Getting
Ready|
Choose from the "Who are you?" options below. |
| I want to prepare my child to play soccer in high school. |
| My child made the junior varsity (JV) team last season, and I want him/her to play varsity. |
| My child tried out for high school soccer and did not make it. Next season, we want a different outcome. |
| I want to prepare my child for college soccer. |
| I want my child to go to college on a soccer scholarship. |
|
The response to all of these is the same. |
|
The success of a scheme to get ready to play
in high school (or, college) is largely a matter of timing. It can be done.
If your child is 8-12 years old, there is probably time. If your child is
entering or is already in (or, has graduated from) high school, it's probably
not going to happen. The players that continue on playing soccer in high
school and beyond generally already have years of experience playing at a
high level before they get to high school. There are exceptions, of course,
but if your child has not been driven to play competitive soccer before
entering high school, 'beating out' those that have been playing is not
likely. There IS one caveat. Even if the timing is right, if the goals listed above are YOUR (i.e., the PARENT's) goals, as opposed to your CHILD's goals, the probability of success is not great. As described in the "Competitive Soccer for Any Other Reason" panel, players who are not driven to excel in a challenging environment - children who are placed into competitive soccer without wanting to be there - generally have an unpleasant experience. |