Children Need Down Time

[Unregistered]

I like to know what the view is on your child playing the same sport all year long. I am speaking of children under the age of 14.


I wrote this just now on BOTN in response to a Long Island referee who I believe is a decent person. It got me thinking that this forum that is not censored like LM does at BOTN would be a good place to hear feedback on the topic.

This is what the referee posted:

Maybe to you it would make sense. But this is not exactly the place for “targeted marketing” to recruit referees. Unless your target market would be anonymous trolls (not you) that spend tons of money on their children and expect the next Messi.

I myself have asked for anyone out there to be a referee. Not one has answered the call.

My reply to him:

LIRef77, I happen to like most of your posts and agree with most of the positions you post.

However having the opinion that parents are all lumped together and spending tons of money for the wrong reasons is silly. I have been around soccer for many years. As a player, referee and coach. Some parents are doing just what you say but most are trying to navigate the swamp/business first attitude by most clubs. They are trying to keep their kids active and healthy while not allowing the SPORT to become a burden.

I don't know whether you have children but I have 3 and they all play soccer and other sports. Its not easy dealing with youth sports PERIOD. This statement is for both the parent and the child. Whether it be soccer or other sports. Adults have made the business of kids having fun a full time job and its not nearly as much fun as it could be if the children's needs where placed above the business needs. What adult sport requires the athlete to play 11 months out of the year? Exactly there isn't any. Children need a break to recharge their bodies and minds.

With that being said I understand your view of some parents can be tainted/skewed because you see a much larger sampling of parents whose priorities are mixed up.

[Unregistered]

My older D, who is now in a strong D3 soccer program, almost never played any soccer from the end of spring season (usually Memorial Day or a week after) until the 2nd week of August. There was 1 summer where we made an exception to this because a couple of unique opportunities came up that added 10 days of soccer in June and 2 tournaments in July when she was 14; but other than that, I agree that a break is a good thing.

[Unregistered]

My older D, who is now in a strong D3 soccer program, almost never played any soccer from the end of spring season (usually Memorial Day or a week after) until the 2nd week of August. There was 1 summer where we made an exception to this because a couple of unique opportunities came up that added 10 days of soccer in June and 2 tournaments in July when she was 14; but other than that, I agree that a break is a good thing.

I wholeheartedly agree down time is essential both from a physical aspect but also mentally. The wear and tear and repetition on the body takes its toll. The increase of ACL and hip tears have dramatically increased as well. That being said it’s important during you down period to stay in physical shape. I am a big proponent of D3 but the physical demands between D3 & D1 are different. The attraction of D3 is less demanding with no Spring season or preseason till mid August. My daughter was attracted to D3 because she wanted to spend a semester abroad which you cannot do playing D1.

[Unregistered]

I wholeheartedly agree down time is essential both from a physical aspect but also mentally. The wear and tear and repetition on the body takes its toll. The increase of ACL and hip tears have dramatically increased as well. That being said it’s important during you down period to stay in physical shape. I am a big proponent of D3 but the physical demands between D3 & D1 are different. The attraction of D3 is less demanding with no Spring season or preseason till mid August. My daughter was attracted to D3 because she wanted to spend a semester abroad which you cannot do playing D1.

Lots of players are attracted to D3 especially when no one in D1 wants them.
Keep telling yourself that D1 was an option (stop the count). If academics were that important and soccer wasn’t you
WOULD NOt BE HERE!

[Unregistered]

Lots of players are attracted to D3 especially when no one in D1 wants them.
Keep telling yourself that D1 was an option (stop the count). If academics were that important and soccer wasn’t you
WOULD NOt BE HERE!

yeah yeah we know your D1 superstar is really special. Where do they play, St John's? Marist?

Soccer isn't basketball or football - the goal isn't going pro. The goal is using soccer to either get into a better school than they could without soccer or to simply help pay for school. The education piece matters far more than the quality of the soccer program, even more so for girls for whom a pro path is nonexistent or desired. So yes, some D1 able players will not chose that path. I'm not talking a top D1 NT call up type of player. They can write their own ticket to a top soccer and academic school. But there's 200+ men's D1 teams and 300+ women's teams and a whole lot of space in between top and bottom.

[Unregistered]

Lots of players are attracted to D3 especially when no one in D1 wants them.
Keep telling yourself that D1 was an option (stop the count). If academics were that important and soccer wasn’t you
WOULD NOt BE HERE!

D will never know because she never wanted D1 and therefore never tried to get on the radar for a D1 program. But her D3 team is ranked in the D3 top 10 and has players from ECNL and GDA teams who were either like her and never considered D1 or actually turned down D1 offers from lower-ranked D1 programs (programs outside the top 100).

[Unregistered]

D will never know because she never wanted D1 and therefore never tried to get on the radar for a D1 program. But her D3 team is ranked in the D3 top 10 and has players from ECNL and GDA teams who were either like her and never considered D1 or actually turned down D1 offers from lower-ranked D1 programs (programs outside the top 100).

I agree with you (as well as many others) whose daughters are fortunate enough to have choices and choose D3 because of putting education first and foremost. My daughter was able to use her soccer (ECNL) to pick a D3 school that supported her application. In addition, she was able to get a merit scholarship and grant which was equal to the D1 offers she had. The above negative parent who thinks D1 at any level is better is not looking at the big picture. My daughter gets the best of both by having a great education and continuing to play competitive soccer in college. Academics comes first and soccer is scheduled around their school with a less demanding time period in the Spring. Go look at the quality of colleges in the top 20 of D3.

[Unregistered]

I agree with you (as well as many others) whose daughters are fortunate enough to have choices and choose D3 because of putting education first and foremost. My daughter was able to use her soccer (ECNL) to pick a D3 school that supported her application. In addition, she was able to get a merit scholarship and grant which was equal to the D1 offers she had. The above negative parent who thinks D1 at any level is better is not looking at the big picture. My daughter gets the best of both by having a great education and continuing to play competitive soccer in college. Academics comes first and soccer is scheduled around their school with a less demanding time period in the Spring. Go look at the quality of colleges in the top 20 of D3.

I applaud you sir, very well spoken. So many miss the point. And the reality is you can play in any league as far as I’m concerned, if you’re good enough and know what you want (balance between academics and athletics) that is what matters most. Someone else mentioned it, D1 is a nice goal but so unrealistic for most.

[Unregistered]

D will never know because she never wanted D1 and therefore never tried to get on the radar for a D1 program. But her D3 team is ranked in the D3 top 10 and has players from ECNL and GDA teams who were either like her and never considered D1 or actually turned down D1 offers from lower-ranked D1 programs (programs outside the top 100).

All it took was talking to a few D1 coaches and players for my college player to know D1 wasn't for him. Sure he "knew" about the commitment but hearing it directly really opened his eyes. He immediately shifted his focus to getting on a top D3 program/school that was a great soccer and academic fit. Plays with others in the same boat, nearly the whole roster could have played D1 no problem (maybe not top 50 but that's also why people shouldn't ump "D1" all together)

[Unregistered]

I applaud you sir, very well spoken. So many miss the point. And the reality is you can play in any league as far as I’m concerned, if you’re good enough and know what you want (balance between academics and athletics) that is what matters most. Someone else mentioned it, D1 is a nice goal but so unrealistic for most.

D1 is a poor fit for some majors (especially lab intensive science majors - look at D1 rosters and see how many are business, econ, communications, sports management); playing in the spring and pre season call ups early August make study abroad and internships extremely challenging.

Keep in mind D1 athletes get a ton of academic support. D3 athletes do not so if anything managing school work is more challenging, but at least it's pretty much just in the fall. You'll still have team work outs and other must-attend things but not like D1.

[Unregistered]

My daughter played on a nationally ranked D3 program and
BEAT
a D1 school.
So D3 can match D1.
Suck it

[Unregistered]

My daughter played on a nationally ranked D3 program and
BEAT
a D1 school.
So D3 can match D1.
Suck it

The NCAA rules are really clear. Every division stays in their own lane. There are NO regular season matches between D1 and D3. Both divisions have their own specific rules for training and there are no matches. My daughters both played D3 and neither of them nor their other friends playing D3 every played a D1 program. What nationally ranked D3 program played and beat a D1 school.

[Unregistered]

The NCAA rules are really clear. Every division stays in their own lane. There are NO regular season matches between D1 and D3. Both divisions have their own specific rules for training and there are no matches. My daughters both played D3 and neither of them nor their other friends playing D3 every played a D1 program. What nationally ranked D3 program played and beat a D1 school.

William Smith
Beat
U Albany.
Where are your rules now moron?

[Unregistered]

In addressing the topic. I don’t believe it is really necessary for players to require downtime if they are diligent with their rest, nutrition, and don’t have any major bio mechanical flaws. You only start running into issues when the athlete begins to reach their genetic threshold which usually occurs at 18+.

[Unregistered]

In addressing the topic. I don’t believe it is really necessary for players to require downtime if they are diligent with their rest, nutrition, and don’t have any major bio mechanical flaws. You only start running into issues when the athlete begins to reach their genetic threshold which usually occurs at 18+.

Really??
All of these happen long before being 18.....
Osgood–Schlatter disease
Growth plate fracture
Tendentious
Keep the medical advice to the Drs.