Stop saying ulittle doesn’t matter

[Guest]

I’m sick of seeing people post over and over how “ulittle”
soccer doesn’t matter. But in fact, it does.

It’s what helps players develop to the next level so they can play u13/u14 full sided. And those ages help you develop to HS aged soccer. And HS to college. And college to lower divisions. And lower divisions to higher divisions.

So it does matter. And just because your kid is further up the growth ladder, stop telling people below them that what they are doing and what they doing doesn’t mean anything. Unless your the parent of a Pro/NT player who’s winning the World Cup or
a league championship, there’s someone furth up the ladder that could be saying the same thing about your kid. So instead of belittling accomplishments while still “ulittle”, why don’t you share some constructive advice on what it takes to step up the next rung? Or how to deal with some of the challenges they might hit when they do?

[soccerinnj]

You're taking that advice too personally. What the "ulittle doesn't matter" talk really means is that all of the infighting you see on here, trying to jockey for team ranks, comparing which team is better than others, bragging about tournament wins (and ranking), etc. is pointless. These people are saying the kids change a lot over time and the teams that were amazing initially probably won't be later and the kids that were super stars at u10 may not be at u16. This advice isn't meant to make you feel bad or say that the accomplishments (or development) of your kid mean nothing, but what it does mean is that outside of yourself, your immediate family, and your kid that it doesn't matter. Those accolades, ranks, and teams aren't getting anyone scholarships or pro contracts.

[Guest]

You're taking that advice too personally. What the "ulittle doesn't matter" talk really means is that all of the infighting you see on here, trying to jockey for team ranks, comparing which team is better than others, bragging about tournament wins (and ranking), etc. is pointless. These people are saying the kids change a lot over time and the teams that were amazing initially probably won't be later and the kids that were super stars at u10 may not be at u16. This advice isn't meant to make you feel bad or say that the accomplishments (or development) of your kid mean nothing, but what it does mean is that outside of yourself, your immediate family, and your kid that it doesn't matter. Those accolades, ranks, and teams aren't getting anyone scholarships or pro contracts.

Right, but that’s the point. It IS diminishing it to keep pointing that out. It’s like if Carli Lloyd was posting on NCAA championship wins and full scholarship acceptance posts saying “college soccer doesn’t matter”.

We all know our 10-13 year old tournament wins aren’t equal to ECNL Playoffs wins which aren’t equal to NCAA tournament wins. But that’s the level our kids are at, so why rain on their parades?

[soccerinnj]

Right, but that’s the point. It IS diminishing it to keep pointing that out. It’s like if Carli Lloyd was posting on NCAA championship wins and full scholarship acceptance posts saying “college soccer doesn’t matter”.

We all know our 10-13 year old tournament wins aren’t equal to ECNL Playoffs wins which aren’t equal to NCAA tournament wins. But that’s the level our kids are at, so why rain on their parades?

It is not diminishing to anyone except the parents that are way too personally invested in tournament and league wins. Enjoy your kid's accomplishments and development, but those wins everyone on here and social media is bragging about really don't mean anything until they get to an age where puberty has happened and 11v11 play is going on. I get that things build upon each other, but there isn't a different line between those wins and a kid being amazing at older ages much less getting a scholarship or a pro contract.

[Guest]

I’m sick of seeing people post over and over how “ulittle”
soccer doesn’t matter. But in fact, it does.

It’s what helps players develop to the next level so they can play u13/u14 full sided. And those ages help you develop to HS aged soccer. And HS to college. And college to lower divisions. And lower divisions to higher divisions.

So it does matter. And just because your kid is further up the growth ladder, stop telling people below them that what they are doing and what they doing doesn’t mean anything. Unless your the parent of a Pro/NT player who’s winning the World Cup or
a league championship, there’s someone furth up the ladder that could be saying the same thing about your kid. So instead of belittling accomplishments while still “ulittle”, why don’t you share some constructive advice on what it takes to step up the next rung? Or how to deal with some of the challenges they might hit when they do?

Both my kids are teenagers. After having 2 kids playing high level soccer since they were both 8 years old, traveling all over the country getting GotSoccer points winning "Big" tournaments I can tell you without a doubt, ulittle doesn't mean anything. Looking back at some of the craziness I have seen with my kids team at u9, u10 I just shake my head. Just let them enjoy the game. Its not for the parents its for the kids

[Guest]

U Little is arguably THE most important time, but the way so called elite U littles spend their time in the USA renders it largely counterproductive to laying a good foundation from which not only soccer players, but lovers of the game can grow.

[Guest]

Right, but that’s the point. It IS diminishing it to keep pointing that out. It’s like if Carli Lloyd was posting on NCAA championship wins and full scholarship acceptance posts saying “college soccer doesn’t matter”.

We all know our 10-13 year old tournament wins aren’t equal to ECNL Playoffs wins which aren’t equal to NCAA tournament wins. But that’s the level our kids are at, so why rain on their parades?

It’s not diminishing unless you are overly zealous and clearly narcotic about posting it/discussing it/arguing about it. I love to see my kids succeed in their sports and win tournaments etc. but I definitely do not think any of the wins matter at a young age. I also don’t think it’s wise to teach them that it matters. What matters is developing their skill, being able to experiment with who they are on the field even if it means making mistakes. What matters is their longevity in the game, what matters is how they take the loss and how their parents take the loss. Parents walking around thinking that their kids are the big fish in the 10-11-12 year old pond have a lot to learn. The truth is rankings, gotsoccer points and anything else you want to brag about really do not mean anything at those ages. It’s facts. They have no better chance because of all of that than the other kid that didn’t have the opportunity to travel all over but worked hard. It’s means something to the parents and that’s it.

[Guest]

It’s not diminishing unless you are overly zealous and clearly narcotic about posting it/discussing it/arguing about it. I love to see my kids succeed in their sports and win tournaments etc. but I definitely do not think any of the wins matter at a young age. I also don’t think it’s wise to teach them that it matters. What matters is developing their skill, being able to experiment with who they are on the field even if it means making mistakes. What matters is their longevity in the game, what matters is how they take the loss and how their parents take the loss. Parents walking around thinking that their kids are the big fish in the 10-11-12 year old pond have a lot to learn. The truth is rankings, gotsoccer points and anything else you want to brag about really do not mean anything at those ages. It’s facts. They have no better chance because of all of that than the other kid that didn’t have the opportunity to travel all over but worked hard. It’s means something to the parents and that’s it.

100% agree with this. Parents get too caught up in the wins and losses and completely forget that half the kids on the team can't properly pass, strike or receive a ball. If your goal is to have your kid play HS or college ball then the goal of the ulittle years is to have them be excellent at the fundamentals, make lots of mistakes and learn from them. I can't tell you how many u9 all stars were don't even make HS teams because they never developed good practice habits or fundamentals.

[Guest]

Both my kids are teenagers. After having 2 kids playing high level soccer since they were both 8 years old, traveling all over the country getting GotSoccer points winning "Big" tournaments I can tell you without a doubt, ulittle doesn't mean anything. Looking back at some of the craziness I have seen with my kids team at u9, u10 I just shake my head. Just let them enjoy the game. Its not for the parents its for the kids

I fully agree with this. It’s hard to see when your kids are just starting and you are in it. now with two older teens and luckily one ulittle left—My approach is different and this one is definitely the happiest.
I see the other parents getting worked up, talking to the coach, screaming at their kid and I am just glad I am over that.
Once you see it from the outside your perspective changes.

And Yes! ulittle development is so important which is why losing or winning and learning from that is critical for success later on. Also, recommend training at a younger age on non dominant foot. That can be tricky for some as they grow whereas if they start young it’s easier and more natural.

[Guest]

100% agree with this. Parents get too caught up in the wins and losses and completely forget that half the kids on the team can't properly pass, strike or receive a ball. If your goal is to have your kid play HS or college ball then the goal of the ulittle years is to have them be excellent at the fundamentals, make lots of mistakes and learn from them. I can't tell you how many u9 all stars were don't even make HS teams because they never developed good practice habits or fundamentals.

Because thats ALL it is about. The focus is not on teaching and trying to make as many kids love the game as possible. Its about finding the most athletic kids and making everyone get them the ball to win todays game. That mentality limits the way many see the game to :SHOCK: , who wins and the most athletically advanced kids at the time being the "best". Goal scorers get all the glory and kids dont work on fundamentals.

Change the mentality at grass roots and the impact on the game all the way up would be seismic.

[Guest]

Several good posts above. When people say "it doesn't matter" they are referring more to the obsession with wins and rankings for younger teams. Teams and players change dramatically over time. It's also not that hard for clubs to up their rankings by overloading on easy tournament wins. Rankings are needed for tournament seedings but shouldn't be used for much of anything else, even more so trying to rank across very different leagues. Ok if League X wants to rank teams go ahead, but keep it within that context.

More importantly, trying to get your kid on a supposed "top team" may not be in their best interest if it's a poor fit/they don't play much. Last post about fundamentals is so spot on. There's some good coaches out there that are great with ulittle fundamentals that you won't necessarily find at the bigger clubs or "top teams.

[Guest]

Of course it matters. What doesn’t matter is traveling all over, rankings, points, being the best in the country. Absolutely none of that matters and it does come across as foolish when that’s the talking point at that age.

[Guest]

Of course it matters. What doesn’t matter is traveling all over, rankings, points, being the best in the country. Absolutely none of that matters and it does come across as foolish when that’s the talking point at that age.

Solution: find a good fundamental coach first, club second. Rec team,
local team, club team doesn’t matter—just the best coach for Your kid. If your kid is doing well, the coach will help you move to the next level when the kid is ready.
Don’t get sucked into nonsense of what others are doing.

[Guest]

Solution: find a good fundamental coach first, club second. Rec team,
local team, club team doesn’t matter—just the best coach for Your kid. If your kid is doing well, the coach will help you move to the next level when the kid is ready.
Don’t get sucked into nonsense of what others are doing.

The youth soccer business in the USA (for girls) is built on parents thinking that investing time and money ALONE will get you to the "next level". The way they do that is diluting talent so much that you can find a level to be a "champion" at. If you extend that to being part of a TEAM that calls it a champion, makes you a champion as well and therefore you must be a really good player right? and there you have youth soccer for girls. To be elite you need to have some things you cannot buy, real talent being one. If you tell customers that, you lose business. Elite players are really rare. In a talent based world there are only two levels. Recreational (players pay) and Professional (players are paid) College soccer creates a level in the USA that does not exist anywhere else. More and more soccer players that cannot make pro level in other countries are coming to the USA to monetize their level via education AND getting spots on teams. FSU are winning titles. Evidence that the USA developed YOUTH player is not a talented as the ones developed in foreign mostly non pay to play environments and/or more expensive to recruit.

[Guest]

Solution: find a good fundamental coach first, club second. Rec team,
local team, club team doesn’t matter—just the best coach for Your kid. If your kid is doing well, the coach will help you move to the next level when the kid is ready.
Don’t get sucked into nonsense of what others are doing.

Exactly. Don't get sucked into the big club, chase the badge hype until middle school. By then you will have a better idea if your kid has something there and if they're willing to put the work in. Sure you may need to move up from a low level club to a mid level one but you don't necessarily need to go to ones holding prized badges....yet. It all depends on what your options are and which have strong coaching and a good fit for your player. And don't drag your young ones on long commutes and cross state line games. It's draining for all and can kill their enthusiasm.