Is Playing Soccer Year Round All That Bad?

Most youth soccer club seasons start in August and end in June. Is that too much soccer? Are we burning them out?

I think it depends. Hear me out.

Are they out there because they want to be or because you (as a parent) are making them play?

Are they having fun at practices or are they stressed out?

Do they look forward to the games or do they dread them?

Do they want to play more or less?

Are they able to manage it all with a smile or are they overwhelmed?

Reflecting on the questions above is a great starting point.

Is Playing So Much Soccer Worth It?

In my experience, playing soccer almost year-round has been a great opportunity for my son. He loves it and craves even more.

He’s 14 years old now and has played club soccer since he was 7.

For many of those years, he was able to play basketball, flag football, go mountain biking, learn how to surf, and hang out with his friends.

In addition to working to become a better soccer player, a lot of other life things can happen. Life doesn’t start and stop with soccer.

Today, he is 94% focused on soccer because he chooses to.

If he wanted to only play during the fall, he would have high school as an option. Then, he could also squeeze in basketball and maybe lacrosse.

Since he has traction with soccer, this is the time he wants to go all in. And, I fully support his decision.

He loves his teammates and coaches, and playing at a high level.

I honestly think he would struggle if the season was shorter. He wants it to be 13 months!

What Should You Do?

If your son or daughter loves soccer and is having fun going to practices, try to support their happy place.

As a parent, sometimes it can be challenging to help your child figure out what they love or have a passion for.

If it’s a certain sport…try to embrace it. Don’t worry about other people’s opinion about “playing all year is bad for them”.

If they love it, they will be happy all year. Isn’t that worth it?