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Scenario:

My children play at the Academy level and love soccer. I have noticed with my oldest (U12) there is a fear in some of the "parents" that their child is going to miss out and they sign their kids up for everything. There is a good portion of the team that their parents have the kids going 6-7 days a week. Sometimes they are going with training for 3-4 hours a day (multiple sessions). This does not include their driving time. To me at 11-12 or almost any age I just can't see how this is in the child's best interest. When do they have the chance to be a kid or do their school work or connect with the family? How about play other sports or take up school activities? I know firsthand that some of these kids are doing this against their wishes and being pushed tremendously by their parents who to me are completely out of line with this IMHO.

I do believe kids need to step away during the off season and scale things down. However these academies have you believe that your 11 year old should go 11 months plus a year. Without doing anything extra my oldest trains 3 days a week has two games on the weekend and scheduled for 4 tournaments. My younger one trains 3 times a weeks and has one game each weekend. No tournaments.

Sports is a business (soccer on Long Island big time business) and its up to us as parents to say this is too much. Is my child going to be a better all around mentally and physically with 13 hour days? Do you think some of these organizations that create this atmosphere that more is better worry about the ramifications on your child? Maybe I got it wrong and more is better and works for some families. I am just trying to navigate this as we go and I would like to hear from some of you all to see how you manage the push for more?

Called FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and these trainers and clubs use that to their their advantage all the time. Just remember that they are in business to make money first - before everything else. Most will tell you that your child needs additional training and touches which translates into them needing more $$$ from you. But to be fair, both sides are to blame. Parents have these lofty dreams of their child being an amazing athlete someday playing in college, and are willing to pay top dollar to get that. Clubs/Trainers see this and step right up to take their money.

To clarify this statement was referring to their schedule for this winter: "Without doing anything extra my oldest trains 3 days a week has two games on the weekend and scheduled for 4 tournaments. My younger one trains 3 times a weeks and has one game each weekend. No tournaments."

Yes this seems like a lot as a "base schedule" for the winter. The fact that a club may ask for extra beyond this would be nuts to me in the off season. I think 2x per week + maybe 1 extra session or a game here and there would be plenty, and still more than probably is right. Playing 5-6 days per week during winter seems way more than is correct.

Scenario:

My children play at the Academy level and love soccer. I have noticed with my oldest (U12) there is a fear in some of the "parents" that their child is going to miss out and they sign their kids up for everything. There is a good portion of the team that their parents have the kids going 6-7 days a week. Sometimes they are going with training for 3-4 hours a day (multiple sessions). This does not include their driving time. To me at 11-12 or almost any age I just can't see how this is in the child's best interest. When do they have the chance to be a kid or do their school work or connect with the family? How about play other sports or take up school activities? I know firsthand that some of these kids are doing this against their wishes and being pushed tremendously by their parents who to me are completely out of line with this IMHO.

I do believe kids need to step away during the off season and scale things down. However these academies have you believe that your 11 year old should go 11 months plus a year. Without doing anything extra my oldest trains 3 days a week has two games on the weekend and scheduled for 4 tournaments. My younger one trains 3 times a weeks and has one game each weekend. No tournaments.

Sports is a business (soccer on Long Island big time business) and its up to us as parents to say this is too much. Is my child going to be a better all around mentally and physically with 13 hour days? Do you think some of these organizations that create this atmosphere that more is better worry about the ramifications on your child? Maybe I got it wrong and more is better and works for some families. I am just trying to navigate this as we go and I would like to hear from some of you all to see how you manage the push for more?

Young players are much better off training themselves in the backyard or playing pickup games rather than doing more organized soccer. They're getting. drilled to death and getting nowhere. Get outside, be creative and have fun. Players who want to improve will happily do it. If your kid resists he/she probably wont last. They have to want to improve but they don't have to be driven to an expensive training session to improve.

Talking of expensive organized soccer, how much the kids should practice and where, it's interesting to see that the two (expensive) ECNL boys teams on LI didn't do so well this weekend. Neither EM nor Alby Fury managed a win all weekend in any of the four older teen brackets and the combined goal total between U15 - 18, in sixteen home games here on Long Island, was 7 goals for and 68 against. It would be staggering were it not thoroughly expected. I'd say that's a pattern. Not one win. A couple of ties here and there but mostly sound beatings. I feel sorry for these teams that drive six hours to come here and pay NY hotel prices to have to waste their time on this.

Nice job staying on topic. Not. If you feel the need to bash ECNL start another thread.

The newest craze is for Trainers to get a per kid sign up fee or a lump sum to bring players or a complete team to a new organization. This has made some pretty pure trainers (and I use that term loosely) into the sleaziest of used car salesmen looking for a commission check. When your trainer says we are moving to outfit XYZ because they play in a better league, ask them how much they are getting paid to push the move.

[quote=letthemplay23]Scenario:

My children play at the Academy level and love soccer. I have noticed with my oldest (U12) there is a fear in some of the "parents" that their child is going to miss out and they sign their kids up for everything. There is a good portion of the team that their parents have the kids going 6-7 days a week. Sometimes they are going with training for 3-4 hours a day (multiple sessions). This does not include their driving time. To me at 11-12 or almost any age I just can't see how this is in the child's best interest. When do they have the chance to be a kid or do their school work or connect with the family? How about play other sports or take up school activities? I know firsthand that some of these kids are doing this against their wishes and being pushed tremendously by their parents who to me are completely out of line with this IMHO.

I do believe kids need to step away during the off season and scale things down. However these academies have you believe that your 11 year old should go 11 months plus a year. Without doing anything extra my oldest trains 3 days a week has two games on the weekend and scheduled for 4 tournaments. My younger one trains 3 times a weeks and has one game each weekend. No tournaments.

Sports is a business (soccer on Long Island big time business) and its up to us as parents to say this is too much. Is my child going to be a better all around mentally and physically with 13 hour days? Do you think some of these organizations that create this atmosphere that more is better worry about the ramifications on your child? Maybe I got it wrong and more is better and works for some families. I am just trying to navigate this as we go and I would like to hear from some of you all to see how you manage the push for more?

The newest craze is for Trainers to get a per kid sign up fee or a lump sum to bring players or a complete team to a new organization. This has made some pretty pure trainers (and I use that term loosely) into the sleaziest of used car salesmen looking for a commission check. When your trainer says we are moving to outfit XYZ because they play in a better league, ask them how much they are getting paid to push the move.

if your child has the talent do not do DA etc until they are 15.