...you might be a rec parent

Sean Bradley also...but Sheets...
Look at all the Basketball Players who made the transition easily to football...Antonio Gates, Earnest Graham...that's all I can name lol but any agile tall mofo with athletic background and size looks like they have a shot at TE. Oh...and Julius Peppers at DE...

go99 wrote:I love how people bring up people who played from a time when there was no year around focused sports.  It's like saying Micheal Jordan didn't play AAU so I don't have too.  Players didn't do that waaaaay back then.  Times have changed and the problem is not the multiple sports it's the time dedicated to the sport so I guess if you are playing and practicing soccer just as much as the next kid then it shouldn't matter.  If you take half the time off to go play something else you can't be surprised that an equally talented player will become better.  You will compete against kids who just put more into the sport.  Life has changed.  When I was a kid you played your sport during the season and then on to the next sport for the next season. Most kids should play whatever they want but don't expect that to make you the next national team player.  And why is nobody complaining about all of those gymnast, skaters, swimmers with their stupid focus on one sport.

I would agree this tends to be true at the highest level. Rare is the D1 player with such natural athleticism that she can juggle multiple sports and still be at the top of the D1 herd. But looking at the entire select soccer scene, I'm just not convinced that a player has to be so dedicated to be as good - or in some cases better - than her mid D2 and lower counterparts. I've just seen WAY too many rec (and PSA) players walk onto starting positions with club soccer teams and listened to the coach say "now, you're telling me this kid has NEVER played select soccer???" An athlete is an athlete. And that begs the observation of how much money was saved while an 11 year old (or older) weighed her options during the formative years and played multiple rec sports instead of jumping into the academy fray at age 7.

As for the broader issue of whether it is good or bad to focus on only a single sport, that has been answered time and time again by researchers, orthopedic doctors, sports psychologists, and on and on. A quick Google search will reveal that the vast majority of them have found that multiple activities are better for these young athletes on multiple levels than specialization. In fact, it has been steadfastly observed that multiple-sport kids are actually better overall at their favorite sports than their specialized counterparts.

Peter Crouch (6'-7") - currently plays at the highest level of soccer couldn't make it in pro football nor basketball.

back to topic:
potential great player-
1. possible as opposed to actual
2. reserved words used by club coaches to get REC parents to sign their contract

It seems like some sort of double standard....should be applicable to boys more or less...the multiple sports thing

Another fun fact is nearly 50% of all players in this age group will not be playing soccer in six years. Burnout? Different interests? Not having fun anymore (pressures, unrealistic expectations, etc)? Let the kids decide what they want to play and how much. If there's something special there, then take it to the next level at the appropriate time.

Jules Rimet wrote:Another fun fact is nearly 50% of all players in this age group will not be playing soccer in six years. Burnout? Different interests? Not having fun anymore (pressures, unrealistic expectations, etc)?  Let the kids decide what they want to play and how much. If there's something special there, then take it to the next level at the appropriate time.

I agree...
Man they haven't hit middle school yet...
Cheerleading, Volleyball, Basketball, Track, softball, and worst of all.....
BOYS!!!

When they get boy crazy all bets are off!

Yeah...or become apart of the mean girl clique

keep22 wrote:Peter Crouch (6'-7") - currently plays at the highest level of soccer couldn't make it in pro football nor basketball.

back to topic:
potential great player-
1. possible as opposed to actual
2. reserved words used by club coaches to get REC parents to sign their contract

Lol, I didn't say a 6 7 beanpole...,,

JustaSport wrote:

go99 wrote:I love how people bring up people who played from a time when there was no year around focused sports.  It's like saying Micheal Jordan didn't play AAU so I don't have too.  Players didn't do that waaaaay back then.  Times have changed and the problem is not the multiple sports it's the time dedicated to the sport so I guess if you are playing and practicing soccer just as much as the next kid then it shouldn't matter.  If you take half the time off to go play something else you can't be surprised that an equally talented player will become better.  You will compete against kids who just put more into the sport.  Life has changed.  When I was a kid you played your sport during the season and then on to the next sport for the next season. Most kids should play whatever they want but don't expect that to make you the next national team player.  And why is nobody complaining about all of those gymnast, skaters, swimmers with their stupid focus on one sport.

I would agree this tends to be true at the highest level.  Rare is the D1 player with such natural athleticism that she can juggle multiple sports and still be at the top of the D1 herd.  But looking at the entire select soccer scene, I'm just not convinced that a player has to be so dedicated to be as good - or in some cases better - than her mid D2 and lower counterparts.  I've just seen WAY too many rec (and PSA) players walk onto starting positions with club soccer teams and listened to the coach say "now, you're telling me this kid has NEVER played select soccer???"  An athlete is an athlete.  And that begs the observation of how much money was saved while an 11 year old (or older) weighed her options during the formative years and played multiple rec sports instead of jumping into the academy fray at age 7.

As for the broader issue of whether it is good or bad to focus on only a single sport, that has been answered time and time again by researchers, orthopedic doctors, sports psychologists, and on and on.  A quick Google search will reveal that the vast majority of them have found that multiple activities are better for these young athletes on multiple levels than specialization.  In fact, it has been steadfastly observed that multiple-sport kids are actually better overall at their favorite sports than their specialized counterparts.

 

No need to google search. This is just common sense. If anyone "expects their child to be the next national team player," then they might be a rec parent. The success and failures of your child on any field, or in life for the matter, has very little to do with the choices that you make. It is determined by the choices that they make. Get a grip and let go rec parents. Theres an oxymoron for you Sheets.

Guest wrote:--If you think shinguards, over the socks is acceptable:  you might be a rec parent.

--If your daughter puts colored hairspray in before a game to look really mean: you might be a rec parent.

This is cracking me up!!!