My final youth soccer game as a DAD is over tomorrow. Such a bittersweet taste as it ends. It has been a very enjoyable ride for last 14 years with some great ups and some downs. As I was thinking about writing this I was thinking about telling everyone that would read it what is wrong about American youth soccer. That would be sour grapes, and when I really looked back on the entire experience of my three children and the countless miles that I have driven and flown I would not change a thing. From AYSO to the USSDA my young adult children that I will call them pleased me in so many ways. They have made me grow as a Dad and as a person as we dealt with forgotten shin-guards, shoes, sox and uniforms. If they wore it they lost or forgot it. I have had the good fortune to meet some really fine coaches. Not only as coaches but really nice people that give up all of their weekends (yes they get paid) but they also are trying to keep their own relationships but at the same time trying to keep 18 adults and kids to play as one unit, not a very easy task. I have had one son continue to play in college, a daughter that decided to stop playing but continues to play club at her university and I have the last one going to one of the finest schools in the U.S. (that is my trifecta). So I would like to say thanks to all the people I have meet in passing and all the people that I have really become good friends over the past 14 years I have enjoyed the ride.
Well said, and I'm right there with you and I'm sure I've shared some of the same sidelines over the years. My son went right to the men's leagues when HS was done and will also give club soccer a go this fall at the very school you said needs men's soccer. I hope to still be able to see him play there or around other schools, but its been great and certainly bittersweet, but my bet is that these kids that love the game will continue to play somewhere as long as their body allows. Cheers.
My ride as a soccer dad is still in its early stages (U12 daughter, U9 son). But I look at where my daughter is now and can still remember her days as a U8 player vividly. Man, time flies! And now my son moving up from the 4 v 4 field with no GK to 6 v 6 with a GK. Of course, he wants to play GK (he enjoys talking smack on World Cup goalies about missing that EASY shot!), and I can't wait to see where his journey takes him, whether it's a goalie, a forward, or probably more likely, as a baseball player.
As a former player at that school, you should be able to get to plenty of games depending on your schedule. One year we played games at Moraine Valley, College of DuPage, two weekends at Northwestern and two weekends in Urbana. Other years we had weekends in Iowa City, Ann Arbor, West Layfette and Columbus. All fun places for college players and parents when you don't have a coach and you schedule kickoffs for after 1pm. The regionals are always in Bloomington, IN. The nationals for my four years were in Savannah, GA, Austin, TX, Tuscaloosa, AL and Tuscon, AZ. All great trips to make the week before Thanksgiving for anyone in the Midwest. I think more of the parents stay in touch than the players do.
Do your kids have a love of the game still as they are older. If so the game was a good experience for them as well. They might pass that love of game to your Grand children. Who knows they might play in the WC some day.
Great post! I have a u16 and u9. Took a few seasons to find the right place but we have and that's more then half the frustrations for a parent out the door. Now it's about taking pics, making movies and having a good time enjoying the rest of what ever they decided to do. Good job dad!