What about outside mids and defenders? Usually the defenders are the bigger and stronger “athletes” that happen to hit their growth spurts early. So, in terms of development, you are essentially only ‘developing’ 2-4 players on a given team.

very few ‘elite’ defenders at u11-u14 end up having the technical (and even the physical ability) to play successfully beyond the youth level. No point in addressing keepers, we don’t seem to have issues there.

A lot of the players deemed “elite” at 13 and 14 are identified because of physical maturation ALONE! Sure, in most cases, the physical playing field levels by 16 or 17. But by then it’s too damned late! Our U17 national team pool is chosen in their U15 year! A huge investment of resources on such a small group.

I have come to the realization that no club, team, coach, league et. al is going to “develop” my kid. Likely, the less interaction with the mainstream youth soccer complex the better. Playing with and against adults, trying out for the local PDL team at 16 and setting up trials with the best teams possible is starting to look much more attractive (and much less expensive) than the traditional youth pathway.

We live in a geographically isolated area, so the Development Academy clubs aren’t an option for us. We’ve done the ODP thing but that’s another rant. (He has the dreaded december birthday)

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Not doing anything is probably the hardest thing I have ever done as a parent. The last thing I want to do is push my kid into soccer. Right now she is 12, loves playing and is starting to show interest in the national team and some collegiate players. My hope is that this continues to foster interest and it will grow as she achieves more in the game. I take her to collegiate matches, have put her on a competitive team, supported her playing on a middle school team and a 3v3 team in the off-season. She does camps in the summer and has a trainer help her work on skills and conditioning. I just feel that that is enough at this age.

Sure I see other kids do more. I see kids playing state level ball and traveling all over the country by the time they are 12. I have also seen kids burn out and drop the sport. Some girls are playing year-round and quitting by the time they are sophmores in high school. I have also seen “early peakers” who star in 10-13 years and then get passed by kids who hit their growth spurt. It is kind of sad to see a kid who has really given everything they have get passed up by a kid who just got their hormones earlier. Once you see a group of 8th graders literally eat younger, smaller kids alive, you realize that someimes you just have to let nature take its course.

My kid may one day turn into a real soccer player. She may move on to another sport. Only one thing drives my purpose with her. It is the question I ask her all the time, “Are you having fun?”

This has been confirmed by college athletes I have had the pleasure of getting to know. They tell the kids at the camps to lighten up and have fun. Once they do get a scholarship, it will become a job. Yeah, you actually do have to put in a full day, every day for that free tuitiion. I may be overlooking a great opportunity to mold my kid into the next Mia or Brandie. But I think those kids really molded themselves with an amazing passion for the sport and their coaches and parents just kept them on the right track.. Thanks for the tips. I really enjoy the advice.

Chris

Cheers,

Keph