Where do we start

Good morning,
We currently have my two year old daughter in soccer tots as a way to burn off some energy on the weekends. The coach as suggested we move her up with the 3-4 year olds based on her coordination, speed and attention span.

Is this a good idea? My husband played college football and I played college basketball so general athletics we get but we aren't familiar with the soccer world.

I clearly understand that at two she's just having fun but at what age do things really start to get competitive?

Also I know that our local YMCA and neighborhood leagues start at three. Should we enroll her in those when they start (after she turns 3 of course) or just keep her in soccer tots?

Thanks for your comments.

Dg_mommy wrote:Good morning,
We currently have my two year old daughter in soccer tots as a way to burn off some energy on the weekends. The coach as suggested we move her up with the 3-4 year olds based on her coordination, speed and attention span.

Is this a good idea? My husband played college football and I played college basketball so general athletics we get but we aren't familiar with the soccer world.

I clearly understand that at two she's just having fun but at what age do things really start to get competitive?

Also I know that our local YMCA and neighborhood leagues start at three. Should we enroll her in those when they start (after she turns 3 of course) or just keep her in soccer tots?

Thanks for your comments.

Is it a good idea to move her up? If she is still having fun and likes to chase the ball, fall down and scream with glee with the 3-4 year olds as much as she did with the 2 year olds, then it is a fine idea. If not, then leave her with the 2 year olds.

Things should not start getting competitive until she is 14 or 15. But, it will start to get competitive as soon as another parent yells too loud when her girl scores a goal or her team beats your daughters team. Also, as soon as someone on this forum decides they need to set up an FBR for 2 year olds, which is probably in the works as we speak.

Just let her play with friends in a rec league until she is too dominant. Then, move her up an age group or two and let her play rec as long as it is a challenge. If she is not challenged, move her to a good club team. However, all club teams are not good and you may find you were playing with better kids in your rec team than in a club team.

Good luck and hold on to your hat.

Best advice: stay off this board for the next 6 years minimum, play on a team where she has fun, and find a good skills coach when she is 7 or 8.

Thanks all!
I'm not trying to rush anything so as long as she's having fun we're happy.

My husband and I have both coached youth sports and we have no desire to become the crazy sports parents that we talked about all the time.

Dg_mommy wrote:Thanks all!
.... and we have no desire to become the crazy sports parents that we talked about all the time.

Too Late!

you are on here asking about a 2 year old and competitive soccer

CharlieSheen's Brain is right


TOO LATE

If you go back to my first question I was trying to make sure that letting her move up with the 3 year olds was the right thing to do. I'm not trying to put her on an Olympic team tomorrow.

The following questions were for my general knowledge. We have heard other parent talking about club soccer and how competitive it is so I was trying to get a better idea of the timeframe for all of that.

Now if I said that I was looking for a club team for my two year old because she is the best soccer player in history then you might be right

Currently academy starts at U7, but you will see clubs forming teams at U6, or should I say forming practice groups that will play together somewhere like PSA, or Primetimes 5v5 league.

Ler her have fun, kick it around in soccer tots, with mom and dad at home and let it grow from there.

Dg, it's a valid question don't let them beat you up about it. RunslikeWind has it right.. no reason to consider moving her up, whether that be age or competition level, unless she is no longer challenged. If you can hold true to that, you are and will remain ahead of the curve.

As Borussia states, teams start organizing at about U6.. but the competition is spread out & doesn't really come together for about another year. Until then it's hit or miss.

In terms of looking ahead, I think most DD's (darling daughters) played rec at 3 or 4 so you should be fine there.. the biggest thing as others have said is to just make sure she is having fun. Kick the ball around with her at home and take it from there..

If she's having fun where she's at I say keep her there. If she's boored because the sessions are moving too slow, then consider moving her up. Let her play rec soccer and other sports until at least U9. If soccer is still her greatest passion then consider the academy/select route.