Anonymous wrote:What do people like about weekend soccer? I grew up in an unathletic family, so it's very foreign to me, though I know that some of my neighbors have signed their kids up for soccer since they were three years old. We've been much more laid back on extra curriculars thus far.

Is it really worth giving up our rare free Saturday mornings to join a league like Stoddert so my almost-six year old can stumble over a ball for a few hours? Am I a bad mom for saying no to the pressure to join the school's team?

If I asked my kid, I bet the answer would be "yes, I want to do it." But that's the answer to everything, when in reality, after the long school week, kid loves to stay in PJs and play with home toys until 10am. Not my idea of a fun time to struggle out the door one more day, dragging the toddler along, too. So if you do soccer, tell me, what's great about it?

My children would rather be out and doing things than at home. They're naturally early risers, waking up before 6am most days. Having weekend soccer games is perfect because it gives us time to get up, dressed, chores done, goof off time, and then a soccer game. My kids like being with the other kids and it gives us a natural time limit for having rooms cleaned and everything. Afterwards, we can go see museums or go on a hike, but my kids also want to hang out with their friends many of whom play soccer.

If it's not for you, it's not for you. The reasons we do it probably aren't going to translate to your situation.

Anonymous wrote:We think it's valuable for several reasons. It's good to have physical activity every day, and soccer takes care of that two days a week. It's a nice way for kids to get to know their classmates and for you to get to know the parents, outside of school. And if you never let your child try things, how will they know what they like to do? It doesn't have to be a team, necessarily - it can be an instructional class.

My goal with my child was to introduce her to enough sports and activities that she would be comfortable in gym class and pickup games for the rest of her life. My parents didn't push me toward that stuff when I was a kid, and it was intimidating as a teen and adult to try to navigate situations like company picnics with pickup softball and soccer and volleyball games. I want her to be more at ease than I was.

Hey does it have to be soccer and why does it have to be Saturday? FWIW i was fairly sporty, played soccer and softball and participated if there was a beach vollyball game. I've played the first 2 exactly O times since I hug it up in high school Softball maybe, but do plays pickup soccer other than soccer heads.

I was a nerd, went to Harvard, etc.

You know that people who go to Harvard can also enjoy playing sports recreationally, right? The two are not mutually exclusive.

Maybe I should move to Europe. You guys are clearly my people regarding sports. To an outsider it must look like Ameican parents are all trying to create little circus performers. The people I know who have always loved sports and encouraged their children in time-intensive sports are also generally very competitive about everything. They can turn the PTA into a competition, or the size of their house, or how many A's their child gets. Competitive sports is just a great way of getting routine affirmation if you are a very competitive person who needs it. This has nothing to do with people who run or swim or hike for exercise. If you really think you or your child does a competitive sport just for fun, imagine it without the scores or rankings. If you don't still want to do it, I don't think you're in it for the fun.

Well, I don't love sports and was terrible at them, but I do encourage my son to play rec soccer. He's made friends through the team, he's getting exercise, and if he weren't there, he'd be jumping on the couch or putting his excess energy to some other negative use. He's not a particularly good player, but not terrible either. We don't expect or want him to move up to travel soccer, and are genuinely just in it for fun.

You think Saturday soccer is painful, wait until you have to go to Saturday evening musical or band concert.

Anonymous wrote:Maybe I should move to Europe. You guys are clearly my people regarding sports. To an outsider it must look like Ameican parents are all trying to create little circus performers. The people I know who have always loved sports and encouraged their children in time-intensive sports are also generally very competitive about everything. They can turn the PTA into a competition, or the size of their house, or how many A's their child gets. Competitive sports is just a great way of getting routine affirmation if you are a very competitive person who needs it. This has nothing to do with people who run or swim or hike for exercise. If you really think you or your child does a competitive sport just for fun, imagine it without the scores or rankings. If you don't still want to do it, I don't think you're in it for the fun.

Are you on the wrong thread, this is about 6 year old children playing soccer.

Also, in Europe, soccer is insane ... kids live away from home for soccer starting at 11.

Maybe I should move to Europe. You guys are clearly my people regarding sports. To an outsider it must look like Ameican parents are all trying to create little circus performers. The people I know who have always loved sports and encouraged their children in time-intensive sports are also generally very competitive about everything. They can turn the PTA into a competition, or the size of their house, or how many A's their child gets. Competitive sports is just a great way of getting routine affirmation if you are a very competitive person who needs it. This has nothing to do with people who run or swim or hike for exercise. If you really think you or your child does a competitive sport just for fun, imagine it without the scores or rankings. If you don't still want to do it, I don't think you're in it for the fun.

Another euro here who is baffled by this obsession with sports. I will try and discourage my children unless it seems like they are really interested in which case of course I'd cave. But I can think of a million other ways I'd rather spend my time.

Op ~ only if it's what your kid wants AND you're willing to make it part of your weekend. We waited until 5th grade w/our eldest for organized sports. We just weren't willing to give up a Saturday and luckily for us, at that time, DD wasn't insistent. We she did play, when she player her first soccer game, she scored the first goal of the game (of course maybe the better kids had gone on to "select" leagues?) Anyway, she went on to participate on HS varsity in multiple sports. It works out. Do what's right for your circumstance. If you resent something taking up your time, say no.

We think it's valuable for several reasons. It's good to have physical activity every day, and soccer takes care of that two days a week. It's a nice way for kids to get to know their classmates and for you to get to know the parents, outside of school. And if you never let your child try things, how will they know what they like to do? It doesn't have to be a team, necessarily - it can be an instructional class.

My goal with my child was to introduce her to enough sports and activities that she would be comfortable in gym class and pickup games for the rest of her life. My parents didn't push me toward that stuff when I was a kid, and it was intimidating as a teen and adult to try to navigate situations like company picnics with pickup softball and soccer and volleyball games. I want her to be more at ease than I was.

My oldest isn't quite 4 yet but I am dreading the commitment of being home for activities every single weekend. Weekends away will become harder when kids all have practices for this and that.
At the same time, I am excited to cheer my kids on at the baseball field and swim meets or whatever they choose to do. I am excited for those memories and friendships and opportunity for them to work with teams and coaches.
It's a season of life. My Saturday mornings won't be gone forever and we will have some good memories. I definitely enjoy the flexibility we have now without those Saturday activities but we will get there again. Eventually.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unathletic mom of 2 boys here. I was never and still not interested in sports. I was a nerd, went to Harvard, etc. This country is obsessed with sports. When I started working, I felt left out when the guys did not invite me to baseball games, fishing outings, tennis and golf tournaments. DH, on the other hand, loves sports. It is instant camaraderie.

Taking my kids to these sporting outings are straight up painful for me but I want my boys to be athletic. They enjoy it so I go. Of course I try to send DH as much as possible so I don't have to go but it is mostly a whole family affair.

The two are not mutually exclusive you know.

Didn't say they were. Just stating that I hate sports but I suck it up for my boys. My kids do soccer, swim team, tennis and golf. I am well aware that it is far better to be well rounded.

I think it's totally fair to reserve one day a week for relaxed family time, especially if the kid isn't even asking to play soccer! Not all kids have to play soccer, why would they? There are plenty of other group and sport activities out there, nobody has time to do them all, and the family schedule is a relevant factor in deciding between options.

I know I want to avoid Saturday commitments as long as possible (my kid is too young for sports) because with m-f work and Sunday church, Saturday mornings are really important family time. I don't think that's selfish and awful - my parents let me have lots of free time instead of daily structured activities, and yeah I didn't learn tons of "sports lessons," but I had friends, spent tons of time outside, tried out track and swim team when i was older, read lots of books, and got into a great college. Soccer is great but not necessary for a good childhood.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unathletic mom of 2 boys here. I was never and still not interested in sports. I was a nerd, went to Harvard, etc. This country is obsessed with sports. When I started working, I felt left out when the guys did not invite me to baseball games, fishing outings, tennis and golf tournaments. DH, on the other hand, loves sports. It is instant camaraderie.

Taking my kids to these sporting outings are straight up painful for me but I want my boys to be athletic. They enjoy it so I go. Of course I try to send DH as much as possible so I don't have to go but it is mostly a whole family affair.

The two are not mutually exclusive you know.

Surprised she didn't say she went to school in Boston.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And as a bonus OP you get to meet all kinds of awesome moms just like the ones responding here!

Haha, you're awesome.

My parents repeatedly tried to force team sports on me, including soccer. I hated it! Didn't find out until college that I loved individual sports and even competed.

Me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I.

This is not about you. This is about what the 6 year olds want. Stop being so damn selfish.