How to improve speed 12-13 year girls?

[Unregistered]

Yes this is a good post but only because it underscores the parent's naiveté and so much about what is wrong with both this forum and club soccer.

The guy is bragging about how much he spent on soccer but ended up with a track scholarship after spending nothing. He doesn't tell where though. Could have been to SNHU or it could have been to Florida. Nor does he tell you for how much. Could have been for a $1,000 or it could have been a full ride. No one but him will ever know the truth but you can bet that he's happy giving lots of people the same line. Wonder if we did all know the "truth" though whether or not the post would be as interesting.

If someone spends $50,000 on youth soccer and their child plays in NEP they have to have drank the Kool-aide pretty liberally. That unto itself is not a crime because most everyone does drink it to one degree or another. The sad part is that after spending all of that money on soccer then getting to the end and realizing that your kid is not a soccer player because they didn't master the fundamentals at the beginning of the journey. Not only does that speak volumes about the club soccer environment but it underscores how little objectivity there is in it.

The idea that playing 3 sports makes a kid some sort of a special athlete is another fallacy here on TS. The story above reeks of the kid doing the sports more for the sake of participation than for the love of the sports. Kids who are passionate about their sport go out in the back yard and work on things like their touch. Good chance the reason they didn't in this case was because they simply didn't have the time to do it with all of their other activities and neither Mom nor Dad gave them the message that being really good at something entails working at it. In the end the kid is off at some college committed to living and breathing track and one has to wonder whether she really loves track that much or understands what she got herself into. But we do know the parents are sure proud. It is a typical outcome here on TS.

Yours is also a typical TS response - question the school, discounting one family's experience, discounting all multisport athletes, failing to recognize that there isn't one clear path and implying that your perceived way is the only and best path

[Unregistered]

From the Naive Parent

Yes this is a good post but only because it underscores the parent's naiveté and so much about what is wrong with both this forum and club soccer.

The guy is bragging about how much he spent on soccer but ended up with a track scholarship after spending nothing. He doesn't tell where though. Could have been to SNHU or it could have been to Florida. Nor does he tell you for how much. Could have been for a $1,000 or it could have been a full ride. No one but him will ever know the truth but you can bet that he's happy giving lots of people the same line. Wonder if we did all know the "truth" though whether or not the post would be as interesting.

If someone spends $50,000 on youth soccer and their child plays in NEP they have to have drank the Kool-aide pretty liberally. That unto itself is not a crime because most everyone does drink it to one degree or another. The sad part is that after spending all of that money on soccer then getting to the end and realizing that your kid is not a soccer player because they didn't master the fundamentals at the beginning of the journey. Not only does that speak volumes about the club soccer environment but it underscores how little objectivity there is in it.

The idea that playing 3 sports makes a kid some sort of a special athlete is another fallacy here on TS. The story above reeks of the kid doing the sports more for the sake of participation than for the love of the sports. Kids who are passionate about their sport go out in the back yard and work on things like their touch. Good chance the reason they didn't in this case was because they simply didn't have the time to do it with all of their other activities and neither Mom nor Dad gave them the message that being really good at something entails working at it. In the end the kid is off at some college committed to living and breathing track and one has to wonder whether she really loves track that much or understands what she got herself into. But we do know the parents are sure proud. It is a typical outcome here on TS.

So I'm the Naïve parent. A few points, and clarification
1) Naivety IS the point - we knew nothing, and likely still don't. Ultimately we enjoyed it and we are doing it again.
2) Bragging? How was I was bragging? $5K per year * 10-years. After fees, gas, travel, equipment, etc. that's a conservative number. I am just reminding people how it adds up, and sharing the truth for them to make their own choices.
3) You reinforced the point about club soccer, NEP, and objectivity. Track is a number. I had no clue, she was lucky. The point that is relevant to this thread is the need to master the fundamentals. We agree on that. Speed is great and it can make you effective on the smaller stage, but at the next level you need to be able to do more than fly by a defender
4) where and how much - This is where I could have been bragging, but chose to leave it out. Of course you attack it. The only important point is that it is a school that is a perfect fit for her, and an amount that allows us to pay the relatively small difference every year. I am very proud of and most importantly happy for her. Bragging on TS... not really.

Finally, what's up with the 3-sports rant? You are all over the board. Are we delusional kool-aide drinkers or are we negligent for not forcing her to juggle before dinner? We allowed our daughter to follow her own passions in HS. Which for her meant competing at 3 sports and having a great experience with friends.

I'm sorry that you feel need to tear down a poster who is simply sharing a factual personal experience so that others may learn. And to the OP, love your daughter, embrace whatever change she is going through, and please, please, don't drive a 13-year old to the track 3x a week because you want her to be .2 faster. If she wants it, then by all means support her.

[Unregistered]

Kids know where they stand in all skills, including speed. Super mom gave her daughter the natural genes to be super fast. Ok sure. Most competitive kids want to be faster. Any running coach will tell you the dirty little secret that most knowledgable parents already know. With a little dedicated work they can faster. Super gene mom is right that it's really up to the child. Clarify the amount of work necessary with any knowledgable coach and the reasonably expected increase and then let the kid decide if it's worth it.

[Unregistered]

So I'm the Naïve parent. A few points, and clarification
1) Naivety IS the point - we knew nothing, and likely still don't. Ultimately we enjoyed it and we are doing it again.
2) Bragging? How was I was bragging? $5K per year * 10-years. After fees, gas, travel, equipment, etc. that's a conservative number. I am just reminding people how it adds up, and sharing the truth for them to make their own choices.
3) You reinforced the point about club soccer, NEP, and objectivity. Track is a number. I had no clue, she was lucky. The point that is relevant to this thread is the need to master the fundamentals. We agree on that. Speed is great and it can make you effective on the smaller stage, but at the next level you need to be able to do more than fly by a defender
4) where and how much - This is where I could have been bragging, but chose to leave it out. Of course you attack it. The only important point is that it is a school that is a perfect fit for her, and an amount that allows us to pay the relatively small difference every year. I am very proud of and most importantly happy for her. Bragging on TS... not really.

Finally, what's up with the 3-sports rant? You are all over the board. Are we delusional kool-aide drinkers or are we negligent for not forcing her to juggle before dinner? We allowed our daughter to follow her own passions in HS. Which for her meant competing at 3 sports and having a great experience with friends.

I'm sorry that you feel need to tear down a poster who is simply sharing a factual personal experience so that others may learn. And to the OP, love your daughter, embrace whatever change she is going through, and please, please, don't drive a 13-year old to the track 3x a week because you want her to be .2 faster. If she wants it, then by all means support her.

I think you nailed what the other poster was also getting at. Here's a few points for you to ponder ..

Your daughter is off literally spending 40+ hours a week on track. Does she really love track that much to immerse herself that deeply in it PLUS go to school while largely giving up being somewhat of a normal college kid or did all of you fall in love the scholarship money and think what the heck?

It IS amazing how it all adds up. Believe it or not the next group coming along could easily spend double that. Do you ever think back to the beginning and remember all the advice that you got from your club? Don't you wish they had clued you into how important her foot skills were going to be instead of letting you find out the hard way? Did you ever ask yourself what you really paid for?

[Unregistered]

Kids know where they stand in all skills, including speed. Super mom gave her daughter the natural genes to be super fast. Ok sure. Most competitive kids want to be faster. Any running coach will tell you the dirty little secret that most knowledgable parents already know. With a little dedicated work they can faster. Super gene mom is right that it's really up to the child. Clarify the amount of work necessary with any knowledgable coach and the reasonably expected increase and then let the kid decide if it's worth it.

If speed were all that matters don't you think that Hussein Bolt would be playing for Man U at $40M per year rather than doing commercials for Arby's for a $200,000 check and $137.65 monthly residuals???

[Unregistered]

If speed were all that matters don't you think that Hussein Bolt would be playing for Man U at $40M per year rather than doing commercials for Arby's for a $200,000 check and $137.65 monthly residuals???

Well nobody said speed was all that matters but thanks. It does matter and can't be increased. It's not rocket science, really. Just ask a good coach.

[Unregistered]

folks just aren't understanding this correctly at all. Of course speed can be increased. Just look at any track athletes progression and times in high school. Its just you can't go beyond your genetic potential. That's not to say that other factors can't help increase speed. Mechanics of running form, strength and reaction. That being said puberty is the biggest factor looming for this girl. And it could have and indeed probably will have a positive influence on her speed over all. Its just when she is being compared to girls who may have been through puberty for year or two at age 12 already and their muscle development, of course they will smoke her. Its just best not to get too hyped and worry and compare constantly and try to be the architect for all these changes. Let nature happen and let her play and continue to grow and (hopefully like the game)

[Unregistered]

folks just aren't understanding this correctly at all. Of course speed can be increased. Just look at any track athletes progression and times in high school. Its just you can't go beyond your genetic potential. That's not to say that other factors can't help increase speed. Mechanics of running form, strength and reaction. That being said puberty is the biggest factor looming for this girl. And it could have and indeed probably will have a positive influence on her speed over all. Its just when she is being compared to girls who may have been through puberty for year or two at age 12 already and their muscle development, of course they will smoke her. Its just best not to get too hyped and worry and compare constantly and try to be the architect for all these changes. Let nature happen and let her play and continue to grow and (hopefully like the game)

Some folks are determined not to understand--since they're pushing their usual "Your kid just isn't good enough and should give up club soccer" agenda. LOL! Nothing remotely controversial about using different training approaches to run relatively faster, which of course won't turn even pretty fast kids into Olympic sprinters.

[Unregistered]

folks just aren't understanding this correctly at all. Of course speed can be increased. Just look at any track athletes progression and times in high school. Its just you can't go beyond your genetic potential. That's not to say that other factors can't help increase speed. Mechanics of running form, strength and reaction. That being said puberty is the biggest factor looming for this girl. And it could have and indeed probably will have a positive influence on her speed over all. Its just when she is being compared to girls who may have been through puberty for year or two at age 12 already and their muscle development, of course they will smoke her. Its just best not to get too hyped and worry and compare constantly and try to be the architect for all these changes. Let nature happen and let her play and continue to grow and (hopefully like the game)

One of the more sensible posts. Everyone hits their growth spurts at different times but it can be tough for the ones on the later end. Some kids get frustrated and give up.

[Unregistered]

folks just aren't understanding this correctly at all. Of course speed can be increased. Just look at any track athletes progression and times in high school. Its just you can't go beyond your genetic potential. That's not to say that other factors can't help increase speed. Mechanics of running form, strength and reaction. That being said puberty is the biggest factor looming for this girl. And it could have and indeed probably will have a positive influence on her speed over all. Its just when she is being compared to girls who may have been through puberty for year or two at age 12 already and their muscle development, of course they will smoke her. Its just best not to get too hyped and worry and compare constantly and try to be the architect for all these changes. Let nature happen and let her play and continue to grow and (hopefully like the game)

Except that the average age a girl starts puberty is 11 and by 13 most have completed it. The praying for a miracle bs is just stupid and does nothing but waste other people's money, but then again the false sense of optimism is what keeps the clubs in business.

[Unregistered]

Except that the average age a girl starts puberty is 11 and by 13 most have completed it. The praying for a miracle bs is just stupid and does nothing but waste other people's money, but then again the false sense of optimism is what keeps the clubs in business.

Agree. If a girl is slower than the other girls and most of them are much further along in puberty, than she may catch up in speed again when she gets her growth spurt. If the other faster girls also have not had their growth spurts yet, then she isn't likely to catch up because they will continue to get faster as well.

One of the girls on my dd's u14 team used to be one of the tallest & fastest since she was an early developer. Now she is one of the slowest and is the furthest along in maturity. She's not getting any taller and likely won't be able to gain much speed. Her shine is starting to fade already. Just happens. Some early developing girls go through puberty and end up shorter, bigger girls by HS and lose their athletic advantage. Sometimes the best pre-puberty female athletes get a genetic blow and end up struggling athletically after puberty. Full maturity reached by majority of girls by 14-15.

[Unregistered]

Agree. If a girl is slower than the other girls and most of them are much further along in puberty, than she may catch up in speed again when she gets her growth spurt. If the other faster girls also have not had their growth spurts yet, then she isn't likely to catch up because they will continue to get faster as well.

One of the girls on my dd's u14 team used to be one of the tallest & fastest since she was an early developer. Now she is one of the slowest and is the furthest along in maturity. She's not getting any taller and likely won't be able to gain much speed. Her shine is starting to fade already. Just happens. Some early developing girls go through puberty and end up shorter, bigger girls by HS and lose their athletic advantage. Sometimes the best pre-puberty female athletes get a genetic blow and end up struggling athletically after puberty. Full maturity reached by majority of girls by 14-15.

With girls if you're not there by the time high school starts it's going to be very tough. Boys start later, take longer and are more spread out - I've seen HS senior boys shoot up 6" overnight.

[Unregistered]

Agree. If a girl is slower than the other girls and most of them are much further along in puberty, than she may catch up in speed again when she gets her growth spurt. If the other faster girls also have not had their growth spurts yet, then she isn't likely to catch up because they will continue to get faster as well.

One of the girls on my dd's u14 team used to be one of the tallest & fastest since she was an early developer. Now she is one of the slowest and is the furthest along in maturity. She's not getting any taller and likely won't be able to gain much speed. Her shine is starting to fade already. Just happens. Some early developing girls go through puberty and end up shorter, bigger girls by HS and lose their athletic advantage. Sometimes the best pre-puberty female athletes get a genetic blow and end up struggling athletically after puberty. Full maturity reached by majority of girls by 14-15.

Even with late bloomers there are usually plenty of indications at 12-13 about how tall or fast a girl is going to be. Might it happen, sure, but you typically don't hear about girls growing 6 inches in a year at 14-15 like boys. Girls usually mature much more steadily so there are just less surprises caused by puberty. Guess if a parent wants to put their head in the sand it's their prerogative but let's not encourage the lunacy the clubs foster. Statistics show that almost 3 out of 4 12/13 year old soccer players will stop playing soccer by the time that they reach high school and that something like only 3% of all high school soccer players (the remaining 25%) go on to earn a soccer scholarship.