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[Southend soccer mom]

What is everyone's opinion on the recent trend to start U6, U7, U8 doing serious training? Seems like the trend is to start them earlier and earlier for every year. Just curious...

[Black Knight]

What is everyone's opinion on the recent trend to start U6, U7, U8 doing serious training? Seems like the trend is to start them earlier and earlier for every year. Just curious...

I don't really mind as long as its the players that want to play and not the parents forcing them to play.

On a side note one thing this post made me think of is, I think its funny how parents are pushing their kids younger and younger to join these "premier leagues" (and im talking about more than just soccer), but people in our country seem to frown on 16 year olds playing professionally. Where in europe if your not signed to a club between the ages of 16-18 your behind the curve. Think about basketball where they won't let you go professional until a year after you graduate. There was also a bit of a stir a while ago when a 17 year old soccer player from florida left school after his jr. year to go play professional i believe in south america. just another thought.

[sidelinerdad]

I think it is waay to young for "premier".  The kids don't understand it - just want to have fun or pick flowers at that age.  I know there are parents who are going for this, but it's nuts.  U9 - is a good age to start.  

[Victory]

When DD was this age the more advanced and more mature kids would play up a year or 2. 

[Brat Jr]

The only thing that is going to happen at this age playing 'premier' is BURNOUT by U14-15.

It's funny how a few years ago, kids started in rec soccer, playing locally having one practice a week with parent coaches.
Now kids are starting at the select and above level, playing all over the place, 2 or more practices a week.
Most of this is up to the parents at this age.
Kid #1 started small  ( rec ) and worked up,
Kid #2 may or may not play rec and moves up.
Kid #3 starts at the top becaue that's where siblings are playing now and doesn't really get any beginning training steps and is expected to play at a higher level. The kid might be able to play there or might not. Will the parents now think it's a step down to play select or even rec because he was at that higher level to start with?

[NKSoccerFan]

When DD was this age the more advanced and more mature kids would play up a year or 2. 

Now everybody's kid is advanced.  It's like grade inflation for soccer.  I'm still trying to figure out what will be above Premier - maybe we can form a super special club and just call it "God's Gift FC".

The only thing that is going to happen at this age playing 'premier' is BURNOUT by U14-15.

I figure most kids have about 6-7 years of competitive soccer.  When they used to start at U13, that meant they'd play all through HS.  Now, if they start at U-9, their 6-7 years will be done by U15.

[anyudes]

I think that U9 & below should be playing "academy" style. Every kid has a ball on their foot with the emphasis on ball mastery & touch with an eye toward balance & coordination. In this system, children will develop without the pressure to win. If the trainers want to break the kids into teams & play short sided to keep the kids attention then fine.

Parents that think kids should be playing a match every week at age 6 will eventually see a kid who would rather play xbox!

[tripleplay]

What is everyone's opinion on the recent trend to start U6, U7, U8 doing serious training? Seems like the trend is to start them earlier and earlier for every year. Just curious...

There is NO doubt that the capacity to learn is extremely high at these ages. If the only goal is to produce the best soccer player possible, the earlier you start the better. Most of the world's best come from an environment where their parents, or their culture, or both their parents and their culture, pushed them at an early age (for every skill based sport, of which soccer is just one example).

But most people don't view good parenting as synonymous with developing a good soccer player. That same learning capacity is a benefit in many sports other than soccer, and many activities that aren't sports at all. So how do you want to use that capacity?

The way the US used to do it in soccer was to teach virtually nothing until we started training only the "best" athletes when they were 12 or older. But by that time the development window is already starting to shut, so it set a  rather low upper limit on how good a player could become. That's the system that gave us a national team that couldn't beat Mexico for decades.

[yote19]

Triple -- maybe we should just be like the Chinese and their gymnasts and divers.

[tripleplay]

Triple -- maybe we should just be like the Chinese and their gymnasts and divers.

There are many successful American gymnasts. Whatever country they come from, they get that way with the formula of starting young and working hard. I don't think we should deny Americans that option - do you?

[Southend soccer mom]

Thanks for all opinions! I think it's great to expose them to technical training early vs rec soccer but to put them in serious training with a fall and spring season with a team is too much. They need to have time for other sports/ activities.

[Jellyman]

Each player is different - and the decisions on where to play, and how young to start playing more competitively, should be based on each individual player.  Our DS would go with us when we took his brother to soccer practice (who always played rec) - at 2 yrs old, he would kick the ball around with the older players (big brother is 7 yrs older), shag balls, etc.  He couldn't WAIT until he was old enough to play.  From U5 - U8 he played rec, then, his coach asked him to play for his U11 team at West Sound.  He loved his coach, wanted to get better at soccer, and LOVED practices, so, we LET him play 2 yrs up on the team (we did not force him, it was what he wanted to do).  He played U11 for three years, coming back to age last year, and he's now playing U12 at Harbor (3rd yr at Harbor).  He absolutely LOVES soccer, but, he also plays basketball, plays video games, and does GREAT in school.  Do I think this would work for everyone?  Of course not.  But, I'm glad we're  doing what we can to help him achieve the goals that he's set for himself.  I don't see it happening, but, if he decides to take a break from soccer in the future, to pursue some other interest he may have, well, we'll be there supporting him in that, too - because that's what our job is.   

[onetouch]

Each player is different - and the decisions on where to play, and how young to start playing more competitively, should be based on each individual player.  Our DS would go with us when we took his brother to soccer practice (who always played rec) - at 2 yrs old, he would kick the ball around with the older players (big brother is 7 yrs older), shag balls, etc.  He couldn't WAIT until he was old enough to play.  From U5 - U8 he played rec, then, his coach asked him to play for his U11 team at West Sound.  He loved his coach, wanted to get better at soccer, and LOVED practices, so, we LET him play 2 yrs up on the team (we did not force him, it was what he wanted to do).  He played U11 for three years, coming back to age last year, and he's now playing U12 at Harbor (3rd yr at Harbor).  He absolutely LOVES soccer, but, he also plays basketball, plays video games, and does GREAT in school.  Do I think this would work for everyone?  Of course not.  But, I'm glad we're  doing what we can to help him achieve the goals that he's set for himself.  I don't see it happening, but, if he decides to take a break from soccer in the future, to pursue some other interest he may have, well, we'll be there supporting him in that, too - because that's what our job is.   

Starting young is fine but the parents should be very careful picking the right team and coach. You want a coach who will balance the training and games. Technical training is very importrant for U6-U11 kids.  Strength training and tactical training will come later. You want your kid to have sound soccer fundamentals...the part that can be taught. You also want to win some games. That's the fun part for young kids to remain interested in the sport. And you can tell a lot by how a kid reacts in games to gauge the kid's competitive fire that will become more important once they hit U12. The #1 difference I usually see in a RCL div1 team compared to the rest of the field is the desire to win.

[sissy]

Triple -- maybe we should just be like the Chinese and their gymnasts and divers.

Yote,I know you're just being sarcastic but I just want to point out that in gymnastics you have to start young cause your career is over by 20 (for girls) there are the exceptions but they are more rare (the US is on the older end). Mother nature wins out in this sport where "tiny/petite" is prized...and we all know that is the exact opposite in soccer.  Can't think of one coach who would be drooling at the 4'11" 90lb forward ...unless she were a u6  

Back on topic....anything under u9/10 is just silly in my opinion.  Parents save your money or put it towards all kinds of different sports/activities

[yote19]

Triple -- maybe we should just be like the Chinese and their gymnasts and divers.

Yote,I know you're just being sarcastic but I just want to point out that in gymnastics you have to start young cause your career is over by 20 (for girls) there are the exceptions but they are more rare (the US is on the older end). Mother nature wins out in this sport where "tiny/petite" is prized...and we all know that is the exact opposite in soccer.  Can't think of one coach who would be drooling at the 4'11" 90lb forward ...unless she were a u6  

Back on topic....anything under u9/10 is just silly in my opinion.  Parents save your money or put it towards all kinds of different sports/activities

I was being big time sarcastic -- more about the Chinese way of doing sport.

[tripleplay]

Point is that if you can learn to do skills on a 4-inch beam when you are 6, you can also learn to control a soccer ball at the same age. Most people don't do either because they (or their parents really) make a sensible decision that there are more important things to do in life, not because there is some benefit to waiting. And soccer players can play when they're older, but peak skill acquisition occurs when they're young much like gymnasts.

[sissy]

Point is that if you can learn to do skills on a 4-inch beam when you are 6, you can also learn to control a soccer ball at the same age. Most people don't do either because they (or their parents really) make a sensible decision that there are more important things to do in life, not because there is some benefit to waiting. And soccer players can play when they're older, but peak skill acquisition occurs when they're young much like gymnasts.

STRONGLY disagree with this comparison.  The window for soccer, along with many other sports is greater than that of gymnastics

[sissy]

Triple -- maybe we should just be like the Chinese and their gymnasts and divers.

Yote,I know you're just being sarcastic but I just want to point out that in gymnastics you have to start young cause your career is over by 20 (for girls) there are the exceptions but they are more rare (the US is on the older end). Mother nature wins out in this sport where "tiny/petite" is prized...and we all know that is the exact opposite in soccer.  Can't think of one coach who would be drooling at the 4'11" 90lb forward ...unless she were a u6  

Back on topic....anything under u9/10 is just silly in my opinion.  Parents save your money or put it towards all kinds of different sports/activities

I was being big time sarcastic -- more about the Chinese way of doing sport.

I knew you were Yote 

[tripleplay]

STRONGLY disagree with this comparison.  The window for soccer, along with many other sports is greater than that of gymnastics

There is plenty that can be learned in soccer at older ages but things like touch and skill come from cumulative improvements in years 5-15. You're right that puberty helps performance in soccer but hurts in gymnastics, but that doesn't really have much to do with the ability to learn. There was a NYT article about Ajax that included an example of scouting a kid before he started school. It's no accident.

[AS-ROMA10]

If they love it...start them early....and give the best they can get.  This is really not much different from starting kids to read early and them getting them best books you can get. 

[Independent]

If they love it...start them early....and give the best they can get.  This is really not much different from starting kids to read early and them getting them best books you can get. 

The main value in starting that early is if you want your kids to love the game and their are no other options.  In other words if there are no kids playing pickup in the neighborhood.  Touch is gained by playing the game, not because you get formal "training" when you are 5-7. 

[Scrunch]

Best investment would be for a group of parents to monitor a pickup environment nightly for the kids.  Touches on the ball.  IMO, beyond a couple hours of technical instruction/week at this age, the rest is not needed.  BTW, RCL going down to U7 shortly. Stay tuned.

[anyudes]

PSPL is already playing u8. I think mod soccer is good if the kids want to play but touches & ball mastery is more important than teaching a fullback to overlap a winger when they are 7!

http://www.pugetsoundpremierleague.com/LS/PSPL_Dev_Fall_2011/index_E.html

[NKSoccerFan]

PSPL is already playing u8. I think mod soccer is good if the kids want to play but touches & ball mastery is more important than teaching a fullback to overlap a winger when they are 7!

http://www.pugetsoundpremierleague.com/LS/PSPL_Dev_Fall_2011/index_E.html

Last fall I had a parent tell me that their DK wasn't going to be able to play in college because we weren't teaching them proper throw-in technique. DK was U-8.
 
 

[anyudes]

PSPL is already playing u8. I think mod soccer is good if the kids want to play but touches & ball mastery is more important than teaching a fullback to overlap a winger when they are 7!

http://www.pugetsoundpremierleague.com/LS/PSPL_Dev_Fall_2011/index_E.html

Last fall I had a parent tell me that their DK wasn't going to be able to play in college because we weren't teaching them proper throw-in technique. DK was U-8.
 

NK, thats hilarious. It's parents like that that burn kids out. I wouldnt let that keep my kid from playing at the u8 age, I just woulndt be thinking about college soccer when the child is in first grade!

[tripleplay]

Last fall I had a parent tell me that their DK wasn't going to be able to play in college because we weren't teaching them proper throw-in technique. DK was U-8.
 
 

Suspect the real frustration wasn't over a lost collegiate career, but at seeing DK's capabilities not being respected because of age.

As far as the PSPL U8, there are two main problem. First, they play 8v8 which is downright ugly at that age. Second, it's unnecessary and irrational to travel 50 miles for a soccer game at that age in an area with so many soccer players. But really it's a symptom of local soccer clubs not doing their job, and someone stepping in to fill the void.

[jensco123]

We played in the PSPL U8 league last year and loved it!  DS got 2 1.5-hr practice sessions a week where they worked on all sorts of ball-skills.  The practices were really outstanding and had lots of ball-touches, with kids receiving far better coaching than DS had gotten when I was coaching him in rec-league, I'll assure you.  Games were a bit chaotic.  Some basic positioning was coached but none of our fullbacks were taught to over-lap the winger.  Kids at that age just don't get the advanced concepts.  It's enough if you can teach your defenders not to play forward.     We liked the league because of the better coaching during (more) practice sessions + the fact that kids on the team had to try-out so were of "like" ability.  Everyone wanted to be there and gave good effort.  We didn't see that in rec-league.  And we didn't have parent-coaches to contend with, either.  We're playing again this year at U9 because we liked it so well.  DS wasn't ready for the year-round premier league yet.  Still needs a "break" between seasons.  Kids vary and I think you just have to find the level of league that suits your child.  For us, the PSPL worked great this year.  Next year at U10, we hope DS is ready for year-round Premier but we'll have to wait and see. 

[NKSoccerFan]

Last fall I had a parent tell me that their DK wasn't going to be able to play in college because we weren't teaching them proper throw-in technique. DK was U-8.
 
 

Suspect the real frustration wasn't over a lost collegiate career, but at seeing DK's capabilities not being respected because of age.

It was more of a resistance to the shift in focus in our younger ages from team-centric to individual skill development. Some people don't like change.

[Independent]

We played in the PSPL U8 league last year and loved it!  DS got 2 1.5-hr practice sessions a week where they worked on all sorts of ball-skills.  The practices were really outstanding and had lots of ball-touches, with kids receiving far better coaching than DS had gotten when I was coaching him in rec-league, I'll assure you.  Games were a bit chaotic.  Some basic positioning was coached but none of our fullbacks were taught to over-lap the winger.  Kids at that age just don't get the advanced concepts.  It's enough if you can teach your defenders not to play forward.     We liked the league because of the better coaching during (more) practice sessions + the fact that kids on the team had to try-out so were of "like" ability.  Everyone wanted to be there and gave good effort.  We didn't see that in rec-league.  And we didn't have parent-coaches to contend with, either.  We're playing again this year at U9 because we liked it so well.  DS wasn't ready for the year-round premier league yet.  Still needs a "break" between seasons.  Kids vary and I think you just have to find the level of league that suits your child.  For us, the PSPL worked great this year.  Next year at U10, we hope DS is ready for year-round Premier but we'll have to wait and see. 

Just curious.  Are you really saying that you think it was unfortunate that your 7 year old daughter was not being taught the nuances of positional play or was that a bit of sarcasm?  And, interesting comment about not having to "contend" with parent coaches in rec, my experience with parent coached teams has always been a good one (even if the coach knows jack about soccer). 

[tripleplay]

Throw-ins are an individual skill which many if not most 7 yos can learn - but you have to ask them to.

I've seen "B" teams of 9 yos, all of whom can juggle. Have also seen (awhile ago) HS soccer teams where it was a rarity. It just comes down to what expectations have been set.