Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP-- playing up at 7 for U9 was common in our big Club as parents sought it out (especially ones with older siblings) as a means to try to get their kid an A team spot when they are of age.

I'd say 95% of these kids burned out by mid-late elementary school. 90 min practices, tournaments and missing bday parties and sleepovers starting at such a young age starts to take the love out of it.

+1

I know 2 that had over-use back injuries and such by 3rd grade.

Pretty much all of them quit by middle school (the 4 or 5 I know that did this).

They also were stars in the early years but couldn't handle when the kids that started later eventually caught up and surpassed them. It was a huge ego hit for them when they were used to always be lauded for their greatness.

I see the same thing in our school. The Kumon preschool, workbook kids starting K ahead and down the road those play-based preschool kids end up scoring higher on tests and get into better schools absent the GT Bullsh*t that was a result of parents coddling and intervention. When genetics match up with age appropriate training, things have a way of turning upside down.

Oh, come one -- "over-use" injury because they started travel soccer at age 7 instead of age 8? lol

Clearly this 7 year old is above-average in soccer skills, or he wouldn't have been offered a spot on an team of 8 year olds (many 8 year olds wouldn't even be offered a spot). If he loves the game (and yes, I agree that he has to be "into" soccer) there is absolutely no reason why starting earlier wouldn't be fun for him and beneficial to his soccer development.

My early-player was embarrassingly good in his early years (at age 5 and 6) ... he was that kid that, whenever he was in the little house league game, was running circles around the other kids and scoring goals. He was having a blast, and of course we enjoyed watching him, but in truth we felt a little bad for the other players, and a few parents must have been rolling their eyes in frustration. When he was offered a spot to play up on the travel team, we took it. He had fun, he enjoyed the challenge, he continued to develop, and then the next year he just stayed on the team and is now playing with kids his age.

It all worked out well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, there are lots of kids who play up. Our DS had the opportunity to do so and we declined. We weren't super excited to get into the big fees and increased practice load too early. Instead, we had DS play another year in fun league with kids his age. He played travel following year. I don't think he missed out on much TBH. He's on top team for his club and is still outperforming some of the other kids who did opt to play up (and the moved back down).

So, you know your kid best but I'm just given another perspective of family who opted not to jump in too early. You have so many years of stress ahead of you. Take the easy years while you can.

Same position here (with a physically small kid who is now U10 playing up to U11). There are kids that are HUGE compared to him - yes he is fast, but strength does matter and if he can't keep up it becomes an issue mentally and physically. He's 6 years old. There's plenty of time.
- Mom of talented soccer player now about 60 lbs playing against kids 100+ lbs

100 percent agree. Size will matter. How much depends on the coach. The less your son plays because he is outmatched by much larger stronger boys, the less field experience he will have. To me, most important thing is to be on the field with game time. -Mom of DD in same boat at U10

Disagree. "Outmatched" in what sense? That the other kids will kick harder and further than him or stay on their feet better upon contact? Yes, probably. But, these are not longterm skills for soccer. They are temporary strengths. Worrying about a kid being bigger or stronger than yours is part of the problem for youth soccer in America and a large sign of why we haven't produced a Messi, Maradonna or one of the other great players who are often 5'7" or below. Soccer is inherently a small person's sport. After that initial period of a year or two when they can appear like newborn calves, the little kids will often be maneuvering around the bigger ones. Don't fall for this nonsense that they can't compete because they are smaller. Nobody is getting signed to a pro contract at 8 years old. Not having them on the same field as kids the same age or ability - just because they are smaller - is doing everyone a disservice, including the bigger kids who need to learn mobility with smaller players.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Keep him in his age group and let him have fun with his friends. He can move to travel next year.

Bad advice, especially if the kid (a) lives the game, (2) is competitive (and good, as you say he is and the invite proves), and (c) is willing to learn and not be discouraged if he struggles at points with older/bigger kids.

The extra year of top coaching (compared to parent coaching in rec) plus the extra year of having to play against much tough competition will make the kid exponentially better. At some point a few years down the line he will probably repeat a year to allow the players his age to catch up. But again, he will have the leg up from those years getting the better coaching and much better competition.

Sign him up (and sign him for rec too, if allowed— more touches and can (re)gain confidence by dominating against the smaller kids his age (inform the rec Coach that he will have conflicts and they will probably be fine with that))

The kid isn’t even 7 yet. Sign him up for rec. do summer camps or individual training if want but the ego boost of travel isn’t worth the burnout factor
At 7 you can’t tel if he’ll ever want to be really good let alone be good
Let a kid be a kid for 1 more year

+1
There is a value in playing with friends enjoy it while you can
Make decisions to develop people not soccer players

Learning to adapt to change and expanding a social circle also develops people. Doing things only with or solely because ones friends are doing can be stifling and very incubating over time.

Playing up or in a different circle will be the quickest way to determine whether he is playing because he truly enjoys soccer or if he is playing soccer because he is with his friends. Nothing wrong with either but but knowing the truth sooner than later is better. And it would take a full year with the new team to come to that realization. Being shy or standoffish the first couple of weeks is not really enough time to draw any conclusion.

Kids get different teachers and different classmates every year without a second thought and this should be no different.

All true. Again the kid is only 6/7 now. Knowing sooner than later if he is playing because loves soccer or friends? Seriously?
Kid is playing soccer because his parents signed him up. Simple as that. Kid can play travel because his parents willing to sign him up and pay. Simple as that. Don’t overthink it. Kid will have fun either way to a point.

We have a child that is currently playing up in U9. The reason we are doing it is because the coach is amazing and she is learning a ton. The games don't matter to us even though she is so darn competitive she hates to lose. Watch practices because that is where it is worth it to have the kids play up. If it is a great coach, they will develop so much in even 6 months, which is what we have seen.

I do think you have to know your kid. If they get easily frustrated, then maybe wait a year. The kids are bigger and faster and some are more skilled. If they hate getting beat and get down about it, wait. If your kid is easy going and doesn't care much about winning/losing and just loves soccer, then go for it.

Also, there are some great skills programs in the area. Sometimes it is worth just saving the $ and using it towards those programs (Golden Boot, HP Elite, etc.).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP-- playing up at 7 for U9 was common in our big Club as parents sought it out (especially ones with older siblings) as a means to try to get their kid an A team spot when they are of age.

I'd say 95% of these kids burned out by mid-late elementary school. 90 min practices, tournaments and missing bday parties and sleepovers starting at such a young age starts to take the love out of it.

+1

I know 2 that had over-use back injuries and such by 3rd grade.

Pretty much all of them quit by middle school (the 4 or 5 I know that did this).

They also were stars in the early years but couldn't handle when the kids that started later eventually caught up and surpassed them. It was a huge ego hit for them when they were used to always be lauded for their greatness.

I see the same thing in our school. The Kumon preschool, workbook kids starting K ahead and down the road those play-based preschool kids end up scoring higher on tests and get into better schools absent the GT Bullsh*t that was a result of parents coddling and intervention. When genetics match up with age appropriate training, things have a way of turning upside down.

So, to sum it up, kids played soccer until 3rd grade and retired from the sport at the ripe old age of 9 years old and were destitute wondering where they spent their youth and the wasted years.

Many never recovered and drifted aimlessly through the remaining elementary school years just wondering what had become of their life because of soccer.

it was really the fathers that were crushed . They are kicking themselves for pushing too much at such an early age.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP-- playing up at 7 for U9 was common in our big Club as parents sought it out (especially ones with older siblings) as a means to try to get their kid an A team spot when they are of age.

I'd say 95% of these kids burned out by mid-late elementary school. 90 min practices, tournaments and missing bday parties and sleepovers starting at such a young age starts to take the love out of it.

+1

I know 2 that had over-use back injuries and such by 3rd grade.

Pretty much all of them quit by middle school (the 4 or 5 I know that did this).

They also were stars in the early years but couldn't handle when the kids that started later eventually caught up and surpassed them. It was a huge ego hit for them when they were used to always be lauded for their greatness.

I see the same thing in our school. The Kumon preschool, workbook kids starting K ahead and down the road those play-based preschool kids end up scoring higher on tests and get into better schools absent the GT Bullsh*t that was a result of parents coddling and intervention. When genetics match up with age appropriate training, things have a way of turning upside down.

So, to sum it up, kids played soccer until 3rd grade and retired from the sport at the ripe old age of 9 years old and were destitute wondering where they spent their youth and the wasted years.

Many never recovered and drifted aimlessly through the remaining elementary school years just wondering what had become of their life because of soccer.

Anonymous wrote:OP-- playing up at 7 for U9 was common in our big Club as parents sought it out (especially ones with older siblings) as a means to try to get their kid an A team spot when they are of age.

I'd say 95% of these kids burned out by mid-late elementary school. 90 min practices, tournaments and missing bday parties and sleepovers starting at such a young age starts to take the love out of it.

+1

I know 2 that had over-use back injuries and such by 3rd grade.

Pretty much all of them quit by middle school (the 4 or 5 I know that did this).

They also were stars in the early years but couldn't handle when the kids that started later eventually caught up and surpassed them. It was a huge ego hit for them when they were used to always be lauded for their greatness.

I see the same thing in our school. The Kumon preschool, workbook kids starting K ahead and down the road those play-based preschool kids end up scoring higher on tests and get into better schools absent the GT Bullsh*t that was a result of parents coddling and intervention. When genetics match up with age appropriate training, things have a way of turning upside down.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, there are lots of kids who play up. Our DS had the opportunity to do so and we declined. We weren't super excited to get into the big fees and increased practice load too early. Instead, we had DS play another year in fun league with kids his age. He played travel following year. I don't think he missed out on much TBH. He's on top team for his club and is still outperforming some of the other kids who did opt to play up (and the moved back down).

So, you know your kid best but I'm just given another perspective of family who opted not to jump in too early. You have so many years of stress ahead of you. Take the easy years while you can.

Same position here (with a physically small kid who is now U10 playing up to U11). There are kids that are HUGE compared to him - yes he is fast, but strength does matter and if he can't keep up it becomes an issue mentally and physically. He's 6 years old. There's plenty of time.
- Mom of talented soccer player now about 60 lbs playing against kids 100+ lbs

100 percent agree. Size will matter. How much depends on the coach. The less your son plays because he is outmatched by much larger stronger boys, the less field experience he will have. To me, most important thing is to be on the field with game time. -Mom of DD in same boat at U10

Thank you so much for all your good advice. I greatly appreciate everyone taking the time and providing thoughtful responses.

It is his enthusiasm driving this, and his frustration with rec soccer, so I think we will give it a go. He's got a lot of grit, determination and love of game.

Thank you all again!

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Hi, I am a coach in the area, I would recommend having him practice with the travel team and then play up a year in rec so he would be playing u9 rec this year. U10 if he doesn't feel challenged for some reason.

Basically you want to have him develop as much as possible this year. Games don't develop a player they are only a chance to show what you can do under pressure that you already worked on in practice. I think the games are going to put too much pressure on him with bigger faster stronger players on a larger field and his game is not going to shine through it all the way that it does at his level now.

Next year you should repeat u9 and join the travel team and then he'll be a very strong contributor! That will be his moment to shine. This year is a development year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD is 8 and an August bday and has played in the U10 team this year, although she practices with her age group. I was nervous to let her due to maturity issues as she’s currently playing against 10 year olds. But she really enjoys the level of play. I’m happy they kept her with her age group for practices because that’s where her friends are and that’s what she really cared about.

However - and this is a big one for me as I have another child in sports I have to schedule around - the time commitment was the same for both teams. I would not let her play up if it meant another day of practice. She likes soccer and I wouldn’t want to burn out an 8 year old.

An 8 year old with august bday is u9. So she's playing up 1 year.

Yes. One year up. I don’t think I stated otherwise??

She practices with u9, plays with u10. I know not the same years as op, but situation is similar (size and maturity concerns that don’t exist in later years).

No, but the way you worded it was weird, misleading. "My 8 year old plays with 10 year olds". As if that's how you say it to a non travel friends. LOL.

Again, weird. I was just highlighting that for a summer kid playing up there’s often more than just a one year age difference. I don’t think I’ve told anyone which team my kids play on besides parents who ask and are looking to carpool. Why would they care.

So, op, to highlight my similar experience -

- your son will play against kids more that a full year older.
- his skills may be there, but make sure you also think he’s mature enough
- if the schedule works, then go for it
- agree with others - size doesn’t equate to the best kid on the team. Grit often does.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Keep him in his age group and let him have fun with his friends. He can move to travel next year.

Bad advice, especially if the kid (a) lives the game, (2) is competitive (and good, as you say he is and the invite proves), and (c) is willing to learn and not be discouraged if he struggles at points with older/bigger kids.

The extra year of top coaching (compared to parent coaching in rec) plus the extra year of having to play against much tough competition will make the kid exponentially better. At some point a few years down the line he will probably repeat a year to allow the players his age to catch up. But again, he will have the leg up from those years getting the better coaching and much better competition.

Sign him up (and sign him for rec too, if allowed— more touches and can (re)gain confidence by dominating against the smaller kids his age (inform the rec Coach that he will have conflicts and they will probably be fine with that))

The kid isn’t even 7 yet. Sign him up for rec. do summer camps or individual training if want but the ego boost of travel isn’t worth the burnout factor
At 7 you can’t tel if he’ll ever want to be really good let alone be good
Let a kid be a kid for 1 more year

+1
There is a value in playing with friends enjoy it while you can
Make decisions to develop people not soccer players

Learning to adapt to change and expanding a social circle also develops people. Doing things only with or solely because ones friends are doing can be stifling and very incubating over time.

Playing up or in a different circle will be the quickest way to determine whether he is playing because he truly enjoys soccer or if he is playing soccer because he is with his friends. Nothing wrong with either but but knowing the truth sooner than later is better. And it would take a full year with the new team to come to that realization. Being shy or standoffish the first couple of weeks is not really enough time to draw any conclusion.

Kids get different teachers and different classmates every year without a second thought and this should be no different.

Anonymous wrote:OP, there are lots of kids who play up. Our DS had the opportunity to do so and we declined. We weren't super excited to get into the big fees and increased practice load too early. Instead, we had DS play another year in fun league with kids his age. He played travel following year. I don't think he missed out on much TBH. He's on top team for his club and is still outperforming some of the other kids who did opt to play up (and the moved back down).

So, you know your kid best but I'm just given another perspective of family who opted not to jump in too early. You have so many years of stress ahead of you. Take the easy years while you can.

Same position here (with a physically small kid who is now U10 playing up to U11). There are kids that are HUGE compared to him - yes he is fast, but strength does matter and if he can't keep up it becomes an issue mentally and physically. He's 6 years old. There's plenty of time.
- Mom of talented soccer player now about 60 lbs playing against kids 100+ lbs

OP, there are lots of kids who play up. Our DS had the opportunity to do so and we declined. We weren't super excited to get into the big fees and increased practice load too early. Instead, we had DS play another year in fun league with kids his age. He played travel following year. I don't think he missed out on much TBH. He's on top team for his club and is still outperforming some of the other kids who did opt to play up (and the moved back down).

So, you know your kid best but I'm just given another perspective of family who opted not to jump in too early. You have so many years of stress ahead of you. Take the easy years while you can.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD is 8 and an August bday and has played in the U10 team this year, although she practices with her age group. I was nervous to let her due to maturity issues as she’s currently playing against 10 year olds. But she really enjoys the level of play. I’m happy they kept her with her age group for practices because that’s where her friends are and that’s what she really cared about.

However - and this is a big one for me as I have another child in sports I have to schedule around - the time commitment was the same for both teams. I would not let her play up if it meant another day of practice. She likes soccer and I wouldn’t want to burn out an 8 year old.

An 8 year old with august bday is u9. So she's playing up 1 year.

Yes. One year up. I don’t think I stated otherwise??

She practices with u9, plays with u10. I know not the same years as op, but situation is similar (size and maturity concerns that don’t exist in later years).

No, but the way you worded it was weird, misleading. "My 8 year old plays with 10 year olds". As if that's how you say it to a non travel friends. LOL.

Again, weird. I was just highlighting that for a summer kid playing up there’s often more than just a one year age difference. I don’t think I’ve told anyone which team my kids play on besides parents who ask and are looking to carpool. Why would they care.

So, op, to highlight my similar experience -

- your son will play against kids more that a full year older.
- his skills may be there, but make sure you also think he’s mature enough
- if the schedule works, then go for it
- agree with others - size doesn’t equate to the best kid on the team. Grit often does.