Youth sports talk: any coaches or parents here? - Page 7

memyselfI · 10:49 AM

My son has played competative soccer for three+ seasons. He's having a great experience. We've been lucky to find good coaching with nice independent clubs. I have felt comfortable having him be one of the best players on a good team vs. having him be a good player on the best team. The reason behind this is because I want to maintain a balance of playing at a competative level but it not take over his life, or ours, as parents.

At what age does this thinking begin to negatively impact his performance? I happen to think that 10 years of age is a little young to be pressuring kids to perform at a more mature level. The literature I've read on this seems to support my thinking and yet you hear of teams that are increasingly demanding more from their players at younger and younger ages.

My other thought was about players who are struggling and might actually impede the team because of the skill level. Are parents doing their child a favor if he clearly is not at the skill set of his teammates? We have this situation on one of our teams, and while I agree that development is most important at this age, is it fair to the team, let alone the player, to have a player like this on the team? Personally, I would pull my son and try to find him a better fit because I think they learn more in situations that allow them to succeed vs. fail.

Thoughts?

hawkchief · 03-28-2006, 03:51 PM

It's a fairly logical assumption that overall, "Premeir" league parents and coaches will by nature be more intense than recreational league parents. That is why the decision on where to play should be a parents' call, and not a childs'. By prodding a kid and asking him/her if they want to play with the "better" players, what do you think a child will answer? A parent needs to be alert enough to take a look at the overall family environment for a 6-10 year old child, and make a decision for the child, and not assume a kindergartner is capable of doing so.

WilliamTheIrish · 03-28-2006, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawkchief

It's a fairly logical assumption that overall, "Premeir" league parents and coaches will by nature be more intense than recreational league parents. That is why the decision on where to play should be a parents' call, and not a childs'. By prodding a kid and asking him/her if they want to play with the "better" players, what do you think a child will answer? A parent needs to be alert enough to take a look at the overall family environment for a 6-10 year old child, and make a decision for the child, and not assume a kindergartner is capable of doing so.

I can assure you that the great % of 'premiere' parents never played a minute of sports beyond the Jr. High level.

**Rain Man** · 03-28-2006, 04:51 PM

In reading this thread, I wonder if there's a black market for people to slash the tires of certain parents when they're on their way to the games.

$25 per parent. 2 for $45. Do I have a market?

03-27-2006, 11:53 AM
memyselfI CHANGEd your mind yet???? Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Lunatics Anonymous Casino cash: $10005234	Youth sports talk: any coaches or parents here? My son has played competative soccer for three+ seasons. He's having a great experience. We've been lucky to find good coaching with nice independent clubs. I have felt comfortable having him be one of the best players on a good team vs. having him be a good player on the best team. The reason behind this is because I want to maintain a balance of playing at a competative level but it not take over his life, or ours, as parents. At what age does this thinking begin to negatively impact his performance? I happen to think that 10 years of age is a little young to be pressuring kids to perform at a more mature level. The literature I've read on this seems to support my thinking and yet you hear of teams that are increasingly demanding more from their players at younger and younger ages. My other thought was about players who are struggling and might actually impede the team because of the skill level. Are parents doing their child a favor if he clearly is not at the skill set of his teammates? We have this situation on one of our teams, and while I agree that development is most important at this age, is it fair to the team, let alone the player, to have a player like this on the team? Personally, I would pull my son and try to find him a better fit because I think they learn more in situations that allow them to succeed vs. fail. Thoughts? Last edited by memyselfI; 03-28-2006 at 10:49 AM..
Posts: 32,000

03-28-2006, 03:51 PM	#91
hawkchief Veteran Join Date: Oct 2005 Casino cash: $2928600	It's a fairly logical assumption that overall, "Premeir" league parents and coaches will by nature be more intense than recreational league parents. That is why the decision on where to play should be a parents' call, and not a childs'. By prodding a kid and asking him/her if they want to play with the "better" players, what do you think a child will answer? A parent needs to be alert enough to take a look at the overall family environment for a 6-10 year old child, and make a decision for the child, and not assume a kindergartner is capable of doing so. Last edited by hawkchief; 03-28-2006 at 04:32 PM..
Posts: 1,877

03-28-2006, 04:51 PM	#93
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3288491 VARSITY	In reading this thread, I wonder if there's a black market for people to slash the tires of certain parents when they're on their way to the games. $25 per parent. 2 for $45. Do I have a market? __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
Posts: 141,458