We have several kids who all play high-level sports. Only one soccer player who plays for a national team. What is it about club soccer that makes everything so unpleasant? All of our other sports teams are amazing. Travel is enjoyable lots of team bonding. Team managers organize team dinners and activities that folks are actually happy to attend. It is unfathomable that kids would be left out socially on the road.... because we're a TEAM. Tryouts are stressful but kids on the bubble are told well before tryouts so they have the opportunity to try out for other teams. Everything about club soccer, at least MA club soccer, is just miserable. It feels like a team sport comprised of individual unicorns who are afraid they'll be mowed down and cast out at any moment. Honestly, it makes me really sad for all the soccer girls when you see how great kids in other sports have it.
-
-
Probably because your typical family have absolutely zero knowledge of the game so they don't know what they are watching but only know W's and L's.
Conversely, I don't have any problems with club soccer and enjoy it. Do the math. -
agree people who don't understand the game and don't even like it outside their kids aren't going to have a good time being around it.
watch a typical dad during a cheer competition and tell me how much fun he's havingComment
-
Sounds more like an issue of level of play versus the actual sport.Originally posted by Guest View Post
The higher the level the greater the expectation and the more competitive the environment. I would wager to guess that those other sport teams where everyone is happy are likely less competitive environments overall.Comment
-
idk, we have had tons of great enjoyment of club soccer. In fact the worst part was back in our town, where local jealousy and BS manifested. Once in club, at least the competitiveness was out on the table. We have had lots of fun trips and while its expensive, ive enjoyed hanging with my daughter and gotten more time together than we ever would have if not for soccer. Does help that we are always fans and followers before and outside of her participating, as someone else pointed out.Comment
-
I think you're on to something - I don't enjoy watching the game and could really care less about it except that my kid happens to play at a fairly high level.Originally posted by Guest View PostComment
-
for the most part I've had few issues. Most families are nice, and normal - and coincidentally aren't on TS. the real ulittles can be overly "enthusiastic" let's say. High level early HS years get absurd with recruiting - even more so with girls because there's usually more $ on the table. With both genders playing I think the boys side tends to be much more sane.
But I can't blame families for getting fed up with the constant changes, high cost and travel. It gets to be a real grind and takes some of the enjoyment out of the whole thing. Soccer participation is declining and no doubt this is a part of it.Comment
-
Because all the incentives are individual. Leads to selfish play a me first environment. That exists throughout youth soccer in the USA. Especially with girls ♂️Comment
-
-
Correction.... why is soccer so miserable! (Remove the club part from it)
Answer: Because in general, as others already pointed out, Americans know very little about soccer - and by that I mean parents and many coaches (even licensed ones), directors, etc.
And that's why we have what we have.Comment
-
Do you think Americans know anything about lacrosse? Or field hockey?Originally posted by Guest View PostComment
-
No they don't. In fact, Americans are the most uneducated "western" country in the world. Fact.Originally posted by Guest View PostComment
-
Why bring those up?. They're even less popular here and internationally. 2.5 million kids play soccer here and few parents know anything about the sport their kids play. Few know anything about the world's most popular sport.Originally posted by Guest View PostComment
-
I think the point is parents don't "know a lot" about most sports but other club sports still manage to be enjoyable and not the hunger games.Originally posted by Guest View PostComment
-
It's a combination of:Originally posted by Guest View Post
* It's a popular game
* There is a big machine that leads (too many) kids to think they can get college scholarships
* Parents have absolutely no clue what they are actually watching and can't possibly comprehend that winning isn't the only thing to care about.Comment
Comment