Playing With The Big Kids

[arcticduane]

They other week i played in an all- star game against the teachers. Our team was a mix from the best players in years 8-11 and it was a great experience to mix it up with some of the older kids. We played a 3-6-1 which was weird since my team play a 4-4-2 or a 3-4-3. Anyway i love playing with older kids because i can hold my own even tho im 13 because im strong and exremely quick. Anyway lots of pro players did this when they were a boy (e.g joe cole, ashley cole and steven gerrard.) Do/ did any of you guys do this?

[Tony Dellbird]

Yeah i've done it a few times, like playing against older teams in friendlies and stuff like that, Also i'm the youngest in my family so i always got asked to go play football wioth my brother. I like it because you can really shock people, cos you're young they don't think that you're very good or very strong but when you prove them completely wrong it's great!

[TURI9]

yeah i play with older guys too. im 15 and i play U-19 and most of the guys r 17-19 and it isnt very hard. and its really good toward improving on ur skills.

[AE1603s]

We play up in our league since we are travel team, and we are just as good as any premier team. I played against the kid on varsity when I was a freshman. But now, after a summer of playing up, I'm equal with all the varsity kids and probably will play alot since I played against kids that will be playing varisty. Playing up deffinatley helps, you got to hit the weights tho so you dont get knocked around and hurt

[Caesar]

Most decent players here play Premier Youth League (highest junior competition in the state) until they're about 15 or 16, then they play Youth Grade (u/19) for a Division 1 or 2 State League team. Then they spend about 4 years trying to break into the Reserves or Firsts. If they don't make it then they play senior football at a lower level.

If they do make it, the next step is a National League club or trials with a club overseas. Generally you have to be playing First Grade in State League 1st Division by the time you're 16 or 17 to have a shot at the pros.

Its damn tough football for kids - semi-pro and hyper-competitive. But the kids who make it tend to go on to big things because they've had the experience. We have a kid locally who's just finished a trial with Parma - he's 15.

[guado]

it can help you as long as you're not overwhelmed. if the competition is so good you cant do anything it doesn't help much. but it helps if your competition is better than you(as long as you can hold your own against them.) im 16 and practice(mostly practice - work on weekends so i onyl play a few matches.) with two adult teams... i learn alot with one of them because its pretty much an allstar team from the city.

[Freak of Nature]

Myself a 13 year old play with older people but sometimes you don't get taken seriously because of size and your skill is not recognized

[Benvolio]

I started playing mens football when i was 15, as well as youth football, good to see both sides of the game, gained a lot of experience from it.

[Irnbru]

yep i play on an under 15 club team and an open mens team, it helps to mix it with bigger players to work on the physical side of the game