High School Soccer Question

[Mimi Q]

My 14 yo DD wants to play soccer at her high school this year. There is one problem with this- she has played soccer one season when she was 5 years old. Her two best friends play, and she wants to try it. Is it realistic for her try to play with the other girls who have been playing soccer for years? I think they let anyone who wants to play be on the team.

 

[poohandwendy]

I would never tell someone to not try for something. But, realistically...unless she is an athletic natural, she will probably struggle in a big way (or be benched alot).

Most kids have been playing soccer for 8-10 years by the time they hit high school. (I am talking about the ones she will likely play with and be up against) Their skills will likely overshadow her enormously.

I don't know what to tell you because I hate to be defeatist, but man...it's a tough sport to start that late. Has she played regularly at all, even for fun? Is she a sensitive type or the type who doesn't get emotionally defeated easily?

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

i think you should let her try. i didn't play soccer until i was about 12 or 13 or so and i ended up being defense left wing and i was on the first line. i loved playing defense.

but it might take her a while to figure out where she belongs. for a while they had me at midfeild and i hated it. finally my coach switched me to defense and i did a lot better, and that's where they kept me.

 

[poohandwendy]

i wanted to add, it really depends on the school district too. If soccer isn't really big in your area, maybe things would be less competitive. Here, it's almost unheard of for anyone to start that late unless they are athletic prodigies (rare). There is so much to learn, rules, skills, conditioning...just the game nuances that they have learned with experience.

But, if the team as a whole is not super competitive, it may be different.

 

[pumba]

at my gd's high school, they had freshman, Jr. varsity and varsity......she should try out and see how she likes it......alot of freshsman ended up being FANTASTIC....l

 

[Hannathy]

If they have a no cut policy-unusual at high school level-and she doesn't mind being used for practice and sitting out most games what is the harm in trying. If she is going to get upset when she doesn't play much then I'd have a long talk with her. Maybe if it's no cut she just wants to be with her friends and feel a part of a group. At our high school soccer is so competitive that my DD's friend was the first 9th grader to make the varsity team and this girl has devoted her life to soccer since 5. I mean she played up 2yrs to be on the competive team when she was 7 went to camps and strengthening classes year round from early elementary on. I'd be honest with her and then at 14 she should make up her own mind.

 

[NHAnn]

Go for it...if it's a no-cut team, what's the harm?

 

[debster812]

Go for it...if it's a no-cut team, what's the harm?

ITA with this, but she should also be prepared to work her butt off in practice, and probably ride the bench for a good part of her first year. But, she'll be with her friends, and will probably have a BLAST

DS is 9YO and it's already becoming apparent which are the kids who play 2 or 3 seasons a year, and which kids play 1 season.

Oh, and she should know she's going to run. A LOT.

 

[Mimi Q]

Thank you for your responses. She was a competitive gymnast for several years, so she is used to training hard.

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

Thank you for your responses. She was a competitive gymnast for several years, so she is used to training hard.

that will definatly help her out then. i did gymnastics for a few years before i did soccer and it helped with my leg muscles......which was good for playing defense!!

 

[Aidensmom]

I agree with other posters, let her try it if she wants. If she finds its not for her, that can be her decision.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I don't know about soccer--but i was on swim team. The coach allowed a girl who could not swim to join. She spent the season learning how to swim. By the end of the season...she had enough skill to swim the 50 in a meet. Granted, swimming is an individual sport and there weren't caps on how many we could have and it didn't affect the team over all. We were a winning team though and it was awesome of the coach to allow her on.

I'm sure there would be a space for her on the team and that she would get to play at least a little bit. But in practice she should be able to learn the sport and you never know. At some point she may be skilled enough to be a regular contributer during games. I would certainly not stand in her way to join the team if the coach allows her to.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

I coach several of DD's teams (12-14 )both for school(private) and local rec .

For school we let all that come play and they all get mostly equal playing time .We are the only Co-ed team playing against all boy teamsThe girls or boys don't have enough to field non-coed teams so we make sure they all have a chance to play.

At this age it all depends on the school or team but really it's a basic game if someone hussels.I'm not taking anything away from the people that really work on their skills but others can play ,have fun,and get by.

I would say go for it and let her enjoy being with her friends

 

[LisaNJ25]

I would say go for it. My son played football for the first time this year. At first it was hard since most of the boys have been together since they were 5. He is in 8th grade. Unfortunately I am lucky if he played a total of 5 minutes the whole season. His team was 8-1. Even though he really did not get any play time he had a great time.. after he got though all of the bruises. He also lost 20 pounds, it was cheaper than a gym lol.

No he wants to try baseball in the spring.. and that he hasn't played since he was 7. I think he is trying to fins his niche before next year.

 

[amid chaos]

Find a local summer camp...I bet she can learn a great deal during the summer months. also might look for soem spring rec or travel teams to play on.

 

[golfgal]

In my MANY years of coaching high school sports it has been my experience that if a talented athlete from one sport switches/starts another sport the time it takes for them to learn and become good at that sport is significantly less then most people think. In our old town the goalie for the soccer team was similar to your DD, played a couple years of soccer as a young child then played lacrosse. When he moved to our old town last year, they don't have lacrosse so he played soccer. He decided to play goalie. The team went undefeated until the region finals where they lost 4-1. He had 4 goals scored on him all season. Pretty impressive record for a first year goalie.

A friend of ours DD decided to go out for Cross Country as an 8th grader to get in shape for basketball. Cross Country is a great sport because everyone runs so good choice. Come to find out, she is a great runner, finished 25th in state as an 8th grader, finished 26th this year and she is continuing to improve. She has decided to stop playing basketball and concentrate on running.

I know in the high schools I have coached in they usually have a no-cut policy for the freshman squads but the JV/Varsity squads are made by being good. I say go for it, you just never know.

 

[Mimi Q]

Thank you all for your advice. We are going to let her try it.