Anonymous
Post 07/29/2025 10:40     Subject: "Separation Season"
My kids train quite a bit with each other, with friends, with their teams, and with trainers. We’ve always had the rule no summer select teams and don’t seek out tournaments. We’ve played at younger ages when the team plays in a tournament or two. They have been out of summer camps since about 3rd/4th grade, so they are required to be productive - keep up with reading and math during summer, keep their rooms clean, help around the house, stay active, put time into things we put our family time and money into.
That’s what I consider summer recovery - skill work, fun with teammates and siblings, an active lifestyle, free weekends, and the ability to never say no to an invitation to the pool, date with a friend, theme park, the lake, or any summer fun because you “have soccer”.
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2025 09:05     Subject: "Separation Season"
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kid is a little younger than who OP is probably asking about, but they have been playing in one of the top leagues for their age. My kid has done some camps and trainings at the places that get mentioned here, including some things that are “invite only”. I do not appreciate their marketing tactic of making kids and parents feel like they’re falling behind if they don’t sign up for X Y and Z all summer. It’s preying on people’s worries and seems to be very effective among DMV parents. I was oblivious to all this until about a year ago when my kid started to show some promise. Now if I stay during one of the trainings I feel stressed out just listening to the parents talking. They are so damn intense and for what? None of our kids have hit puberty yet. I don’t know if I am cut out for this. I was a D1 athlete with parents who paid little attention to what I was doing other than driving me there. I wish we could go back to that being the norm.


I am in a somewhat similar boat and didn't pay much attention last year - the kids barely did any summer soccer. This year (as they have showed a good amount of promise last season) the kids have a few weeks of soccer camp and stand alone lessons as well, but also have some regular non-soccer camps/activities too. I definitely don't appreciate some club emails stating "this is a must training" prior to next season, definitely feels like a money grab. My kids are in different major clubs, one club started one day a week practices already, the other is sending "must training" emails...


Summer should be more about fun, where you mix in the soccer if that's your jam. Life is too short. They are some great summer camps out there if you look for them
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2025 07:38     Subject: "Separation Season"
Anonymous wrote:My kid is a little younger than who OP is probably asking about, but they have been playing in one of the top leagues for their age. My kid has done some camps and trainings at the places that get mentioned here, including some things that are “invite only”. I do not appreciate their marketing tactic of making kids and parents feel like they’re falling behind if they don’t sign up for X Y and Z all summer. It’s preying on people’s worries and seems to be very effective among DMV parents. I was oblivious to all this until about a year ago when my kid started to show some promise. Now if I stay during one of the trainings I feel stressed out just listening to the parents talking. They are so damn intense and for what? None of our kids have hit puberty yet. I don’t know if I am cut out for this. I was a D1 athlete with parents who paid little attention to what I was doing other than driving me there. I wish we could go back to that being the norm.


I am in a somewhat similar boat and didn't pay much attention last year - the kids barely did any summer soccer. This year (as they have showed a good amount of promise last season) the kids have a few weeks of soccer camp and stand alone lessons as well, but also have some regular non-soccer camps/activities too. I definitely don't appreciate some club emails stating "this is a must training" prior to next season, definitely feels like a money grab. My kids are in different major clubs, one club started one day a week practices already, the other is sending "must training" emails...
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2025 07:12     Subject: "Separation Season"
Anonymous wrote:My DD who is a rising senior is already committed. She is completely self motivated. Does speed and weight lifting work three times a week with a trainer. Maybe 1 day a week she will get in some group soccer training. Summer is for getting stronger, quicker, and faster.


Thanks for the laugh.
Anonymous
Post 07/28/2025 23:54     Subject: "Separation Season"
Anonymous wrote:How much work is your top league kid doing this summer?
How much have you signed them up for because you thought they were not doing enough?
Is anyone slumming it away with a fitness packet, no extra thousandS in fees or just my kid?



Separation season is an idiotic name. Let the kids take some time off. Clowns.
Anonymous
Post 07/28/2025 21:14     Subject: "Separation Season"
For some clubs, the work continues because summer is the playoff season.
Anonymous
Post 07/28/2025 21:13     Subject: "Separation Season"
My DD who is a rising senior is already committed. She is completely self motivated. Does speed and weight lifting work three times a week with a trainer. Maybe 1 day a week she will get in some group soccer training. Summer is for getting stronger, quicker, and faster.
Anonymous
Post 07/28/2025 20:31     Subject: "Separation Season"
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kid did no formal soccer anything.


I am genuinely curious. Why are you on a soccer forum in the summer if your kid is not involved?


Recovery is also a part of the development process.


💎

THE most important part.


Nothing like sitting on couch for 2 months looking at screens then getting injured in September trying to go 100% in week 1


Why do you think a kid not doing formal soccer training is sitting on the couch doing nothing for 2 months? How sad that your child's default is tiktok on the couch if you don't sign him up for paid soccer.


Because they’re telling on themselves. I bet the parent is a tyrant and the kid is lazy.


Lazy kids usually imitate lazy parents.


Nice bromide. Would be great if it was true.

Call me back when you have 2 or more kids and their similar genetics, and same home environment create wildly different kids.


I agree with both of you since in my household one kid takes after the lazy parent and the other takes after the driven self motivated parent.


Love this response. Every couple plays the same game with their kids’ best and worst qualities. Funny to see you own it.