How hard is it starting out at U14 ?

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Never to late to start, but be realistic

Been around a while.

Truths:

- Never to late to start
- Don't expect to go right to the A team
- Every year you wait moving from Rec to playing on a Competitive team, it gets harder to catch up. No impossible, but get harder.

Myths:

- All the best players are doing Competitive Sport. Not true. There are many reason for not doing competitive sports, most have to do with money and commitment issues.
- A new player will not displace a current player on a Competitive team. Not true. You have to be really good and stand out at tryouts head and shoulders about the rest. Sure some parents will play politics, but the goals of a good club is to field the best players. If she/he is that good, there will be a team to play on.

Best advise:

- Take off any parent rose colored glasses and be honest with the child and yourself. Know that you have a lot to learn and set on the path to work/train hard.
- Rec Soccer is a basic right for all players. It is open to all
- Competitive Soccer is a privilege earned. Sure some try to buy their way in, but it is a horse race from U10 Development through U18 on to College that few make.
- Ask yourself why are you doing this. Ask your son/daughter why they want to do this. It is a hugh commitment and the child/family has to be willing to do it. No half way measures here. This is not the sport we grew up with.
- Keep asking the child if they want to do this. Let them know that they can quit after the season is done if they want to ( not because you want them to keep going ).
- It is a long road. Measure your goals year to year on what the kids are doing. Don't think to far out. Who will be disappointed when or if you make it.

Good Luck. You stepped on a hard path and it will not be easy. Forget all the jerks out their and say away from this site. It will ruin your view of the sport.

I come here more for the jokers that keep pitch the same junk all the time and think anyone important is listening. The gems are you kind of issues.

I hope you child has fun and enjoys the time.

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Been around a while.

Truths:

- Never to late to start
- Don't expect to go right to the A team
- Every year you wait moving from Rec to playing on a Competitive team, it gets harder to catch up. No impossible, but get harder.

Myths:

- All the best players are doing Competitive Sport. Not true. There are many reason for not doing competitive sports, most have to do with money and commitment issues.
- A new player will not displace a current player on a Competitive team. Not true. You have to be really good and stand out at tryouts head and shoulders about the rest. Sure some parents will play politics, but the goals of a good club is to field the best players. If she/he is that good, there will be a team to play on.

Best advise:

- Take off any parent rose colored glasses and be honest with the child and yourself. Know that you have a lot to learn and set on the path to work/train hard.
- Rec Soccer is a basic right for all players. It is open to all
- Competitive Soccer is a privilege earned. Sure some try to buy their way in, but it is a horse race from U10 Development through U18 on to College that few make.
- Ask yourself why are you doing this. Ask your son/daughter why they want to do this. It is a hugh commitment and the child/family has to be willing to do it. No half way measures here. This is not the sport we grew up with.
- Keep asking the child if they want to do this. Let them know that they can quit after the season is done if they want to ( not because you want them to keep going ).
- It is a long road. Measure your goals year to year on what the kids are doing. Don't think to far out. Who will be disappointed when or if you make it.

Good Luck. You stepped on a hard path and it will not be easy. Forget all the jerks out their and say away from this site. It will ruin your view of the sport.

I come here more for the jokers that keep pitch the same junk all the time and think anyone important is listening. The gems are you kind of issues.

I hope you child has fun and enjoys the time.

'Unregistered'

Thanks for the info. I will heed the advice and yes so far we are both having fun.

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Thanks for the info. I will heed the advice and yes so far we are both having fun.

Agreed with the last advice given to you. Based on my own observations, U14 is likely the last year to effectively transition into a competitive classic soccer program. I cannot count how many times I spoke with parents who waited until U5/U16 years to bring their high-school aged kids to their first classic club tryouts. The ones that only played rec soccer, did not play in President's Cup/Director's Cup, and/or adult or multi cultural leagues, struggled at tryouts.

On the flip side, there are plenty of players with a successful youth background in high-level premier/ODP classic soccer, who opt to not continue on in high school. They pursue other interests.Anything can happen, as kids are the ones that know best what they want to do for themselves. Enjoy these years with your child.

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I agree with you there. It was difficult enough in try outs at U14, I thought on the second day that she might not make it, but she did, and everything is working out fine. I couldn't imagine waiting until U15 for classic, that's got to be difficult.

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I agree with you there. It was difficult enough in try outs at U14, I thought on the second day that she might not make it, but she did, and everything is working out fine. I couldn't imagine waiting until U15 for classic, that's got to be difficult.

From our experience, not too late:

1. U15 is a transitional year, many changes and players dropping out so anything can happen, same thing at the high school too.

2. Lots of overlap of teams and players level. Some rec teams are better than some classic teams. Don't worry about the level. There are advantages to starting out and getting playing time and confidence.

3. Find a coach and team you like and have fun. Look around and make lots of friends, with other players, parents and coaches. Many opportunities to play with other teams if you get to know people. New opportunities in high school.

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From our experience, not too late:

1. U15 is a transitional year, many changes and players dropping out so anything can happen, same thing at the high school too.

2. Lots of overlap of teams and players level. Some rec teams are better than some classic teams. Don't worry about the level. There are advantages to starting out and getting playing time and confidence.

3. Find a coach and team you like and have fun. Look around and make lots of friends, with other players, parents and coaches. Many opportunities to play with other teams if you get to know people. New opportunities in high school.

Yeah. Ignore that. Rec is a short season, has inferior play MOST of the time, and Youtube coaching. Find a good classic / competitive program and Club. Get lots of play with the best net competition. Period. Rec might afford you 20% of serious players on any team, and your kid might get challenged 2 or 3 times all season during games - MAYBE. For the majority of teams, REC sucks, is for the casual player, does not teach competitive soccer, and is really good at keeping little Johnny or Jane fit, but isnt for preparing kids to play ever higher levels of soccer.

Ask yourself, why is it that ODP gets its coaches from college and classic level along with players from clubs? The talent is not pouring out of Rec, unless its a tired parent pulling his DD DS out to begin playing at a local club. We all know this. Dont believe the BS.

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From our experience, not too late:

1. U15 is a transitional year, many changes and players dropping out so anything can happen, same thing at the high school too.

2. Lots of overlap of teams and players level. Some rec teams are better than some classic teams. Don't worry about the level. There are advantages to starting out and getting playing time and confidence.

3. Find a coach and team you like and have fun. Look around and make lots of friends, with other players, parents and coaches. Many opportunities to play with other teams if you get to know people. New opportunities in high school.

You don't have to play premier to have a good experience. From our experience you can play on a good rec team, guest play, go to a camp or start on a "B" team at U14, play JV 2 in high school and get many opportunities in club high school because many club players burn out and quit or get hurt. Just find a team/coach you like, make friends, find opportunities to play on different teams and have fun. We know many that have switched and started club in high school. Not everyone can commit to soccer 24/7. Some coaches/clubs are crazy, so find the ones that really care about the player and not their ego/paycheck.

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You don't have to play premier to have a good experience. From our experience you can play on a good rec team, guest play, go to a camp or start on a "B" team at U14, play JV 2 in high school and get many opportunities in club high school because many club players burn out and quit or get hurt. Just find a team/coach you like, make friends, find opportunities to play on different teams and have fun. We know many that have switched and started club in high school. Not everyone can commit to soccer 24/7. Some coaches/clubs are crazy, so find the ones that really care about the player and not their ego/paycheck.

Wrong. I love posters that work for local recs and use this board to promote their wanna be PML junk. Rec sucks. Its run by moms and Dads that have minimal understanding about the game, competitively. Find a good club and ditch the amateurs.

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Wrong. I love posters that work for local recs and use this board to promote their wanna be PML junk. Rec sucks. Its run by moms and Dads that have minimal understanding about the game, competitively. Find a good club and ditch the amateurs.

Exactly my point. Choice is good. Stay away from the crazy coaches and clubs. We have done both rec and club. Just find a good coach and team that you like. There are many opportunities if you have a good attitude and want to play. It is never too late to start club. Everyone has different goals. Very few will get scholarships, not many girls will play pro and not everyone can play 24/7 and has time or $ for ODP even if they could make the team.

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Love is stronger than hate. May you find the wisdom to find it and courage to share it.

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Not too late if you go to Thusc. Their head of coaching Tom Atencio is awesome. He will make up in 6 months what your daughter missed the last 5 years. He has sent many players to the professional level like MLS and WPSL also. Good luck.

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Another vote for it's not too late to start. My son played rec soccer, basketball, and select lacrosse from elementary through middle school. At the end of 8th grade, he decided that soccer was his favorite and wanted to play club year-round. Last year, he was on a C team, had a great experience, and learned a lot. He got moved up to the B team this year, and is excited for training to start next month. He's happy, so I'm happy. He hopes to play in college, for a DIII school. I think that's a realistic goal.

Good luck to your daughter!

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Not too late if you go to Thusc. Their head of coaching Tom Atencio is awesome. He will make up in 6 months what your daughter missed the last 5 years. He has sent many players to the professional level like MLS and WPSL also. Good luck.

I also have heard that he can turn rocks of various substances into gold, just by holding them in his hand. Just him being in the room with a kid makes them a better soccer player. The soccer energy emitting from his body makes everyone around him into Mia Hamms or Lionel Messis. Everyone should seek his autograph the next time they see him. Get it framed and put it on the wall.