When you talk to older adults about sports they generally talk with some nostalgia. "You know, when I was a kid we didn't need coaches or organized teams. We just played... For the fun of it."
While these adults may not have coached your son's soccer team, they might have a point. Travel soccer teams such as the Chicago Magic or Milwaukee F.C. require kids to take on a level of specialization that may take away from development in other areas of the soccer pitch, such as creativity and teamwork. Not to mention the time and money that a family has to devote in order to support their kid's hobby. This level of commitment can hurt a kid when he or she fails to live up to their parent's or coach's expectations. What's even more alarming, is the number of kids that put too many of their eggs in one basket and fail to focus on other areas of their lives.
Consider an ex Chicago Magic soccer player I played with my freshman year of college. This guy had a combination of speed and power that was unmatched by most of his teammates. He looked destined for division 3 greatness until school began. Then, he floundered like so many kids whose priorities are out of whack due to the current sports culture.
There's a lot of blame to spread around. Consider Lebron Jame's move to Miami. Lebron's move to Miami was primarily driven by his urge to win. While the move remains popular among basketball fans who are enamored with Miami's star potential, I would argue he would have an even greater N.B.A. legacy if he decided to stay with his hometown team.
If a child could learn the fundamentals of the game while developing on a local team, wouldn't that teach the child something more important? Then the child would learn about teamwork This skill is valuable and transferable to things other than sports... Like a job. Parents should never lose sight of what their children are playing is a game and that the vast majority of children do not become pros. And burned-out athletes have the tendency of seeking out forms of recreation that are usually more dangerous than heading a soccer ball.
