Topic: How far are you willing to travel ? (Read 2778 times)

Yobo2One · « **on:** February 18, 2007, 10:57:05 AM »

Last year was my girls first year playing Select . As I talk with other parents here and there I see there are parents who travel well outside their area to have their child play with a particular team and there are those who look at me as being crazy just for going 30 minutes up the way so my D can play some indoor soccer on the side. How far is too far ? How far do you travel to play ? Just curious. Esp. since tryouts are around the corner and parents (with their kids) may be considering a bit of a commute to switch to another team.

Dragon · « **Reply #1 on:** February 18, 2007, 11:02:05 AM »

D has heard of kids stayin in their local area for years, and playing on "lower level" teams just to not have to drive.

There is nothing wrong with that, if that is what your DD or DS wishes to do. If they are in soccer to just have fun and not worry about "winning it all" or stuff like that then it is fine.

Then again, D has heard of CP's driving over 3 hours just to practice...believe some kids even drive from Eastern WA to our side just to participate in teams over here...again, there is nothing wrong with that either. Depends on the kid and parent and what they are looking for.

Either way, D says; Long as your DD/DS is having fun, and you are too..either choice can be a good one

English1 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 18, 2007, 11:21:41 AM »

We have a good club in our area but my oldest dd has never played in it. We have played for a few clubs for one reason or another and now drive 45 mins to practice but carpool with two others. Out of our team, only a few live in that city and most live outside. My dd loves to have friends out of her neighborhood and we have made some great friends too. In fact I will cry if some of them go away this year because everyone had a blast last year.
Tryouts, tryouts what a difficult time...

Yobo2One · « **Reply #3 on:** February 18, 2007, 11:22:16 AM »

Okay guys. You are crazy parents right ? :lol: So How crazy are you? How far do you go for your kids to play ? Not all of us are old hats at the soccer thing ya know. I know you are out there. Fess up.

Brat Jr · « **Reply #4 on:** February 18, 2007, 11:32:40 AM »

Quote from: "Yobo2One"

Okay guys. You are crazy parents right ? :lol: So How crazy are you? How far do you go for your kids to play ? Not all of us are old hats at the soccer thing ya know. I know you are out there. Fess up.

IF the DD's were to leave the Clubs that they are with, I would push to find a team that is within an hours drive. No more than that. With 2 of them in soccer, the gas bill alone is enough for just around town. Because of DH's schedule, ( shift worker and not having a set schedule ) carpooling is out of the question for the most part.

dogedog · « **Reply #5 on:** February 18, 2007, 11:55:50 AM »

We drive 45 min. to one hour depending on traffic and location of practice. This gives DD time to do homework and chill out.

On average we make this trip three times a week for practing and then games on weekends.

For me it never has been an issue.

Some might think I'm crazy but when DD made her decision the closet team was 25 minutes away. I figured what is an extra half hour if that is what she really wants plus it is all freeway and carpool lanes. Never once have I ever doubted our decision.

MA · « **Reply #6 on:** February 18, 2007, 11:57:16 AM »

We are willing to drive DD to Redmond from Browns Pt. in rush hour twice a week. :shock:

All depends on where she "fits". :roll:

That a straight enough answer :mrgreen:

But Im
hoping she is able to play closer to home!

Please dont tell Lollipop that Im only willing to drive to Redmond. She thinks I would go to the moon and back because thats what I have always told her.

Old Yeller · « **Reply #7 on:** February 18, 2007, 12:52:19 PM »

I at one time had 4 kids in select ball yes expensive and allot of traveling, but I never regreted it, the memeries, and keeping them out of trouble was well worth it, and we spent allot of time in the car so we always had time for one on one chat well worth it!! Also when your child feels they had a choice on who to play for even if along trip they accept it becouse you allowed them to deciede.
Also for you new parents we use to plan our vacations around our out of town trips!! Sounds crazy but it saved allot of money we did not have, I once drove with my 2 daughters to Salt Lake City for Regionals, then left to meet the rest of the family in Colorado for Pikes Peak, so you addapt!!

Brat Jr · « **Reply #8 on:** February 18, 2007, 01:05:15 PM »

Quote from: "Old Yeller"

I at one time had 4 kids in select ball yes expensive and allot of traveling, but I never regreted it, the memeries, and keeping them out of trouble was well worth it, and we spent allot of time in the car so we always had time for one on one chat well worth it!! Also when your child feels they had a choice on who to play for even if along trip they accept it becouse you allowed them to deciede.
Also for you new parents we use to plan our vacations around our out of town trips!! Sounds crazy but it saved allot of money we did not have, I once drove with my 2 daughters to Salt Lake City for Regionals, then left to meet the rest of the family in Colorado for Pikes Peak, so you addapt!!

Thats what we did this year. Granted, none of our trips were out of the state, but I wouldn't trade ANY soccer trip in. :mrgreen:

sokerfam4 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 18, 2007, 01:23:54 PM »

We will drive as far as we have to as long as there is a good coach there... I think most would agree, it is not always about the club but about the coaching you get.

hefe · « **Reply #10 on:** February 18, 2007, 01:53:25 PM »

When DD was 9 we drove about 45 min to 1 hour up to Lake Stevens from Bothell hwy # 9 :shock: Nasty traffic but worth it she got to play soccer at a higher level and we spent allot of time together. We would stop and get mike shakes on the way home

If the club fits and your daughter or son is having fun learning the game go for it.

ineedtogetalife · « **Reply #11 on:** February 18, 2007, 02:05:29 PM »

DD plays for the closest Premier Club and most travel is 25-35 mins depending on traffic and practice location. We trained twice a week this past season and carpooled, which is nice.

Our other local choice is Club Select which is only 10 mins from our house and where most of DD's friends from school play. It is a tempting choice to have her play even closer to home and with classmates, but the level of competition she meets with EFC is more desirable for her right now.

Going to a club further away isn't desireable for me

. I personally wouldn't spend more than 40 mins traveling to a practice.

Great Dane · « **Reply #12 on:** February 18, 2007, 02:27:04 PM »

Sometimes you can travel farther and spend less time doing so, depending on whether you are going with or against rush hour traffic. For us folks in the southend, traveling north is not as much of a problem than having to go half the distance in the other direction (south). Also, I have to balance it with being able to get my DS to baseball and football practices as well. With that said, I'd hate to spend more than say 45 minutes to an hour in a car each way at this age if I could find great coaching closer to home. But I also like a drive that is at least 20 to 30 minutes ( :shock: ) because it's a time of the day when my DD and I know we'll have at least a little bit of time to catch up on the events of the day and simply talk about whatever. I think this is important to do each day, whether it be a dinner time, breakfast, etc. Since having a normal dinner time is all but impossible, the time in the car is our time to chat.

Mufasa · « **Reply #13 on:** February 18, 2007, 04:04:40 PM »

It bein offseason, Mufasa willin to travel exacly 11 steps, which is distance from couch to beer fridge...

English1 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 18, 2007, 04:36:56 PM »

Miss America - u b my neighbor

Victory · « **Reply #15 on:** February 18, 2007, 04:55:07 PM »

It used to be that us down here in Olympia pretty much had to go to River Road to play at the higher level. With the guideance of our coaching director (who BTW is a former River Road director of coaching) the best training and coaches appear to available right here in town. In a recent U-11 cup game CPs of a team up north were over heard talking about commumting down here! :shock:

cheese · « **Reply #16 on:** February 18, 2007, 05:33:24 PM »

We drive almost as far as Dog. He might live in the stick but we can see it from outside our singlewide.

Will we continue to drive as far next year?
I think Sockem is willing to take back lil' curd. Just don't know if she can handle her dad for another year.
It's been known that too much cheese can make one go insane :twisted:

SoccerKitty · « **Reply #17 on:** February 18, 2007, 06:04:30 PM »

We are lucky to live within 10-20 minutes of practice fields, and home games, played rec soccer before Premier. We have a great fit with the coach (although tryouts are just around the corner again). All clubs have positives and negatives, whether they are big or small. After two year's into this premier stuff, talking to other parents, you get to know different clubs, it would be hard to switch (many within 45 min.) Our player doesn't want to tryout anywhere else because of the fit with the coach and players. The 1/2 of 1% that do the major distance travel are the ones with driven, ultra committed players - note: players not parents. Most of us will be lucky to get our kids onto a high school or college team.

About travel, we have team potlucks, stay where it is reasonably priced, carpool when possible, and like was stated before, extend trips after tournaments to have family time. We have spent much less money the past two summers than before. Many, many happy memories have been made in just two short seasons - yeah for dry camping at the Snohomish Bigfoot! Do what is fun for your player and all will work out. It's a mindset.

daditude · « **Reply #18 on:** February 18, 2007, 09:30:43 PM »

There are folks in Bellingham who were on the Whatcom Rangers driving to NWN now. DD may be doing that in the future. 1.5 to 2 hours each way. Bring the homework.

80s forever · « **Reply #19 on:** February 18, 2007, 09:37:40 PM »

Quote from: "daditude"

There are folks in Bellingham who were on the Whatcom Rangers driving to NWN now. DD may be doing that in the future. 1.5 to 2 hours each way. Bring the homework.

I am just curious, what age group did you play before? Or should I say, what age group are you trying out for?

daditude · « **Reply #20 on:** February 19, 2007, 01:10:02 AM »

Quote from: "80s forever"

Quote from: "daditude"
There are folks in Bellingham who were on the Whatcom Rangers driving to NWN now. DD may be doing that in the future. 1.5 to 2 hours each way. Bring the homework.

I am just curious, what age group did you play before? Or should I say, what age group are you trying out for?

Simpler to say she's a 93. Why do you ask?

Walt Disney · « **Reply #21 on:** February 19, 2007, 01:32:08 AM »

Crush's roster has one from vancouver and one from portland driving to seattle. so CP's ARE OUT THERE!!!

80s forever · « **Reply #22 on:** February 19, 2007, 02:44:43 AM »

Quote from: "Walt Disney"

Crush's roster has one from vancouver and one from portland driving to seattle. so CP's ARE OUT THERE!!!

It's just that Whatcom '93 is such an outstanding team. I can't imagine anyone wanting to leave.

ShelbyJ · « **Reply #23 on:** February 19, 2007, 04:11:38 AM »

We drive one hour, generally counting on traffic, but there are times when the commute makes us seriously consider playing elsewhere. There are 5 kids in the family and 3 of either have to be alone at home or sit in a car for several hours so that the others can play. Soccer is important, but not more important than overall lifestyle. An hour each way, 4x a week gets to be a lot. May be time for a change!

hefe · « **Reply #24 on:** February 19, 2007, 10:46:42 AM »

Quote from: "Walt Disney"

Crush's roster has one from vancouver and one from portland driving to seattle. so CP's ARE OUT THERE!!!

How often do they come to practice :roll: Or just games

Victory · « **Reply #25 on:** February 19, 2007, 10:48:31 AM »

Quote from: "hefe"

Quote from: "Walt Disney"
Crush's roster has one from vancouver and one from portland driving to seattle. so CP's ARE OUT THERE!!!

How often do they come to practice :roll: Or just games

My understanding is they come to the practices.

nosoupforU · « **Reply #26 on:** February 19, 2007, 12:03:39 PM »

Quote from: "Walt Disney"

Crush's roster has one from vancouver and one from portland driving to seattle. so CP's ARE OUT THERE!!!

yea that is NUTS, but rumor is those 2 will not be commuting this year as the 2 kids are playing somewhere in the Couve.

Personally I love the road trips to tournaments. It is quality time I get to spend 1 on 1 with my child. We see new sites, we talk about life, we talk about school and dreams of the future. Recently we've hooked up with an awesome charter bus company and found out it's by far cheaper to get the entire team on the bus than it is to drive 16 cars. It's relaxing, safe and extremely fun for our team and parents. It's the only way to travel now to one day events any distance away.

Travel to practice has never been an issue, we go. Traffic sucks, driving 3 times a week for 30 minutes or more sucks. So does driving to work, and I do that because I go to work or go on welfare. We carpool to practices whenever possible, so that helps. Otherwise, we drive. Hating the drive makes the drive unbearable, so we find ways to enjoy the drive.

2 CENTS · « **Reply #27 on:** February 19, 2007, 02:55:07 PM »

Quote from: "daditude"

There are folks in Bellingham who were on the Whatcom Rangers driving to NWN now. DD may be doing that in the future. 1.5 to 2 hours each way. Bring the homework.

We drive 2 to 3 minutes, sometimes it might take 7 to 8 minutes,

Great Dane · « **Reply #28 on:** February 19, 2007, 03:08:54 PM »

Quote from: "2 CENTS"

Quote from: "daditude"
There are folks in Bellingham who were on the Whatcom Rangers driving to NWN now. DD may be doing that in the future. 1.5 to 2 hours each way. Bring the homework.

We drive 2 to 3 minutes, sometimes it might take 7 to 8 minutes,

Well, this past year we had a drive that if done on the weekend is only about 10 to 12 minutes as well, but during rush hour in mid-week it can be over 30 minutes if you are unlucky and choose the wrong path that happens to be backed up.

ltg · « **Reply #29 on:** February 19, 2007, 03:54:58 PM »

well I am one of those CP that have mixed emotions about what I did. My older daughter played an hour (at least) away from home for 5 years. at one point we hired a driver because it just got to be too hard on us with 3 other kids. we used to talk about how great life was before soccer. for her final two years she has played with our local team. they are playing p1 but I can't help but think that if my daughter and the few others that drove north had stayed together that they would have been p1 several years earlier. Once high school starts, the girls get very busy and commuting just becomes a real pain. Now she wishes she would have just stayed here all along. So now what to do with the younger one. She too commutes an hour but at least we have a carpool so it is so much easier and she loves her team. If she is ever cut then we will look no further than our own local team for a place for her and I'm sure she'll love it. We do have some bad feelings about all the time spent driving so far away and the time it took away from our family time and our own personal lives but there are also some great memories. Just my two cents.

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Author Topic: How far are you willing to travel ? (Read 2778 times)

sokerfam4

daditude

daditude