Why do we distinguish between recreational and competitive soccer?
When you define rec and competitive soccer as separate entities you come down to how the kids get on the field. Rec is through an open registration process, AYSO, pickup games, a clubs house league program where you sign up or show up you're going to play.
So called competitive soccer involves some type of selection process. The weak, inexperienced, inferior are weeded out through a selection process involving competition for a place in the team, the game or academy.
Once on the field every player is competitive if they're there by their own choice. Every player prefers to win as opposed to lose. However, some may not want to compete at the level they're at, with the group they're with or even in the game itself. Ask any kid "Do you want to win or lose" and I think the answer will be to win. Ask them "Are you willing to sacrifice in order to win" and you may get a different answer, "It's not worth it" the #1 reason kids leave competitive soccer.
The selection process begins way too early in the U.S.
8, 9, 10 year old’s don't need to go through trials where they are fighting for a job. The leagues that offer this alternative do so in the name of competition, (i.e. increased stress) as a service to development. That is their marketing approach. Experts, (USYS, GUBOG, AYSO) agree that this approach is counterproductive, even detrimental. The leagues that offer select play at these ages are really only concerned with increasing their own market share. (If we don't offer it someone else will). Increasing the number of teams makes the league bigger, more important and more profitable. The fastest way to increase the number of teams is to increase the number of age groups. Since they can't go to older ages, above 18 or 19, they focus on younger ones, and call it development. And you get a really good healthy meal at a fast food establishment.
If the bottom selection age is u9 you'll find clubs offering preselect opportunities in the guise of cross-over, some all-star programs and pre-travel teams. This is in the name of preparing the select group of kids for the dedicated and committed world of serious 8 year old soccer.
The leagues offer the opportunity and our type A culture insists that their child not be denied their chance at whatever they want, or wish they want now. The leagues offer nothing that a good club cannot provide at a fraction of the cost without a full-blown, team orientated selection process below the age of 12.
A selection process is critical for development. Kids need to choose when they want to face this task and take their lumps. But below 12, it's Alice in Wonderland.
When you define rec and competitive soccer as separate entities you come down to how the kids get on the field. Rec is through an open registration process, AYSO, pickup games, a clubs house league program where you sign up or show up you're going to play.
So called competitive soccer involves some type of selection process. The weak, inexperienced, inferior are weeded out through a selection process involving competition for a place in the team, the game or academy.
Once on the field every player is competitive if they're there by their own choice. Every player prefers to win as opposed to lose. However, some may not want to compete at the level they're at, with the group they're with or even in the game itself. Ask any kid "Do you want to win or lose" and I think the answer will be to win. Ask them "Are you willing to sacrifice in order to win" and you may get a different answer, "It's not worth it" the #1 reason kids leave competitive soccer.
The selection process begins way too early in the U.S.
8, 9, 10 year old’s don't need to go through trials where they are fighting for a job. The leagues that offer this alternative do so in the name of competition, (i.e. increased stress) as a service to development. That is their marketing approach. Experts, (USYS, GUBOG, AYSO) agree that this approach is counterproductive, even detrimental. The leagues that offer select play at these ages are really only concerned with increasing their own market share. (If we don't offer it someone else will). Increasing the number of teams makes the league bigger, more important and more profitable. The fastest way to increase the number of teams is to increase the number of age groups. Since they can't go to older ages, above 18 or 19, they focus on younger ones, and call it development. And you get a really good healthy meal at a fast food establishment.
If the bottom selection age is u9 you'll find clubs offering preselect opportunities in the guise of cross-over, some all-star programs and pre-travel teams. This is in the name of preparing the select group of kids for the dedicated and committed world of serious 8 year old soccer.
The leagues offer the opportunity and our type A culture insists that their child not be denied their chance at whatever they want, or wish they want now. The leagues offer nothing that a good club cannot provide at a fraction of the cost without a full-blown, team orientated selection process below the age of 12.
A selection process is critical for development. Kids need to choose when they want to face this task and take their lumps. But below 12, it's Alice in Wonderland.
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