Best Age(s) for your experience

I'm curious for those with older DD's which age/ages were your favorite for your family... and why? Might be different between DD and parents.

U9 B.A.P
(that stands for Before Age Pure)

Those were fun times before cell phones and social fever.
Just me and the DD commuting from one end of DFW to the other and soccer balls everywhere. Saturday and Sunday leagues, Give and Go's off the indoor wall, moderately priced soccer cleats, Primetime tournaments at McInnish, and pretty headbands.

Oh....and millions of Sting teams....so many I couldn't identify which ones we won and or lost to.

Im starting over with my '10 but I have a clearer perspective.

I think I prefer the older ages. Less drama in general as most folks have learned how to behave by about U-16. When you do run in to teams that refuse to behave at the older ages it can get as ugly as ever.

Go watch some LH’s U11 QT games this summer. Especially the second round weekend when it’s do or die. You’ll be surprised (or maybe not) how many spectators are losing their everloving minds.

u10 everything you thought you knew then meant nothing.

OLJW wrote:I think I prefer the older ages. Less drama in general as most folks have learned how to behave by about U-16. When you do run in to teams that refuse to behave at the older ages it can get as ugly as ever.

Go watch some LH’s U11 QT games this summer. Especially the second round weekend when it’s do or die. You’ll be surprised (or maybe not) how many spectators are losing their everloving minds.

Prob pretty spot on.

U16 for sure. The kids really become players. Most of the real crazies have already burned their kids out and are gone.

OLJW wrote:I think I prefer the older ages. Less drama in general as most folks have learned how to behave by about U-16. When you do run in to teams that refuse to behave at the older ages it can get as ugly as ever.

Go watch some LH’s U11 QT games this summer. Especially the second round weekend when it’s do or die. You’ll be surprised (or maybe not) how many spectators are losing their everloving minds.

You kiddin' me?  One of the best times I ever had as a soccer parent was losing my everloving mind on the sidelines during QT at U11!  

I've only had 1 go through the club soccer gauntlet, and honestly, other than the U5-U6 rec herd soccer beatdown, it's pretty much been a fun ride.  Any age that wasn't as much fun as another was due more to situational circumstance than anything specific to that particular age.

Looking back, I honestly don't think I'd change much, even with the knowledge I have now that I didn't have when we made the jump to academy 9 years ago.

One kid in college and the other in HS hands down playing rec ball was when it was fun. Take out the business and politics and soccer can be enjoyable. Kids loved those days and have fond memories.

Got to go with the entire experience has been great! Wouldn’t trade any of it!

Really Little, u4 / u5, rec daddy coaches, everyone just learning the game & the parents too new to do anything other than bring snacks, cheer, and plan the little trophy parties! So fun!

Or maybe just beginning the club/select scene, that first year or 2 is really exciting - travel tournaments are still fun & new, soccer camps, finding xbox FIFA, new friends who love soccer...

Nothing after that though - suddenly all the parents are crazy, traveling tournaments are too dang expensive & repetitive (Disney again?!), too much time spent on which leagues/coach/cub, soccer drama, realizing that your soccer parent friends you've spent so much time with aren't really "friends" SUCKS

And the oldest groups (u16 plus) kind of boring for us parents: the kids are in control, they drive and probably tavel alone to showcases and ID camps, but at least the parents have mellowed out, now its all about college/exposure (and more $)

U9-13 probably my favorite time...other than the multiple experiences where we joined one team in May/June only to find a week or two before signing coach is taking team to another club and then having to buy new kits.

U13 Texan Dads were my all time favorite people. Dad meetings in the hotel parking lot at tournaments was greatness while it lasted. Yes, refreshments were enjoyed by all.

U11-13 When they just played for fun and didn't know or care about the adult drama.

U17-18 After they decided they did not want to play in college,  when they just played for fun again and could tweak the coach as he needed them more than they needed him.

by Zizou Today at 07:54 am

Got to go with the entire experience has been great! Wouldn’t trade any of it!

Which Zizou is this? Which Zizou was bashing that coach last year crying to his mama. Poor Zizou the BS man is back w a vengeance.

Your boy Zizou! Tell us again how you really feel. I remember your ranting like it was yesterday.


by Zizou on 02/07/17, 12:51 pm

Lol, buyer beware. You do not want to play for this guy. Last years team was desimated with girls leaving the team due to his continuous verbal abuse. the cost to play for this team will floor you. When it was all said and done the cost exceeded 8,000 dollars closer to 10.000 to play. Please be advised you have been warned.



Watch "De Plane De Plane | Tatoo On Fantasy Island" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/USfKJYZcUmI

Medicine Man wrote:by Zizou Today at 07:54 am

Got to go with the entire experience has been great! Wouldn’t trade any of it!

Which Zizou is this? Which Zizou was bashing that coach last year crying to his mama. Poor Zizou the BS man is back w a vengeance.

Your boy Zizou! Tell us again how you really feel. I remember your ranting like it was yesterday.


by Zizou on 02/07/17, 12:51 pm

Lol, buyer beware. You do not want to play for this guy. Last years team was desimated with girls leaving the team due to his continuous verbal abuse. the cost to play for this team will floor you. When it was all said and done the cost exceeded 8,000 dollars closer to 10.000 to play. Please be advised you have been warned.



Watch "De Plane De Plane | Tatoo On Fantasy Island" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/USfKJYZcUmI

Zzzzzzzzz.

U11-13 is a lot of fun.. Learning how to "go select", 2 a days getting ready for QT, some of the best matches you will ever see the 2nd weekend of QT where it's "do or die" baking in 150 degree Texas heat. U12 is such a relaxing year for those who have their Bye and for the teams that stayed together. Girls building friendships with their teammates outside of soccer and growing up fast. U13 is probably the "golden year" for soccer. Girls now have more control over their bodies, their minds have caught up with their feet, and beautiful soccer is played.

U14-U16 was not fun. It was more of a beat down. Girls bodies changing and the physical demands of year round soccer lead to injures and busted teams, losing friends, and seeing the passion of the game being sucked out of your DD due to competing life activities. I am fortunate though, the loss of soccer passion was channeled into volleyball and I (living thru my DD) found something new to love and be passionate about.

I am the luckiest guy in the world to have a DD in soccer at a competitive level going thru the golden years and a DD at U17 that is teaching me how to support her from a far and let her just do her thang.

For those who are now experiencing DD sports in college.. please share your experiences and what we might expect. My brother has experienced it and he said the coolest thing ever was to turn on the TV and see his DD playing soccer.