What is the opinion of the group about girls "playing up" in age? I see the benefits of better competition and pushing a players limits. What are the draw backs to that? I know winning is not a priority at that point and I am fine with that. Developement is the key at young ages (U10).
The benefits are not the same for every player that plays up. First of all, how good is the older team? That is the most important factor one should take prior to taking the first step with a older team. Will the younger player start with the older team?? If not, then one should not really 'Play Up'. Why sit on the bench when you could be PLAYING at your same age? If the older team isnt better in alot of different ways, then again, why play up?? I know of younger teams that are better than older teams. Coaching, which coach is better, or will train the player better? Drawbacks?? Well, again it depends on the player. Will she be able to bond with the older kids?? Will she be able to handle the praise if she is one of the better players on the older team? Will she be able to handle the more physical and faster game playing with older players?? Will Mom n Dad be able to sit on the sidelines and not worry when your player is getting hammered? There are all kinds of different levels with older teams. U10 to U11, U11 to u12, U16 to U18, U18 to W-League. Rec league teams. Rec player to Select team. Girl playing on Boy team. The family should really sit down and weigh all options. Talk with the DOC or current coach. Go watch some of the older games prior to making the jump, does this older team travel more to bigger tournaments, playing against top notch clubs and top notch players?
I misrepresented my question. This U10 team is going to be playing in a U12 league or at least in U12 tourney's. Does the change your opinion?
Playing up in tourneys is not a bad idea, although U10 to U12 is a big jump in size of players. To me, this team needs to find better competition. If only even-age groupings are available, that sounds like rec soccer. Increase the level of competition and you won't have to play up.
I too am a twinssoccerdad... We've talked about 'playing up' and decided to use some restraint in doing it for a couple of reasons... One, a year can make a big difference for that age group and we don't want the girls getting hurt (seen some BIG girls as it is, in their own age group). Two, playing up certainly 'unlevels' the playing field and at some point does an excessive challenge result in "Dad, I just don't want to do it anymore". Ours are having fun, continuing to learn & get better, and continue to love the game so we'll probably wait until it ever becomes their idea and take it from there. Our twins are '96ers.
My daughters are 99's and it won't be our decision on wether or not they play up. The one good thing is that they are the youngest two on a coed U10. They will probably not play many matches this year which is fine. They will get quality training with their club. I was just wondering everyone else's opinion. Thanks a lot.
A coed team eh? That sounds interesting. Nothing like that in this area (PNW), that I've seen so far. Our daughters play very well for their age and we've often given credit to the fact that, that's about all they do during their recess time at school - play soccer with the boys. And it's really shown when they get on the field with only other young girls. Good luck to you guys...
They are trying to get enough for an all girls team but for right now they are coed. I talked to thier private trainer this weekend about it and she said that playing with boys at a younger age is good for girls. She played against boys until she was 14 and it helped her when she started against girls. It made her more aggressive.
My daughter just finished her first season of travel soccer 'playing up' on a U12 team. She was one of five girls doing this on the team. Next year all five will stay on the U12s but will be playing with and against girls their own age. The rest of the team's roster will be this years U11s who are moving up to 12. Soccer-wise she improved a whole lot over the course of the season. I'm not sure if she progressed more quickly by 'playing up' for a year. She is used to and can handle competing against older players. Socially she had her up and downs with the older girls on her own team. Some were very nice while others were very cliquish among themselves. Girls will be girls right? I'm happy she's not playing up this coming year. For one year it was OK but I would not want her to do it season after season.
Only training for a U10 team???? It sounds like you were hustled by a couple of guys trying to make a dollar. I can see having individual training, but when you don't play games... This doesn't add up! I would find a new club. Are you up north in Indiana?
They may not play many matches??? Then why are 9 year olds PLAYING soccer if it's not to PLAY soccer. The match should be considered part of the training. I have to agree with Carmel comments. Something isn't right with this picture. This part of what you are being told is true. Girls do benefit from playing with boys. But note that word PLAY keeps cropping up.
confused, why is it not your decision whether they play up or not? i'd rather have my kid play, whether is is in their own age group or on the B team. i agree with Bird. kids want to play, not watch. they might get great training but game time is just as important.
Your nine year olds have a private trainer? Geez! The problem with playing with boys this age is that they don't pass in general and almost never to a girl. Imagine how well your daughters will be regarded by their teammates if the coach has already let you (and no doubt their teammates) know they will not play much. This is not a positive situation.
I am sorry, that I have not completely explained my situation. My girls have been playing for one year. They turn 9 in September. We have found a player that will work with them for a minimal charge. We actually tried to pay her more but she would not take it. This is the best work my daughters can get and I am sure if some others had a chance to get some work with a top notch player they would take it. As for the club, they were only going to keep so many players on the coed team. My girls being the youngest to try out were the obvious choice to let go. (And I had no issues with that.) I talked to the coach and they were suprised that they had as many girls interested. He wanted us to wait and see if they could get a couple more girls to have two gender specific teams. So if that does not happen they can be part of the team for training twice a week with the others and be a let up for next year. This team does not start up until the fall. As for playing up, the whole team will play up in league then play in certain tourney's at their age level. After reading everyone's reply's I understand that I did not put my points out there very well. I repect and appreciate everyone's concern. But to be honest for the money and the distance, I am totally happy with the work my daughters are getting. My biggest questions was would it hurt kids at this age to play up to a level when maturity is a big difference. Thanks again.
My daughter's U10 team has played up to U11 this year...and played up to the top level of competition. Although they have lost most every game, it has definitely been worthwhile as they would likely not have been challenged at their true age group. The kids didn't really care that they lost so much, although some parents did. The big decision is whether they should have played up to the top tier division or the lower tier division. They played some tournament games against lower division teams at the older age group, and won all of those games. However, the speed of play was MUCH slower at this tier and the girls went back to bad habits of using raw athletic ability to outplay the other team rather than good passing and teamwork. In summary - It was good to play up and good to play up at the higher tier IF that is where you would expect the team to be eventually. The teams' skill was improved, and although they got banged around by some of the bigger girls, there were no broken bones or other injuries of note. Just don't be surprised (or concerned) if the team ends up at the bottom of the standings, as long as they are learning what it takes to compete against top talent.
Twinsocdad- It is difficult to answer about playing up, without knowing your daughter's size or ability. Your post mentioned that they were initially not placed on the team. This may be an answer. Not playing on a team is not acceptable as a U9,10,11,12,13,14,15 and up. They can still receive additional training from your trainer and still play. Find them a team! It is kind of like training for a bike race on a stationary bike only! It just doesn't work. Maybe they have a new way of training. To find a decent answer... Ask them if this how they played at 9,10,11,12,13 or 6,7,and 8. Hey, it is your family. Good luck!
The #1 priority should be finding the best coach. Playing up doesn't matter if you don't learn anything. If coaching is equal, then play up. Also, I wouldn't keep your kids in coed soccer too much longer. I saw a fine female player get injured from a retailiatory slide tackle by a boy she had previously beaten for a goal. That was at U12.
Or, you could wrap them up in bubble wrap and not worry about injuries. I can tell you that at U12 my daughter could have gotten the better end of any physical altercation that could have come up in a coed game. Depends on the physical attributes of the kids. The same thing 5x300 describes could have happened against an all girls team as well-- the coed part (in my opinion) played little or no role in the injury.
In my experience, playing up is much harder on smaller/younger kids. It tends to be not much fun for them and they then quit the sport. It also takes a strong committment from the team to play up, because of this issue with some of the kids. If your kids aren't playing what difference does it make?
Playing up is sometimes an option because your child needs to be challenged. I have seen positives for moving up, I wouldn't recommend it for more than a year. Chances are you need to find a better team/club at your child's age. It just makes the most sense for a team to have the oldest players on a team. Something happens between u11-u12 with girls development. The youngest (even the toughest and skilled) just get eaten up on the field. While it is a honor to play up, it may not be the best for the team or child in the long run.. At some point, she will need to be with her peers. Parents just have to make a decision when the right time to put the child back to right age group. BTW- I have a child that is always the oldest in her age group. She could have easily played up, we just found a better and challenged club for her to play at. .
I agree with everyone else that playing the game is of utmost importance. I can't imagine a 9 or 10 year old that wants to train and not play. Training will lose its luster quickly and the kid will think soccer is not fun and quit. My first priority would be to find the twins a team on which they could play actual games. Training and not playing sounds about as fun as piano lessons.
UPDATE- They are playing in an early spring rec league starting in March and continuing with private training. Then they will tryout for a couple of travel teams in June were they will play or we will find another team.
I hope they win the Rec league. How many players participate in each "Private Lesson"? Private lessons are usually 1-5 players.
My daughter has played up one year all but her U10 season. As a U11 player (4 months deep into this age group -- not a borderline case) this season, she is on a mid-level U12 team and plays part-time with a strong U12 team that plays a mix of U12 and U13 teams in 11X11 format. This has worked well for her. She's among the smaller girls in her leagues (especially the second). But does very well with the first team and holds her own as a sub on the second. The coach, style of play, other girls, travel time, carpools, and other factors are all favorable. My daughter is thriving in both attitude, enjoyment, and development. The first two -- which matter more and are easier to understand -- are basically perfect. That's hard to beat. Is playing up ideal? Probably not. But it may be an excellent move given the situation. My wife and I are unwilling to pay a lot more money and endure a lot more driving (it would take doubling both) in order to have her play for a team at her age level that plays in the top division (= her skill level) in the region. Playing in lower, mid-level leagues at her age level would mean that she doesn't play with her peers from a skill point of view. It's fun for a kid (and her parents) when she's a "star' -- but this has downsides for her development as a player and a person. Now that our daughter faces the apparently mysterious divide between U11 and U12 age categories, perhaps something in this situation will change dramatically. Since she's my first child, I don't have much insight into this stage. If I don't have any new thoughts, I'll probably have her try out for two strong U13 teams this June. But I'm open to advice from those who may know more than me.
