’s personality.


Winter is the perfect 3-4 months for a kid to get significantly better at soccer before spring. Do the following:

1. Register for a once a week training at places like HP Elite & Beyond, CapStone, etc. It's only once a week but players get thousands of touches in which is key in developing skill.

2. Select 2-3 footwork drills and have him do three sets per drill each day for 14 days. Then change to three new drills. If the drills are difficult do it for three weeks instead of two weeks. You'd be amazed how quickly kids learn footwork. It adds up quick.

3. There are clubs in the area that offer cheap outdoor pick up games. Mclean did it last winter and Vienna has something similar. Arlington too. Drop off and let the kid play for an hour. No stress. Casual. Fun. Can also be selfish and not pass.
Anonymous
Post 10/24/2024 16:03     Subject: Best option for winter?
Well this has gone off the rails. Where would a 7 year old play indoor winter soccer in Arlington? Not OP.
Anonymous
Post 10/24/2024 15:58     Subject: Best option for winter?
Anonymous wrote:OP, Golden Boot is great with younger kids.

To the PPs suggesting other sports, you're correct that it's good for kids, but only if the kid has any interest. OP's kid requested soccer, and more soccer is fine if that's what the kid wants.


OP expressed concerns regarding the lack of “killer instincts” which is why basketball was recommended. It’s ok to think outside the box sometimes. People with good sports IQ recognize this, thus the suggestion.
Anonymous
Post 10/24/2024 15:51     Subject: Best option for winter?
OP, Golden Boot is great with younger kids.

To the PPs suggesting other sports, you're correct that it's good for kids, but only if the kid has any interest. OP's kid requested soccer, and more soccer is fine if that's what the kid wants.
Anonymous
Post 10/24/2024 15:51     Subject: Best option for winter?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Disagree on the playing basketball stupid comment


Specializing kids that early is stupid. All the best young athletes do multiple sports.

It’s clear you specialized in nagging and Karening on this blog. Why don’t you do everyone a favor (especially your poor husband) and nag your stupid comments on the box wine blogs.


One day a week over the winter isnt specializing. And you have no basis to suggest basketball. My soccer loving kid hates basketball. He played flag football, swam, and did rock climbing in the winter, but that is neither here nor there to OPs question about SOCCER programs for 7 year olds.


Basketball was a good suggestion Karen. If you weren't day drinking so much you'd realize that it was just a reasonable suggestion that didn't need your Kareny attitude to condemn that comment. Offer your suggestions and let others offer theirs.
Anonymous
Post 10/24/2024 15:48     Subject: Best option for winter?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Disagree on the playing basketball stupid comment


Specializing kids that early is stupid. All the best young athletes do multiple sports.

It’s clear you specialized in nagging and Karening on this blog. Why don’t you do everyone a favor (especially your poor husband) and nag your stupid comments on the box wine blogs.


One day a week over the winter isnt specializing. And you have no basis to suggest basketball. My soccer loving kid hates basketball. He played flag football, swam, and did rock climbing in the winter, but that is neither here nor there to OPs question about SOCCER programs for 7 year olds.


And you have no basis to attack a suggestion to consider cross training. PP was offering a perspective that OP may not have considered. People recommended cross training for my child at that age and in my experience, it was solid advice.
Anonymous
Post 10/24/2024 15:38     Subject: Best option for winter?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Disagree on the playing basketball stupid comment


Specializing kids that early is stupid. All the best young athletes do multiple sports.

It’s clear you specialized in nagging and Karening on this blog. Why don’t you do everyone a favor (especially your poor husband) and nag your stupid comments on the box wine blogs.


One day a week over the winter isnt specializing. And you have no basis to suggest basketball. My soccer loving kid hates basketball. He played flag football, swam, and did rock climbing in the winter, but that is neither here nor there to OPs question about SOCCER programs for 7 year olds.
Anonymous
Post 10/24/2024 15:30     Subject: Best option for winter?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Disagree on the playing basketball stupid comment


Specializing kids that early is stupid. All the best young athletes do multiple sports.

It’s clear you specialized in nagging and Karening on this blog. Why don’t you do everyone a favor (especially your poor husband) and nag your stupid comments on the box wine blogs.


Agree that cross training in the winter months with a sport like basketball is a great, better option. No need for a 7 year old to specialize so early. Kick the soccer ball around in your yard and stay conditioned with another formal sport in the winter.


The kid asked to play soccer, and the parent said it's one day a week. OP, just find something local in a group and try it out. You don't have to do it again.
Anonymous
Post 10/24/2024 15:29     Subject: Best option for winter?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Our 7 year old son has been playing rec soccer and really enjoys it. He has pretty good dribbling and footwork for his age… not “wow” but solid. We got lucky with coaches this season and they are teaching the kids some good skills. He does well in the drills they come up with. But once it’s time to scrimmage or play a game, he looks kind of lost. He is pretty good at getting open and passing, but doesn’t have that “killer instinct” of trying to win the ball or block the other team from scoring.

He wants to continue some kind of soccer over the winter, I’m thinking once per week. Would it be better to do a skills development clinic, or a game only league situation? We have both nearby but would need to pick one or the other. I can’t tell if will get more comfortable in games if he gets more experience with them, if this is something that comes with time anyway, or maybe it will never come because it’s personality.


Personal training to teach him 1v1 offensive and defensive, head checking, etc.


lol head checking at age 7
Anonymous
Post 10/24/2024 15:27     Subject: Best option for winter?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Disagree on the playing basketball stupid comment


Specializing kids that early is stupid. All the best young athletes do multiple sports.

It’s clear you specialized in nagging and Karening on this blog. Why don’t you do everyone a favor (especially your poor husband) and nag your stupid comments on the box wine blogs.


Anonymous
Post 10/24/2024 15:22     Subject: Best option for winter?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Disagree on the playing basketball stupid comment


Specializing kids that early is stupid. All the best young athletes do multiple sports.

It’s clear you specialized in nagging and Karening on this blog. Why don’t you do everyone a favor (especially your poor husband) and nag your stupid comments on the box wine blogs.


Agree that cross training in the winter months with a sport like basketball is a great, better option. No need for a 7 year old to specialize so early. Kick the soccer ball around in your yard and stay conditioned with another formal sport in the winter.
Anonymous
Post 10/24/2024 15:15     Subject: Best option for winter?
Anonymous wrote:Disagree on the playing basketball stupid comment


Specializing kids that early is stupid. All the best young athletes do multiple sports.

It’s clear you specialized in nagging and Karening on this blog. Why don’t you do everyone a favor (especially your poor husband) and nag your stupid comments on the box wine blogs.
Anonymous
Post 10/24/2024 15:09     Subject: Best option for winter?
Anonymous wrote:Disagree on the playing basketball stupid comment


Your face is a stupid comment
Anonymous
Post 10/24/2024 15:02     Subject: Best option for winter?
Disagree on the playing basketball stupid comment
Anonymous
Post 10/24/2024 14:54     Subject: Best option for winter?
Anonymous wrote:There’s another thread on this, but depending on where you are, I’d check out HP Elite or Golden Boot. Does your rec team do an indoor league? That’s what my son did at that age. At 9, once he was playing travel, we started doing HP clinics over the winter. Fair warning that many of the kids who do HP are very good and intense. My DS does not love it, as he’s more of an introvert personality, but he gained some good skills. I know they generally only work with travel players but maybe that’s not applicable at age 7.


HP elite does not accept rec players. In the past few years CYA has a winter indoor soccer league. Vienna (VYS) also has winter soccer called Frosty Fields.