Anonymous
Post 08/01/2021 17:05     Subject: Re:Is this normal?
OP here. I politely asked the coach whether we could get a bit more advance notice, and he was very nice and sympathetic to the situation. He said he had been asking for fields weeks in advance, and the club is not getting back to him with confirmation until shortly before the dates of the practices/scrimmages. In light of this, we are likely out of luck on getting this remedied, but at least it is helpful to know that it isn't him.


Except the issue you described in the OP was that the coach was getting upset at kids who can't make practice. That's the coach, not the club. Hopefully he'll fix his behavior.


OP here, and I agree that is still not acceptable. I think he is taking frustration at the situation out on the kids, which hopefully will not be a continuing pattern as the season progresses. But still, I think he is less of a jerk than I originally did.
Anonymous
Post 08/01/2021 16:49     Subject: Is this normal?
Anonymous wrote:OP here. I politely asked the coach whether we could get a bit more advance notice, and he was very nice and sympathetic to the situation. He said he had been asking for fields weeks in advance, and the club is not getting back to him with confirmation until shortly before the dates of the practices/scrimmages. In light of this, we are likely out of luck on getting this remedied, but at least it is helpful to know that it isn't him.


Except the issue you described in the OP was that the coach was getting upset at kids who can't make practice. That's the coach, not the club. Hopefully he'll fix his behavior.

Offering last minute practice is fine, but anything in the summer should be optional.
Anonymous
Post 08/01/2021 16:46     Subject: Is this normal?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The kids need some downtime from soccer - what I've read indicates it isn't healthy to play a competitive sport non-stop all year every year while they are growing.

I have at least a month of no formal soccer in the summer for my rising U13 (typically late June-July).


I'd rather see my kid having fun kicking the ball around with his teammates than seating at home doing nothing. If we're in town, he's going to practices.


How are those the only options?

It seems like OP's kid is needing to choose between soccer, another sport, and summer camp. Sitting at home doing nothing isn't on that list.

Anonymous
Post 08/01/2021 16:19     Subject: Is this normal?
Anonymous wrote:The kids need some downtime from soccer - what I've read indicates it isn't healthy to play a competitive sport non-stop all year every year while they are growing.

I have at least a month of no formal soccer in the summer for my rising U13 (typically late June-July).


Same. My boys have done basketball leagues and b-ball camps in summer. They do some soccer, but we always stayed clear of Super Y in favor of more individual stuff.
Anonymous
Post 08/01/2021 16:14     Subject: Is this normal?
OP here. I politely asked the coach whether we could get a bit more advance notice, and he was very nice and sympathetic to the situation. He said he had been asking for fields weeks in advance, and the club is not getting back to him with confirmation until shortly before the dates of the practices/scrimmages. In light of this, we are likely out of luck on getting this remedied, but at least it is helpful to know that it isn't him.
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2021 18:12     Subject: Re:Is this normal?
Most clubs in NOVA practice throughout Summer.


I don't think that is true for the lower to mid level teams. My kids play for Alexandria, their step-sibilings played for Loudon, none of the kids played on top teams and none of them have/had summer practices.
Anonymous
Post 07/28/2021 19:00     Subject: Re:Is this normal?
Most clubs in NOVA practice throughout Summer.
Anonymous
Post 07/28/2021 18:51     Subject: Is this normal?
It’s not unusual. I’ve had coaches do this all the time and I’ve had coaches never do this and be very organized. Regardless do what is best for you and your kid.
Anonymous
Post 07/28/2021 16:27     Subject: Is this normal?
Anonymous wrote:Never had this happen and haven’t heard this either.

Especially for a middle tier team in a club.


Nor have I. My kids always got several weeks off over the summer at five different clubs over the years. No coach ever organized practices during that period. If a team made a postseason tournament the season would continue until the team was eliminated, in which case pre-season might start a bit later than usual.

Anonymous
Post 07/28/2021 16:26     Subject: Re:Is this normal?
Anonymous wrote:
The kids need some downtime from soccer - what I've read indicates it isn't healthy to play a competitive sport non-stop all year every year while they are growing.

I have at least a month of no formal soccer in the summer for my rising U13 (typically late June-July).


I'd rather see my kid having fun kicking the ball around with his teammates than seating at home doing nothing. If we're in town, he's going to practices.


Ok, but this doesn't seem relevant to OP's post, because her son is playing tennis or at sleepaway camp. He's not home doing nothing and asking to sit out practices.


The comment was in response to the person above who said playing a competitive sport all year is not healthy.
Anonymous
Post 07/28/2021 15:37     Subject: Is this normal?
Never had this happen and haven’t heard this either.

Especially for a middle tier team in a club.
Anonymous
Post 07/28/2021 13:58     Subject: Re:Is this normal?
The kids need some downtime from soccer - what I've read indicates it isn't healthy to play a competitive sport non-stop all year every year while they are growing.

I have at least a month of no formal soccer in the summer for my rising U13 (typically late June-July).


I'd rather see my kid having fun kicking the ball around with his teammates than seating at home doing nothing. If we're in town, he's going to practices.


Ok, but this doesn't seem relevant to OP's post, because her son is playing tennis or at sleepaway camp. He's not home doing nothing and asking to sit out practices.
Anonymous
Post 07/28/2021 13:03     Subject: Is this normal?
Anonymous wrote:The kids need some downtime from soccer - what I've read indicates it isn't healthy to play a competitive sport non-stop all year every year while they are growing.

I have at least a month of no formal soccer in the summer for my rising U13 (typically late June-July).


I'd rather see my kid having fun kicking the ball around with his teammates than seating at home doing nothing. If we're in town, he's going to practices.
Anonymous
Post 07/28/2021 12:39     Subject: Is this normal?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The kids need some downtime from soccer - what I've read indicates it isn't healthy to play a competitive sport non-stop all year every year while they are growing.

I have at least a month of no formal soccer in the summer for my rising U13 (typically late June-July).



I agree except none of these clubs are pushing these kids in or out of season hard enough the see a trend of overuse injuries. The odds are highly against seeing it. It is possible but very rare in this setting.


Yes except DS's team had a lot of injuries, lost players to other sports, and lost several players to other clubs.
Anonymous
Post 07/28/2021 12:33     Subject: Is this normal?
Anonymous wrote:The kids need some downtime from soccer - what I've read indicates it isn't healthy to play a competitive sport non-stop all year every year while they are growing.

I have at least a month of no formal soccer in the summer for my rising U13 (typically late June-July).



I agree except none of these clubs are pushing these kids in or out of season hard enough the see a trend of overuse injuries. The odds are highly against seeing it. It is possible but very rare in this setting.