Why your kid is not playing

[Unregistered]

If your dream is anything more than your child having fun playing soccer, then you are a fool. Nobody's fault but your own. 12-14 age range is the slow realization that bigger dreams ain't happening which explains the drop off. Sounds like you looking for someone to blame for your own naïveté.

Much of what you write is very true. What isn't true is that it is foolish to have a dream that soccer is more than about having fun. There are actually kids that do fall into that 2-3% and they have every right to want more because they will actually go further. The problem with some of these posts is they do appear to be blaming but they are just pointing the blame at the wrong group.

[Unregistered]

False dichotomy.

No one needs to make the case for 100% participation as you alone absurdly allude to in order to make the case that within 70% drop off there are significant areas needing improvement.

No, at some point all of the kids but a select few are going to drop out of sports. Quite frankly given that point about the 2-3% and graduation one might actually say that at 14 the % is too high and maybe more kids should be discouraged from playing to produce a more gradual trend.

[Unregistered]

If your dream is anything more than your child having fun playing soccer, then you are a fool. Nobody's fault but your own. 12-14 age range is the slow realization that bigger dreams ain't happening which explains the drop off. Sounds like you looking for someone to blame for your own naïveté.

If club was up for the 2-3% then exactly how many clubs would that number warrant? Would two clubs even be sustainable? The lowly 96% is what is paying for your Mia to be able to play. So have a little compassion for us suckers.

[Unregistered]

If club was up for the 2-3% then exactly how many clubs would that number warrant? Would two clubs even be sustainable? The lowly 96% is what is paying for your Mia to be able to play. So have a little compassion for us suckers.

Parents bring their kids to clubs primarily because dad town coaches are not very good.
There is nothing wrong with that. Its when they have unrealistic expectations for their child and start making goofy percentage charts for clubs to pander to them that problems (at least in their minds) arise. The tough reality is that for the clubs and the A team starters parents, there really isn't a problem at all.

[Unregistered]

If club was up for the 2-3% then exactly how many clubs would that number warrant? Would two clubs even be sustainable? The lowly 96% is what is paying for your Mia to be able to play. So have a little compassion for us suckers.

Then there would be less Clubs and just enough for the 2-3%. The level at the top would be more competitive and the team would sustain itself without the other 97% faking it.

[Unregistered]

Then there would be less Clubs and just enough for the 2-3%. The level at the top would be more competitive and the team would sustain itself without the other 97% faking it.

I disagree 100% - there are not enough kids at that level as evidenced by the number of players on these elite WNT teams from the area to sustain a team never mind a club and all the associated costs. As much as you despise us you need us.

[Unregistered]

So on the a-team is a parent that is saying, why does my good player have to play with your B player...why make the better kids play down to your level!

"Your child's success of lack of success in sports does not indicate what kind of parent you are. But, having a child that is coachable, respectful, a great teammate, mentally tough, resilient and tries their best IS a direct reflection of your parenting."

There are some quality statements available on the internet.

[Unregistered]

"Your child's success of lack of success in sports does not indicate what kind of parent you are. But, having a child that is coachable, respectful, a great teammate, mentally tough, resilient and tries their best IS a direct reflection of your parenting."

There are some quality statements available on the internet.

This is probably the best post I've seen on TS in the longest time. Really puts the whole sports complex in proper perspective.

If your kid can be a star player and a star character, that is nirvana. But forced to choose, I'd choose the latter any day or night.

[Unregistered]

This is probably the best post I've seen on TS in the longest time. Really puts the whole sports complex in proper perspective.

If your kid can be a star player and a star character, that is nirvana. But forced to choose, I'd choose the latter any day or night.

Ditto.

And as a coach, I'll take a less skilled player with drive and a good attitude over an elite know it all any day.

[Unregistered]

guess it comes down to what you value as a parent..an "elite" soccer player at age twelve who may be able to play D1 and then what ?...or a kid with great character, does well in school, might play High school and D3 and then have a great long term career and be successful in life. Sure both can happen, but people sure seem obsessed with their kids being "elite" on the fields around here rather than being successful in life.

[Unregistered]

"Your child's success of lack of success in sports does not indicate what kind of parent you are. But, having a child that is coachable, respectful, a great teammate, mentally tough, resilient and tries their best IS a direct reflection of your parenting."

Feel 110% the same way. But for some, very sadly, they derive too much from their children's success, whether it be sports, music, academics, etc. Accept your kids for who they are and help them be the best they can be in whatever they do. It's their path in life, not yours.