u/ohhthatsmell

Our kid just started 5th grade. She has been playing club ball for three years now and typically plays at least one year up, and sometimes two (for the lower level team 2 years ahead).

Elementary school ball starts this year. I get the experience aspect of playing with your classmates. It’s already been decided that there will be two teams of 12, and it will not be an A and B team (rather a mix).

Of the 24 kids, about 15 of them have only played Rec. 8 of them have never even played Rec. Our daughter is the only one who has played club ball.

The guy running the team straight up does not like us and does not like our daughter because shocker, his kid is the 2nd best player.

I just don’t think it’s worth the drama/time overall. Practicing 2x/week with kids who really haven’t played before (meanwhile skipping club practices) doesn’t help my daughter long term. She isn’t really friends with anyone who would be on the team either (she is friends with and gets along with her club team in bball and in soccer, so she’s not short on relationships).

Has anyone been in this spot? To be clear, we are talking practices would likely be kids standing in a line and doing basic dribbling and layup drills.

My daughter’s club has installed multiple offensive sets, multiple sideline plays, and plays three different defenses (deny and gap mostly….zone only when necessary and 5 percent of the time).

Thanks.

My kid plays on a U12 team for a very good club overall.

Two of the kids who were picked for the top team have absolutely zero business playing on the top team. Yesterday, we lost two games specifically due to the play of the at two players.

And before people start saying “wins don’t matter,” the team’s development is slowed down by these two players. Every other kid knows how to pass and puts together great combos, play multiple positions, etc.

We were 7 v 9 yesterday at times. Without these two players, we have a strong team.

Both happen to each have two older siblings at higher levels of the club.

My question is: is this normal? Are kids put on higher teams because their older siblings are there? If so, is it a money thing? (Clubs are afraid families will walk?)

Thanks.

My son is a good kid. He’s grateful. He works hard in school and sports. He’s polite and he’s kind.

We went to two out of state soccer tournaments (May and June), both of which were the cost of a family vacation each.

He asked me this morning why we didn’t go on vacation as a family and just did sports this summer.

He’s not wrong. Him and his brother went to sports camps and trainings. But after spending $1500 and $3000 on the two sports trips, that was it for vacation for us.

How do I explain it to him without him thinking I am blaming his sports on us not going anywhere?

Thanks.

I am constantly seeing parents posting their kids doing all of these dribbling drills/moves. In every single video their heads are down. Why post these?

I have one large right now. How many should I need/have if I plan on packing the Tundra for a family of 4 on day trips? Not trying to spend $100 on Ice blocks but if that’s the most efficient thing to do I will!

Thanks.

U11 player.

Great decision-maker, fantastic passer, great footskills, above-average defender.

In the last 3 months, she’s always 1-2 seconds too slow to attack the ball (offensively or defensively).
And by slow, it’s not a speed thing. She’s fast. She’s just waiting and I can’t figure it out. Her answer is she doesn’t want the person to get by her.

The problem is as most people know, the older and bigger kids get…the stronger they get. I watched her at a camp this morning. She was at center back. The striker (same one) ripped 3 balls for goals. They were all her fault because she didn’t step up. She waited thinking the offensive player was going to keep dribbling.

Same thing at midfield. Just this very odd hesitancy that is catching up to her. Maybe I didn’t notice it the last 2 years…but I think I would.

How do I bluntly tell her if she doesn’t get more aggressive/step sooner that she’s going to find herself on the bench?

“6-8 weeks” seems crazy to me. I know kids can’t play with “clubs” anymore, but no ballwork for 6-8 weeks? No cardio? Doesn’t that seem a little conservative?

I will do the “back in my day.” I broke my arm, case was on, and I was playing games in 2 weeks. I’m not saying that’s what I want for my daughter. But to say she can’t do any sort of practice for 6-8 weeks? Doesn’t that seem a little much?

Thanks.

I feel like that with a 750k balance after 15 years I’ve done fairly well. However, kid bills have added up.

I have a 750 balance right now with $18k owed on my tsp loan.

I need $50k for college for my son. I feel like it’s better than a HELOC. Those who have done this, do you regret it?

Thanks.