Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Knowing what you know now... what do you recommend?

My 1st grade DD currently plays rec and is on a team with a lot of friends from school. Half of her team tried out for different travel clubs and it sounds like most have made it. DD isn't really ready for travel (IMO), she likes playing but doesn't seen as motivated as some of her peers, but now she's pretty bummed her current team is being disbanded and keeps asking is she can try out too. My gut it telling me to find another rec team and do one more year on rec -- but my only worry is she will fall significantly behind those on travel. And I over thinking this? Do you recommend jumping to travel as early as possible.. or does 2nd grade vs 3rd grade really matter? (what about for a kid that will likely always be middle of the pack skill wise ?).

She will fall behind, plain and simple. At 2nd/3rd grade though, she will still be able to make the B team at a decent club. She may just start out closer to the bottom of the team later. So although she may be behind, she won't be iced out of travel soccer completely at that age. By about 5th/6th grade, she may be iced out of even B teams. If she aspires to ever make a decent club's A team, starting late will definitely make that harder.

B teams have lots of less motivated kids, so long as your kid does like the sport enough to enjoy extra practices. If she doesn't really want to be there, and becomes disruptive at practices because of it, that's not fair to the other kids, and the coach will be very frustrated.

If you have a decent club nearby home, and you don't mind potentially wasting $2-3k, this sounds like you should give it a try.

This is hysterical! Thanks for the laugh!

This site is a hoot. A simple question is asked and out of the woodwork will come 5 people to insult everyone, flex their inner a-hole, and brag about their 10 year-old doing bicycle kicks in the yard, scoring 20 goals per game, and juggling to 1000. A serious response applicable to the average kid trying to enjoy the sport will immediately be met with attacks that their kid sucks at soccer.

Anonymous wrote:OP might want to check this other thread for some perspective of a U12 parent who waited.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1274459.page

Also note all the people there discussing the advantage of getting in early for making the team. If your kid is a freak athlete, will do expensive private training in lieu of the extra practices, or will spend hundreds of hours alone in the yard working on juggling and dribbling/shooting drills, you can probably safely wait. If you have a slightly above average athlete who will barely practice extra on his/her own, unfortunately, you may have to risk travel earlier than you like or you'll get left behind.

I watched this happen to one of my daughter's best friends. She was one of the strongest in rec when they were all 7-9 years old. All the other strong players left rec for travel teams in second and third grade. This girl said she just wanted to stay in rec, both Spring and Fall. She was a good runner, still a good athlete, smart, did a couple summer camps put on by the local high school, but otherwise no extra practice. My daughter went to a couple of her rec games to cheer for her friend. This friend was the best rec player left there, but half the kids were barely playing. In fifth grade, she changed her mind and decided to try out for the same travel club as her school friends. She couldn't even make the B team, and she was shocked at the gap that had formed in 2 years. She definitely could have made a team at another club, but the whole point was to play at the same club as her friends (who were mixed between A and B there). So she instead quit soccer.

I often hate aspects of travel as much as others, and the race into travel for 6-8 year olds is ridiculous. But people are doing a (dishonest) disservice to others claiming that it's so easy to just wait and join later.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Knowing what you know now... what do you recommend?

My 1st grade DD currently plays rec and is on a team with a lot of friends from school. Half of her team tried out for different travel clubs and it sounds like most have made it. DD isn't really ready for travel (IMO), she likes playing but doesn't seen as motivated as some of her peers, but now she's pretty bummed her current team is being disbanded and keeps asking is she can try out too. My gut it telling me to find another rec team and do one more year on rec -- but my only worry is she will fall significantly behind those on travel. And I over thinking this? Do you recommend jumping to travel as early as possible.. or does 2nd grade vs 3rd grade really matter? (what about for a kid that will likely always be middle of the pack skill wise ?).

She will fall behind, plain and simple. At 2nd/3rd grade though, she will still be able to make the B team at a decent club. She may just start out closer to the bottom of the team later. So although she may be behind, she won't be iced out of travel soccer completely at that age. By about 5th/6th grade, she may be iced out of even B teams. If she aspires to ever make a decent club's A team, starting late will definitely make that harder.

B teams have lots of less motivated kids, so long as your kid does like the sport enough to enjoy extra practices. If she doesn't really want to be there, and becomes disruptive at practices because of it, that's not fair to the other kids, and the coach will be very frustrated.

If you have a decent club nearby home, and you don't mind potentially wasting $2-3k, this sounds like you should give it a try.

This is hysterical! Thanks for the laugh!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Knowing what you know now... what do you recommend?

My 1st grade DD currently plays rec and is on a team with a lot of friends from school. Half of her team tried out for different travel clubs and it sounds like most have made it. DD isn't really ready for travel (IMO), she likes playing but doesn't seen as motivated as some of her peers, but now she's pretty bummed her current team is being disbanded and keeps asking is she can try out too. My gut it telling me to find another rec team and do one more year on rec -- but my only worry is she will fall significantly behind those on travel. And I over thinking this? Do you recommend jumping to travel as early as possible.. or does 2nd grade vs 3rd grade really matter? (what about for a kid that will likely always be middle of the pack skill wise ?).

She will fall behind, plain and simple. At 2nd/3rd grade though, she will still be able to make the B team at a decent club. She may just start out closer to the bottom of the team later. So although she may be behind, she won't be iced out of travel soccer completely at that age. By about 5th/6th grade, she may be iced out of even B teams. If she aspires to ever make a decent club's A team, starting late will definitely make that harder.

B teams have lots of less motivated kids, so long as your kid does like the sport enough to enjoy extra practices. If she doesn't really want to be there, and becomes disruptive at practices because of it, that's not fair to the other kids, and the coach will be very frustrated.

If you have a decent club nearby home, and you don't mind potentially wasting $2-3k, this sounds like you should give it a try.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Knowing what you know now... what do you recommend?

My 1st grade DD currently plays rec and is on a team with a lot of friends from school. Half of her team tried out for different travel clubs and it sounds like most have made it. DD isn't really ready for travel (IMO), she likes playing but doesn't seen as motivated as some of her peers, but now she's pretty bummed her current team is being disbanded and keeps asking is she can try out too. My gut it telling me to find another rec team and do one more year on rec -- but my only worry is she will fall significantly behind those on travel. And I over thinking this? Do you recommend jumping to travel as early as possible.. or does 2nd grade vs 3rd grade really matter? (what about for a kid that will likely always be middle of the pack skill wise ?).

She will fall behind, plain and simple. At 2nd/3rd grade though, she will still be able to make the B team at a decent club. She may just start out closer to the bottom of the team later. So although she may be behind, she won't be iced out of travel soccer completely at that age. By about 5th/6th grade, she may be iced out of even B teams. If she aspires to ever make a decent club's A team, starting late will definitely make that harder.

B teams have lots of less motivated kids, so long as your kid does like the sport enough to enjoy extra practices. If she doesn't really want to be there, and becomes disruptive at practices because of it, that's not fair to the other kids, and the coach will be very frustrated.

If you have a decent club nearby home, and you don't mind potentially wasting $2-3k, this sounds like you should give it a try.

OP don’t listen to this BS . This is a dumb parent whose kid will do D 3 maybe and or drop out of college ball first year if they make it at all.

Too much travel is bad for injuries and it’s a scam



Mother of more than one division 1 player whose kids didn’t do travel til 5 th grade at the earliest. I live in a very competitive area.

If your kid is motivated on their own you know still zero reason to start that young

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Knowing what you know now... what do you recommend?

My 1st grade DD currently plays rec and is on a team with a lot of friends from school. Half of her team tried out for different travel clubs and it sounds like most have made it. DD isn't really ready for travel (IMO), she likes playing but doesn't seen as motivated as some of her peers, but now she's pretty bummed her current team is being disbanded and keeps asking is she can try out too. My gut it telling me to find another rec team and do one more year on rec -- but my only worry is she will fall significantly behind those on travel. And I over thinking this? Do you recommend jumping to travel as early as possible.. or does 2nd grade vs 3rd grade really matter? (what about for a kid that will likely always be middle of the pack skill wise ?).

She will fall behind, plain and simple. At 2nd/3rd grade though, she will still be able to make the B team at a decent club. She may just start out closer to the bottom of the team later. So although she may be behind, she won't be iced out of travel soccer completely at that age. By about 5th/6th grade, she may be iced out of even B teams. If she aspires to ever make a decent club's A team, starting late will definitely make that harder.

B teams have lots of less motivated kids, so long as your kid does like the sport enough to enjoy extra practices. If she doesn't really want to be there, and becomes disruptive at practices because of it, that's not fair to the other kids, and the coach will be very frustrated.

If you have a decent club nearby home, and you don't mind potentially wasting $2-3k, this sounds like you should give it a try.

Thank you for the actual honest response. You will fall behind, it will depend on her natural talent if she can make that up, but it gets harder every year. It's not drastic at her age, but it compounds over time.

+1 and +1
Have her go out for a travel team practice w one of her friends. She will feel good about making the "travel team." Trust me, it will be an ego boost. If she waits a year, the peers will be on the top team and she will be on the B team. And unless you start supplimenting with extra training, she probably will not catch up for a few years, if at all.

-Trust me, just have her join travel a year early w her buddies...her skills will grow massively compared to staying on rec for another year. And yes, the kids who were never really into it, usually quit after 3 years in travel do do other stuff..which is great for them. But playing the catch-up game.. is really really hard.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Knowing what you know now... what do you recommend?

My 1st grade DD currently plays rec and is on a team with a lot of friends from school. Half of her team tried out for different travel clubs and it sounds like most have made it. DD isn't really ready for travel (IMO), she likes playing but doesn't seen as motivated as some of her peers, but now she's pretty bummed her current team is being disbanded and keeps asking is she can try out too. My gut it telling me to find another rec team and do one more year on rec -- but my only worry is she will fall significantly behind those on travel. And I over thinking this? Do you recommend jumping to travel as early as possible.. or does 2nd grade vs 3rd grade really matter? (what about for a kid that will likely always be middle of the pack skill wise ?).

She will fall behind, plain and simple. At 2nd/3rd grade though, she will still be able to make the B team at a decent club. She may just start out closer to the bottom of the team later. So although she may be behind, she won't be iced out of travel soccer completely at that age. By about 5th/6th grade, she may be iced out of even B teams. If she aspires to ever make a decent club's A team, starting late will definitely make that harder.

B teams have lots of less motivated kids, so long as your kid does like the sport enough to enjoy extra practices. If she doesn't really want to be there, and becomes disruptive at practices because of it, that's not fair to the other kids, and the coach will be very frustrated.

If you have a decent club nearby home, and you don't mind potentially wasting $2-3k, this sounds like you should give it a try.

Thank you for the actual honest response. You will fall behind, it will depend on her natural talent if she can make that up, but it gets harder every year. It's not drastic at her age, but it compounds over time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Knowing what you know now... what do you recommend?

My 1st grade DD currently plays rec and is on a team with a lot of friends from school. Half of her team tried out for different travel clubs and it sounds like most have made it. DD isn't really ready for travel (IMO), she likes playing but doesn't seen as motivated as some of her peers, but now she's pretty bummed her current team is being disbanded and keeps asking is she can try out too. My gut it telling me to find another rec team and do one more year on rec -- but my only worry is she will fall significantly behind those on travel. And I over thinking this? Do you recommend jumping to travel as early as possible.. or does 2nd grade vs 3rd grade really matter? (what about for a kid that will likely always be middle of the pack skill wise ?).

She will fall behind, plain and simple. At 2nd/3rd grade though, she will still be able to make the B team at a decent club. She may just start out closer to the bottom of the team later. So although she may be behind, she won't be iced out of travel soccer completely at that age. By about 5th/6th grade, she may be iced out of even B teams. If she aspires to ever make a decent club's A team, starting late will definitely make that harder.

B teams have lots of less motivated kids, so long as your kid does like the sport enough to enjoy extra practices. If she doesn't really want to be there, and becomes disruptive at practices because of it, that's not fair to the other kids, and the coach will be very frustrated.

If you have a decent club nearby home, and you don't mind potentially wasting $2-3k, this sounds like you should give it a try.

Anonymous wrote:You do not need to worry about "falling behind."

The main reason for switching from rec to travel for us was that my kids wanted formal practice more than once a week....