Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for all the responses. We asked for the extension and were told the deadline is firm.

I was the PP who made the comment about playmakers not having a deadline. The fact that they told you the deadline is firm lets you know your kid is not valued. I have one kid who is a playmaker and the other kid is -well, let's just say a developing player. I have experienced both sides. I would go with plan B.

+1

Firm deadline. They could care less and fill your spot easily.

BUT--is Plan B a done deal? Do you even know you have a spot?

Whatever you do, don't get caught without a travel team. Your kid's a real loser if he's not on a travel team in at least ONE sport.

And parents, shame on you who claim you hate the "impact on your family" as an excuse to hold your kid down in rec. There's a pecking order in elementary and middle school, and you're putting your kids into the "dork" group if you hold them back from travel because you can't just miss Sunday brunch at the bistro

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for all the responses. We asked for the extension and were told the deadline is firm.

I was the PP who made the comment about playmakers not having a deadline. The fact that they told you the deadline is firm lets you know your kid is not valued. I have one kid who is a playmaker and the other kid is -well, let's just say a developing player. I have experienced both sides. I would go with plan B.

+1

Firm deadline. They could care less and fill your spot easily.

BUT--is Plan B a done deal? Do you even know you have a spot?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This all sounds very stressful. Question from a dad of a 5 year old who may or may not eventually be interested in playing soccer but also likes other sports:

Is it all worth it?

You mean sending an email to a club asking them to sh!t or get off the pot? It isn't really a big deal.

No. Whether the whole travel/rec soccer culture in this area, which seems to cause a bit of stress to families, is worth it. It's not meant to be a snarky question. I have a reasonably energetic and athletic boy. In a year or two he will probably start to choose a sport to focus on. I'm wondering if people who are involved in U-9 soccer feel that the benefits are worth the stress or of they wish that they had gone in another direction with their kids.

To put it simply, if he enjoys it, it's worth it.
Some kids are really competitive, some aren't. Some parents can deal with the stress and politics that comes with it, some can't.
But you're better off trying select and then switching to rec than the other way around, because the kids really do learn a lot of skills at an early age in the good programs around here.

This is OP. When DS started soccer in K, I never would have imagined going travel, but he outgrew rec and begged for more competition. We are finishing up our first year (U9). Actually, it's been a far better experience than I expected. He had a super supportive coach and the parents on his team cheered for all the players. But the tryout process was very stressful. One of the reasons we were on the fence about teams is we're under the impression the plan B team doesn't make kids re-tryout each year.

We told DS from the start that when it stopped being fun, he was done. It's still fun. He's a solid B team kid so we have no illusions of playing in college and we aren't worried about being on the "it" team. No pressure. Just fun.

Thanks for this. My boy is trying a bit of everything but his focus, such as it is, is on skating right now. He's good for his age, is learning quickly and, thankfully, has shown zero interest in playing hockey which, I understand, is insanely expensive. We're going to keep rotating sports for a while and see where, if anywhere, we wind up in a couple of years.

Don't be stupid. A solid B team player often ends up being much, much better than A team players from the younger years. There is something to be said for grit and determination and never thinking you are good enough vs. resting on your laurels.

Signed,
Former Gatorade national player of the year, D1 NCAA and pro for 6 years

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This all sounds very stressful. Question from a dad of a 5 year old who may or may not eventually be interested in playing soccer but also likes other sports:

Is it all worth it?

You mean sending an email to a club asking them to sh!t or get off the pot? It isn't really a big deal.

No. Whether the whole travel/rec soccer culture in this area, which seems to cause a bit of stress to families, is worth it. It's not meant to be a snarky question. I have a reasonably energetic and athletic boy. In a year or two he will probably start to choose a sport to focus on. I'm wondering if people who are involved in U-9 soccer feel that the benefits are worth the stress or of they wish that they had gone in another direction with their kids.

And I didn't intend for my response to be snarky, nor did I take your question to be snarky. The truth is, the only stress involved is send an email to the desired landing spot. The kid has an opportunity to play soccer so the ultimate stress is removed right there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This all sounds very stressful. Question from a dad of a 5 year old who may or may not eventually be interested in playing soccer but also likes other sports:

Is it all worth it?

You mean sending an email to a club asking them to sh!t or get off the pot? It isn't really a big deal.

No. Whether the whole travel/rec soccer culture in this area, which seems to cause a bit of stress to families, is worth it. It's not meant to be a snarky question. I have a reasonably energetic and athletic boy. In a year or two he will probably start to choose a sport to focus on. I'm wondering if people who are involved in U-9 soccer feel that the benefits are worth the stress or of they wish that they had gone in another direction with their kids.

To put it simply, if he enjoys it, it's worth it.
Some kids are really competitive, some aren't. Some parents can deal with the stress and politics that comes with it, some can't.
But you're better off trying select and then switching to rec than the other way around, because the kids really do learn a lot of skills at an early age in the good programs around here.

This is OP. When DS started soccer in K, I never would have imagined going travel, but he outgrew rec and begged for more competition. We are finishing up our first year (U9). Actually, it's been a far better experience than I expected. He had a super supportive coach and the parents on his team cheered for all the players. But the tryout process was very stressful. One of the reasons we were on the fence about teams is we're under the impression the plan B team doesn't make kids re-tryout each year.

We told DS from the start that when it stopped being fun, he was done. It's still fun. He's a solid B team kid so we have no illusions of playing in college and we aren't worried about being on the "it" team. No pressure. Just fun.

Thanks for this. My boy is trying a bit of everything but his focus, such as it is, is on skating right now. He's good for his age, is learning quickly and, thankfully, has shown zero interest in playing hockey which, I understand, is insanely expensive. We're going to keep rotating sports for a while and see where, if anywhere, we wind up in a couple of years.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This all sounds very stressful. Question from a dad of a 5 year old who may or may not eventually be interested in playing soccer but also likes other sports:

Is it all worth it?

You mean sending an email to a club asking them to sh!t or get off the pot? It isn't really a big deal.

No. Whether the whole travel/rec soccer culture in this area, which seems to cause a bit of stress to families, is worth it. It's not meant to be a snarky question. I have a reasonably energetic and athletic boy. In a year or two he will probably start to choose a sport to focus on. I'm wondering if people who are involved in U-9 soccer feel that the benefits are worth the stress or of they wish that they had gone in another direction with their kids.

To put it simply, if he enjoys it, it's worth it.
Some kids are really competitive, some aren't. Some parents can deal with the stress and politics that comes with it, some can't.
But you're better off trying select and then switching to rec than the other way around, because the kids really do learn a lot of skills at an early age in the good programs around here.

This is OP. When DS started soccer in K, I never would have imagined going travel, but he outgrew rec and begged for more competition. We are finishing up our first year (U9). Actually, it's been a far better experience than I expected. He had a super supportive coach and the parents on his team cheered for all the players. But the tryout process was very stressful. One of the reasons we were on the fence about teams is we're under the impression the plan B team doesn't make kids re-tryout each year.

We told DS from the start that when it stopped being fun, he was done. It's still fun. He's a solid B team kid so we have no illusions of playing in college and we aren't worried about being on the "it" team. No pressure. Just fun.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for all the responses. We asked for the extension and were told the deadline is firm.

I was the PP who made the comment about playmakers not having a deadline. The fact that they told you the deadline is firm lets you know your kid is not valued. I have one kid who is a playmaker and the other kid is -well, let's just say a developing player. I have experienced both sides. I would go with plan B.

It's not stressful - this time of year is stressful mostly because the parents get uber competitive, and for the majority of kids even in travel soccer, it's a lot of angst over very little difference. I think there are a lot of other sports that are much more stressful - competitive gymastics, wrestling, that sort of thing.

DC is in HS and has played travel soccer from the beginning. At the beginning of MS, we did a multisports day camp for a few weeks over the summer, just to have the exposure/experience of different sports without having to commit to an entire season or team. Did great, was open to trying all of them, but in the end decided soccer was still first love.

Now in HS, 2 from our club team are retiring from soccer after this year. 2 did last year as well, thousands of dollars and unfathomable hours of time - and they're quitting the sport at 16. Just can never tell how it will all end.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This all sounds very stressful. Question from a dad of a 5 year old who may or may not eventually be interested in playing soccer but also likes other sports:

Is it all worth it?

You mean sending an email to a club asking them to sh!t or get off the pot? It isn't really a big deal.

No. Whether the whole travel/rec soccer culture in this area, which seems to cause a bit of stress to families, is worth it. It's not meant to be a snarky question. I have a reasonably energetic and athletic boy. In a year or two he will probably start to choose a sport to focus on. I'm wondering if people who are involved in U-9 soccer feel that the benefits are worth the stress or of they wish that they had gone in another direction with their kids.

To put it simply, if he enjoys it, it's worth it.
Some kids are really competitive, some aren't. Some parents can deal with the stress and politics that comes with it, some can't.
But you're better off trying select and then switching to rec than the other way around, because the kids really do learn a lot of skills at an early age in the good programs around here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This all sounds very stressful. Question from a dad of a 5 year old who may or may not eventually be interested in playing soccer but also likes other sports:

Is it all worth it?

NP, but your kid will tell you if it's worth it. I think at these young ages, parents get too invested in whether Larlo plays on the A team when so much can change by 16. There are lots of sports in the world, and, when you're not playing travel soccer, lots of time to try them out. Soccer is super competitive around here, but there is also a level for everyone.

Thanks. I just want to have a happy, healthy, active kid. I'm not looking to add unnecessary stress to his or our lives.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This all sounds very stressful. Question from a dad of a 5 year old who may or may not eventually be interested in playing soccer but also likes other sports:

Is it all worth it?

You mean sending an email to a club asking them to sh!t or get off the pot? It isn't really a big deal.

No. Whether the whole travel/rec soccer culture in this area, which seems to cause a bit of stress to families, is worth it. It's not meant to be a snarky question. I have a reasonably energetic and athletic boy. In a year or two he will probably start to choose a sport to focus on. I'm wondering if people who are involved in U-9 soccer feel that the benefits are worth the stress or of they wish that they had gone in another direction with their kids.

Anonymous wrote:This all sounds very stressful. Question from a dad of a 5 year old who may or may not eventually be interested in playing soccer but also likes other sports:

Is it all worth it?

NP, but your kid will tell you if it's worth it. I think at these young ages, parents get too invested in whether Larlo plays on the A team when so much can change by 16. There are lots of sports in the world, and, when you're not playing travel soccer, lots of time to try them out. Soccer is super competitive around here, but there is also a level for everyone.

Anonymous wrote:This all sounds very stressful. Question from a dad of a 5 year old who may or may not eventually be interested in playing soccer but also likes other sports:

Is it all worth it?

You mean sending an email to a club asking them to sh!t or get off the pot? It isn't really a big deal.

This all sounds very stressful. Question from a dad of a 5 year old who may or may not eventually be interested in playing soccer but also likes other sports:

Is it all worth it?

I've never heard of a club taking the offer away after 48 hours without confirming with you that you don't want it. But I wouldn't want you to rely on that. I'd wait until the 44th hour or so and ask for more time, probably.