Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:don't look at is at "being the worst player" you have do adopt a mindset of improvement. Every rec player switching into travel at U11 without someone helping them make the jump is going to have a challenge on their hands.

The best thing is to find a local trainer that can do lessons with your son and help him bridge the skill gap. The other kids have been training for 2 years already so it takes time - but its worth the effort.

Not really even any need for this unless you feel like spending the money. He can just get out and train by himself. He could start with just juggling and/or set up a little obstacle course with cones / hoops / lawn furniture / whatever else comes to hand - and dribble around the course as fast as he can. Buy him a goal (<$100) and have him practise shooting.

If he spends 120 minutes a day on the first type of activity and forty-five minutes a day on the second this will kill your lawn, but he will be at least as good as most of the players on his team in three months or less.

Just adding to this comment though - he has to want to put in the time himself. Most kids do not.

If he does, it can be a really good life lesson about the value of hard work and practise.

If he doesn't, it can be a really good life lesson about how parents forcing children to practice when they don't want to doesn't achieve much of anything .

I agree. My 8 year old is in love with soccer. Before this was practicing 4 days a week 1.5 hours and still wanted to stay for more ( he practiced with multiple groups of friends and teams-- his choice).

Going in the backyard now is sooo different. He does juggling and kicks on the wall for awhile but his enthusiasm is not there yet to do it alone for too long. I think he feeds off of racing the other kids-- always wanting to "win" "score" scrimamge, fastest, etc. and he doesn't get the "winning against himself" yet and becoming a better player in 5 years. So here we are with too much screen time. we try to supplement conditioning with other activities.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:don't look at is at "being the worst player" you have do adopt a mindset of improvement. Every rec player switching into travel at U11 without someone helping them make the jump is going to have a challenge on their hands.

The best thing is to find a local trainer that can do lessons with your son and help him bridge the skill gap. The other kids have been training for 2 years already so it takes time - but its worth the effort.

Not really even any need for this unless you feel like spending the money. He can just get out and train by himself. He could start with just juggling and/or set up a little obstacle course with cones / hoops / lawn furniture / whatever else comes to hand - and dribble around the course as fast as he can. Buy him a goal (<$100) and have him practise shooting.

If he spends 120 minutes a day on the first type of activity and forty-five minutes a day on the second this will kill your lawn, but he will be at least as good as most of the players on his team in three months or less.

Just adding to this comment though - he has to want to put in the time himself. Most kids do not.

If he does, it can be a really good life lesson about the value of hard work and practise.

If he doesn't, it can be a really good life lesson about how parents forcing children to practice when they don't want to doesn't achieve much of anything .

well said