Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's this false notion that the top soccer players are lacking in academic performance or sacrifice academics?

The Ivy League and D1 rosters are filled with F students?

No, the previous post was arguing that you can only pick two of three; sport, academics, and social life. I am not sure I agree but the poster was saying sport and academics first, no social life if you want to stand out in the other two.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This post and the one immediately before it are the most thoughtful posts of this entire thread.

This will not meet the meaningful as too many people will take it personal but:

1) My kid came to Bethesda to find other kids like him who live and breathe futbol. There are plenty of places to play in this area if you don’t fit that mold. You can still play at BSC if you don’t fit that mold, depending on your skill level.

2) it is perfectly okay if your kid is playing multiple sports and have a wonderful life. I think Jalen Brunson’s dad told him him you can be great at 2/3 things but not all 3:

1) Your sport
2) Your education
3) Your social life

My kid is too young to sacrifice social life yet but if he stays on the path, I am not sacrificing education so he will have to give up the sport if he wants his social life.

When my kid goes to his friends house, they invariably play soccer or are exchanging soccer cards or in the pool. Our summer has been built with time at the beach, pool, amusement parks, movies, museums, sailing, travel, playground with friends, etc. My kid is having a great summer. He still is tallying 30+ hours a week in camps and pickups with other players from BSC, Achilles, Arlington, Armour, etc.

Now that you know that the top kids you see don’t have magic pixie dust sprinkled on them, you can help your child set appropriate goals based on what they want to achieve. The entire world plays futbol. US is the only sport focused on American football so if you are 6’2” and in decent shape, you can start late and potentially catch up with the best. You simply can’t make up the hours in soccer with the whole world as competition. The neuromuscular patterns that control ball mastery are ripest for formation between the ages of 7-14. It is awkward to see kids who still believe in Santa and enjoy toys with kids meals go so hard in a sport but this is the reality we are in. Like the Matrix, accept the truth pill or keep thinking your child can hit their long-term goals on 3 practices a week in the fall and spring.

Anonymous wrote:What's this false notion that the top soccer players are lacking in academic performance or sacrifice academics?

The Ivy League and D1 rosters are filled with F students?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This post and the one immediately before it are the most thoughtful posts of this entire thread.

This will not meet the meaningful as too many people will take it personal but:

1) My kid came to Bethesda to find other kids like him who live and breathe futbol. There are plenty of places to play in this area if you don’t fit that mold. You can still play at BSC if you don’t fit that mold, depending on your skill level.

2) it is perfectly okay if your kid is playing multiple sports and have a wonderful life. I think Jalen Brunson’s dad told him him you can be great at 2/3 things but not all 3:

1) Your sport
2) Your education
3) Your social life

My kid is too young to sacrifice social life yet but if he stays on the path, I am not sacrificing education so he will have to give up the sport if he wants his social life.

When my kid goes to his friends house, they invariably play soccer or are exchanging soccer cards or in the pool. Our summer has been built with time at the beach, pool, amusement parks, movies, museums, sailing, travel, playground with friends, etc. My kid is having a great summer. He still is tallying 30+ hours a week in camps and pickups with other players from BSC, Achilles, Arlington, Armour, etc.

Now that you know that the top kids you see don’t have magic pixie dust sprinkled on them, you can help your child set appropriate goals based on what they want to achieve. The entire world plays futbol. US is the only sport focused on American football so if you are 6’2” and in decent shape, you can start late and potentially catch up with the best. You simply can’t make up the hours in soccer with the whole world as competition. The neuromuscular patterns that control ball mastery are ripest for formation between the ages of 7-14. It is awkward to see kids who still believe in Santa and enjoy toys with kids meals go so hard in a sport but this is the reality we are in. Like the Matrix, accept the truth pill or keep thinking your child can hit their long-term goals on 3 practices a week in the fall and spring.

Who has ever seen a documentary or interview of a top level professional soccer player's parents where they say,
DS hung out doing social activities most of his time?

I assume most people on here know that their kid is not the next Messi.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This post and the one immediately before it are the most thoughtful posts of this entire thread.

This will not meet the meaningful as too many people will take it personal but:

1) My kid came to Bethesda to find other kids like him who live and breathe futbol. There are plenty of places to play in this area if you don’t fit that mold. You can still play at BSC if you don’t fit that mold, depending on your skill level.

2) it is perfectly okay if your kid is playing multiple sports and have a wonderful life. I think Jalen Brunson’s dad told him him you can be great at 2/3 things but not all 3:

1) Your sport
2) Your education
3) Your social life

My kid is too young to sacrifice social life yet but if he stays on the path, I am not sacrificing education so he will have to give up the sport if he wants his social life.

When my kid goes to his friends house, they invariably play soccer or are exchanging soccer cards or in the pool. Our summer has been built with time at the beach, pool, amusement parks, movies, museums, sailing, travel, playground with friends, etc. My kid is having a great summer. He still is tallying 30+ hours a week in camps and pickups with other players from BSC, Achilles, Arlington, Armour, etc.

Now that you know that the top kids you see don’t have magic pixie dust sprinkled on them, you can help your child set appropriate goals based on what they want to achieve. The entire world plays futbol. US is the only sport focused on American football so if you are 6’2” and in decent shape, you can start late and potentially catch up with the best. You simply can’t make up the hours in soccer with the whole world as competition. The neuromuscular patterns that control ball mastery are ripest for formation between the ages of 7-14. It is awkward to see kids who still believe in Santa and enjoy toys with kids meals go so hard in a sport but this is the reality we are in. Like the Matrix, accept the truth pill or keep thinking your child can hit their long-term goals on 3 practices a week in the fall and spring.

If your son loves this schedule than that is awesome. For everyone on this thread, 99.9% of our kids aren't going pro, try to enjoy the process and the games. It will likely be over before any of us expect.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This post and the one immediately before it are the most thoughtful posts of this entire thread.

This will not meet the meaningful as too many people will take it personal but:

1) My kid came to Bethesda to find other kids like him who live and breathe futbol. There are plenty of places to play in this area if you don’t fit that mold. You can still play at BSC if you don’t fit that mold, depending on your skill level.

2) it is perfectly okay if your kid is playing multiple sports and have a wonderful life. I think Jalen Brunson’s dad told him him you can be great at 2/3 things but not all 3:

1) Your sport
2) Your education
3) Your social life

My kid is too young to sacrifice social life yet but if he stays on the path, I am not sacrificing education so he will have to give up the sport if he wants his social life.

When my kid goes to his friends house, they invariably play soccer or are exchanging soccer cards or in the pool. Our summer has been built with time at the beach, pool, amusement parks, movies, museums, sailing, travel, playground with friends, etc. My kid is having a great summer. He still is tallying 30+ hours a week in camps and pickups with other players from BSC, Achilles, Arlington, Armour, etc.

Now that you know that the top kids you see don’t have magic pixie dust sprinkled on them, you can help your child set appropriate goals based on what they want to achieve. The entire world plays futbol. US is the only sport focused on American football so if you are 6’2” and in decent shape, you can start late and potentially catch up with the best. You simply can’t make up the hours in soccer with the whole world as competition. The neuromuscular patterns that control ball mastery are ripest for formation between the ages of 7-14. It is awkward to see kids who still believe in Santa and enjoy toys with kids meals go so hard in a sport but this is the reality we are in. Like the Matrix, accept the truth pill or keep thinking your child can hit their long-term goals on 3 practices a week in the fall and spring.

Who has ever seen a documentary or interview of a top level professional soccer player's parents where they say,
DS hung out doing social activities most of his time?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This post and the one immediately before it are the most thoughtful posts of this entire thread.

This will not meet the meaningful as too many people will take it personal but:

1) My kid came to Bethesda to find other kids like him who live and breathe futbol. There are plenty of places to play in this area if you don’t fit that mold. You can still play at BSC if you don’t fit that mold, depending on your skill level.

2) it is perfectly okay if your kid is playing multiple sports and have a wonderful life. I think Jalen Brunson’s dad told him him you can be great at 2/3 things but not all 3:

1) Your sport
2) Your education
3) Your social life

My kid is too young to sacrifice social life yet but if he stays on the path, I am not sacrificing education so he will have to give up the sport if he wants his social life.

When my kid goes to his friends house, they invariably play soccer or are exchanging soccer cards or in the pool. Our summer has been built with time at the beach, pool, amusement parks, movies, museums, sailing, travel, playground with friends, etc. My kid is having a great summer. He still is tallying 30+ hours a week in camps and pickups with other players from BSC, Achilles, Arlington, Armour, etc.

Now that you know that the top kids you see don’t have magic pixie dust sprinkled on them, you can help your child set appropriate goals based on what they want to achieve. The entire world plays futbol. US is the only sport focused on American football so if you are 6’2” and in decent shape, you can start late and potentially catch up with the best. You simply can’t make up the hours in soccer with the whole world as competition. The neuromuscular patterns that control ball mastery are ripest for formation between the ages of 7-14. It is awkward to see kids who still believe in Santa and enjoy toys with kids meals go so hard in a sport but this is the reality we are in. Like the Matrix, accept the truth pill or keep thinking your child can hit their long-term goals on 3 practices a week in the fall and spring.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This post and the one immediately before it are the most thoughtful posts of this entire thread.

This will not meet the meaningful as too many people will take it personal but:

1) My kid came to Bethesda to find other kids like him who live and breathe futbol. There are plenty of places to play in this area if you don’t fit that mold. You can still play at BSC if you don’t fit that mold, depending on your skill level.

2) it is perfectly okay if your kid is playing multiple sports and have a wonderful life. I think Jalen Brunson’s dad told him him you can be great at 2/3 things but not all 3:

1) Your sport
2) Your education
3) Your social life

My kid is too young to sacrifice social life yet but if he stays on the path, I am not sacrificing education so he will have to give up the sport if he wants his social life.

When my kid goes to his friends house, they invariably play soccer or are exchanging soccer cards or in the pool. Our summer has been built with time at the beach, pool, amusement parks, movies, museums, sailing, travel, playground with friends, etc. My kid is having a great summer. He still is tallying 30+ hours a week in camps and pickups with other players from BSC, Achilles, Arlington, Armour, etc.

Now that you know that the top kids you see don’t have magic pixie dust sprinkled on them, you can help your child set appropriate goals based on what they want to achieve. The entire world plays futbol. US is the only sport focused on American football so if you are 6’2” and in decent shape, you can start late and potentially catch up with the best. You simply can’t make up the hours in soccer with the whole world as competition. The neuromuscular patterns that control ball mastery are ripest for formation between the ages of 7-14. It is awkward to see kids who still believe in Santa and enjoy toys with kids meals go so hard in a sport but this is the reality we are in. Like the Matrix, accept the truth pill or keep thinking your child can hit their long-term goals on 3 practices a week in the fall and spring.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This post and the one immediately before it are the most thoughtful posts of this entire thread.

This will not meet the meaningful as too many people will take it personal but:

1) My kid came to Bethesda to find other kids like him who live and breathe futbol. There are plenty of places to play in this area if you don’t fit that mold. You can still play at BSC if you don’t fit that mold, depending on your skill level.

2) it is perfectly okay if your kid is playing multiple sports and have a wonderful life. I think Jalen Brunson’s dad told him him you can be great at 2/3 things but not all 3:

1) Your sport
2) Your education
3) Your social life

My kid is too young to sacrifice social life yet but if he stays on the path, I am not sacrificing education so he will have to give up the sport if he wants his social life.

When my kid goes to his friends house, they invariably play soccer or are exchanging soccer cards or in the pool. Our summer has been built with time at the beach, pool, amusement parks, movies, museums, sailing, travel, playground with friends, etc. My kid is having a great summer. He still is tallying 30+ hours a week in camps and pickups with other players from BSC, Achilles, Arlington, Armour, etc.

Now that you know that the top kids you see don’t have magic pixie dust sprinkled on them, you can help your child set appropriate goals based on what they want to achieve. The entire world plays futbol. US is the only sport focused on American football so if you are 6’2” and in decent shape, you can start late and potentially catch up with the best. You simply can’t make up the hours in soccer with the whole world as competition. The neuromuscular patterns that control ball mastery are ripest for formation between the ages of 7-14. It is awkward to see kids who still believe in Santa and enjoy toys with kids meals go so hard in a sport but this is the reality we are in. Like the Matrix, accept the truth pill or keep thinking your child can hit their long-term goals on 3 practices a week in the fall and spring.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes agree this is exactly how my kids club is. Highly highly driven and competitive kids; they train all summer and practice 4xweek 4 hour practices all year plus extra in weekends. It’s insane. Most of the kids play for 3-4 teams at the club; for their age and also play up. We don’t like it. But it’s real!!

What age group? Maybe a bit older than the 7-11 range? My philosophy has been “less is more” so far because I just want my kid to have fun.

Explain how less is more = fun

Less of a sport they love or a sport they hate but you are forcing them to do it?

More play sessions with friends - big groups of boys who come over, have lunch, maybe play FIFA, and play soccer outside for a couple of hours. More fun training in one V ones in the basement and in the backyard. More hiking, more swimming, more escape rooms, day trips, restaurants and museums. Less five hour training sessions for my older son, who has begun to notice how many of the kids are getting consistently injured from what I view as over training – five hour long training session several times a week in this extreme heat.

At some point as the parent, I have to protect my kids: they love the sport and that’s all they wanna do, and my goal is that they can retain that love and the ability to do it for as long as they want.

The privileged Disney version lol

It's entertaining that some of you think the best players who put in the right quality work spend 23 hours on lockdown in a dungeon prison with a ball and only the mediocre players have a life 😄

What's the "right quality of work"? I think the basic point is that definition is different for everyone. I've seen lots of kids at BSC who are busting their asses in practice, extra training sessions, working on their own, etc and it doesn't mean they're better players than some of the kids doing less.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes agree this is exactly how my kids club is. Highly highly driven and competitive kids; they train all summer and practice 4xweek 4 hour practices all year plus extra in weekends. It’s insane. Most of the kids play for 3-4 teams at the club; for their age and also play up. We don’t like it. But it’s real!!

What age group? Maybe a bit older than the 7-11 range? My philosophy has been “less is more” so far because I just want my kid to have fun.

Explain how less is more = fun

Less of a sport they love or a sport they hate but you are forcing them to do it?

More play sessions with friends - big groups of boys who come over, have lunch, maybe play FIFA, and play soccer outside for a couple of hours. More fun training in one V ones in the basement and in the backyard. More hiking, more swimming, more escape rooms, day trips, restaurants and museums. Less five hour training sessions for my older son, who has begun to notice how many of the kids are getting consistently injured from what I view as over training – five hour long training session several times a week in this extreme heat.

At some point as the parent, I have to protect my kids: they love the sport and that’s all they wanna do, and my goal is that they can retain that love and the ability to do it for as long as they want.

The privileged Disney version lol

It's entertaining that some of you think the best players who put in the right quality work spend 23 hours on lockdown in a dungeon prison with a ball and only the mediocre players have a life 😄

Anonymous wrote:This post and the one immediately before it are the most thoughtful posts of this entire thread.

Anonymous wrote:This post and the one immediately before it are the most thoughtful posts of this entire thread.