U8 Tryouts… What the hell are we doing?
Long story short, my kid has just been playing with school friends for the past 18 months. He’s improved a lot and is decently athletic and very coachable. Not the most physical being yet, but he’ll grow into that right?
Well recently the dad who he’s been playing for tells us he’s going to coach the select team and thinks we’ll be okay but have to come to try out. That’s cool. He gives us some things to help prepare. I’m sure many know the kind of things. Ball touches. Control. Etc.
The further I read its things like “be ready to take a step. Win a sprint. Communicate with your teammate.” Etc.
This makes sense, then I start talking to my son about it. He nods his head a lot.
Later tonight I’m sitting here thinking. And the thought that comes into my mind is… what the hell are we doing? 10 months ago I put my kid into a team with his school buddies to have fun and learn the game. Less than a year later I’m planning on taking him to workout days on the weekend so we can train on our own in preparation to try and get on a team with most of the same guys.
They’re in the first grade! They have turned 7 years old in the last few months! Now we’re throwing them into a high stakes evaluation to decide if they can play with their friends from school based on if they can “make a good read” or lift the ball in the air on a pass into the 18?
My kid loves soccer and watches our local pro team all the time, Euro leagues on weekends, and practices almost every night. He also plays with hot wheels and was psyched to go see Mario Brothers movie and gets pumped to go to the playground. It’s still difficult for him to distinguish when is a good time to step up without instruction from the sideline. He’s still learning to use his body to shield defenders. I still have to explain what it means to make a good step up. Know why?? Bc he’s 7.
I guess what I’m saying is… is this really the best way to do this? With 7 year olds? I struggle to believe it is. Well still probably do the tryout, but this kind of points to the youth soccer development issues in the US, imo…. Many guys don’t start playing American football or basketball until intermediate. At 7 we’re telling kids they can’t have quality coaching if they don’t show well on a random Tuesday in May. Is that how we grow the game? What the hell are we doing?