Why Your Kid Shouldn’t Play Club Soccer
Not every kid should play club soccer. Even if you were a stud athlete in the 80s, it’s time to let go of the ego.
Spending thousands of dollars a year for a kid who is not good enough to play travel soccer is not a wise idea.
They may be good enough to play someday but let that someday come.
No matter how badly they want to, it might not be a good fit now.
They might not be good enough right now.
They might lack the self-motivation.
They might want to do other things.
And, this is okay!
As Parents, we shouldn’t force our kids to play club soccer if they don’t want to.
At the same time, we should have enough awareness that they may not be good enough to play either.
What Should They Play Instead?
First things first. They may not want to play a sport. They might be more into Legos or music.
You may have household rules where you require your kids to play a sport each season. I totally respect that. But, don’t you want them to do something they’ll enjoy?
If your child doesn’t have the skills (yet) to play at the club-level but loves soccer, they may be better suited for town rec or travel soccer. Both are great options and they’ll be able to play with their friends.
In these environments, they’ll be able to work on their skills.
If they have a desire to play club soccer, I would encourage them to spend an hour every day working on their skills. Everyone loves a come-up or comeback story!
Don’t Get Fooled By the Club
Some larger soccer clubs will put together teams because they have the players (parents) who will pay. I wouldn’t get duped into this.
Your child would be better off playing town travel for a fraction of the cost. In most cases, they’ll get better coaching and play against more competitive kids in practices.
The top two or three teams in each age group are worth the price of admission for club soccer. After that, it’s better to say “No thanks” and help your player improve their skills.
