I think if you have any sort of competitive drive and soccer is your primary sport, then rec soccer is a waste of time. Why, because the coaches and players around you usually don't know what they are doing on the field. It's a team sport which means to really get the most out of it you need to function as a team tactically during games. That is why I recommend travel, but with the caveat that you play at a competitive level that is in line with your motivation to practice and willingness to deal with the pressure that comes with competing at a higher level. You can easily find lower division travel teams that don't travel far and aren't super competitive but still offer decent coaching, training, and competition in the sport.

This is our first year of travel for both kids, but they’re enjoying so far. I think this decision should be more child-led than parent-led. As long as they want to keep going we will, but I’m not going to spend the time and money on travel if they aren’t all in. I’m fine moving back down to rec

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depending on where you are, MSI Classic is another option between travel and rec. Similar to ADP except MSI does not run the teams, just the league. The teams are independently run, either by volunteers or by clubs (and sometimes the volunteer/parent run teams have “professional” coaches). Your player will have to try out for teams individually, but also gives you flexibility to find the team with the right fit, practices close to you, etc. Competition can be similar to low level travel (eg, lowest levels of EDP) but it really varies depending on the age group and division.

Is MSI only in Maryland? We are in Virginia.
-OP

Loudoun Soccer had their challenge program that goes through 6th grade. Both of my kids enjoyed it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have three kids on my son's u14 rec team who quit travel. They are middle of the pack on the team skill wise.

And how are they viewed by their teammates? Favorably or is there resentment that they went to travel and then came back? Are they any more talented skill wise?

All 3 are average for this team, which plays in NCSL rec division 2. There are 5 rec-only players easily better than all 3 of them. The kids don't care who played travel and then comes back. Everyone gets lots of play time and seem to be having fun. I only know they played travel because they still use the Valor backpacks.

Rec if you just want to have fun

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depending on where you are, MSI Classic is another option between travel and rec. Similar to ADP except MSI does not run the teams, just the league. The teams are independently run, either by volunteers or by clubs (and sometimes the volunteer/parent run teams have “professional” coaches). Your player will have to try out for teams individually, but also gives you flexibility to find the team with the right fit, practices close to you, etc. Competition can be similar to low level travel (eg, lowest levels of EDP) but it really varies depending on the age group and division.

Is MSI only in Maryland? We are in Virginia.
-OP

All the games are in Montgomery County and it’s likely the practices are as well (depends on the team you choose). But there are DC-based clubs with teams in MSI Classic (not sure about VA-based clubs). So may not be the best option for you, unfortunately.

Anonymous wrote:We have three kids on my son's u14 rec team who quit travel. They are middle of the pack on the team skill wise.

And how are they viewed by their teammates? Favorably or is there resentment that they went to travel and then came back? Are they any more talented skill wise?

We have three kids on my son's u14 rec team who quit travel. They are middle of the pack on the team skill wise.

Anonymous wrote:Is it really fair to other kids if your DS goes back to rec and scores all the goals again? I mean, think about the other kids experience.

This has to be a joke. Rec kids now dont want good players in their team? What about all of the "travel is evil, let your kid play with everyone else" whining?

Lol! Truly cannot imagine a scenario where a rec team wouldn't appreciate a talented and supportive team mate joining them.

Look at your high school team. Can a kid make varsity if they are not playing club ball? Is that realistic? Obviously a kid who is not playing club will not be a better player on the team (may only be a bench player), but could they make the team?

My kids played club ball. At their high schools (2 different suburban publics about 1200 enrollment) no one who was not playing club made varsity. You just were not good enough to beat out the club players.

So - if there is a thought to play some high school soccer you need to know what that will take. If that is not a concern - then no big deal either way.

I tell people all the time that my daughter played very high level club ball with several girls who did not stick with soccer. They were very good athletes though and simply switched their focus to other sports.

Anonymous wrote:My kid played both rec and travel - depending on travel it's possible to do both. He loved REc for playing with his friends and being a better player on the team.

No it’s not. They do not allow travel players to play rec once you’re age 9.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a high level young kid go from travel to rec last year. The biggest thing is level of play. If your kid won’t get frustrated by kids that have no idea what is going on, then it is okay. The coaches are so much more supportive, never yell, all around way better than the big club coaches.
We also asked to play up a year.
Soccer also isn’t kids primary sport so it makes it way easier with schedule conflicts to be in rec.

While DS prefers soccer over everything else, it’s not his only sport. Flexibility and lower stress when missing practices and games is my biggest driver in wanting to go back to rec.
regarding letting my child decide, that is not an option. He has decision-making paralysis, and he cannot make decisions like this. I have to ultimately weigh the pros and cons and make this decision for him. While my husband definitely has a say, I do all the transportation and scheduling so it’s ultimately my decision.
-OP

Yeah that is definitely why your husband doesn't mind staying with travel Something that always helps me is to go back to the basics of what I really value/my goals as a parent. For me personally when it comes to physical activity it is structured more around: raising kids who are able to find a variety of physical activities that they enjoy, hopefully that get them outside as much as possible. Have fond memories of playing with teammates, make friends. Move their body. It is also really important to me though that they have enough down time, that we're still able to have family dinners on enough of a regularly occurring basis, that we can do family weekends away to mountain bike and ski. Clearly travel doesn't align super well with a lot of that so I'm bias. I can totally see how another parent's goals/values would look really different and align well with travel. But the point is to think about what your goals are as a parent long term, it helps with the decision. Kind of pulls you out to the 5000 foot view.

My kid played both rec and travel - depending on travel it's possible to do both. He loved REc for playing with his friends and being a better player on the team.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it really fair to other kids if your DS goes back to rec and scores all the goals again? I mean, think about the other kids experience.

Kids do like to win games, so they may not be upset if the kid scores a lot.

Also you can teach your superstar kid to learn how to pass and assist.

He already does that ALOT even though his travel teammates don’t. TONS of ball hogs.
-OP

I say this bc my kid naturally is a good teammate. He passes, he is the first to congratulate others, he’s a generous player by nature. This does not lend itself well to travel we have found. It does not seem particularly valued either. Another reason rec seems more in line with the type of person he is.
-OP

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it really fair to other kids if your DS goes back to rec and scores all the goals again? I mean, think about the other kids experience.

Kids do like to win games, so they may not be upset if the kid scores a lot.

Also you can teach your superstar kid to learn how to pass and assist.

He already does that ALOT even though his travel teammates don’t. TONS of ball hogs.
-OP