I was blown away yesterday.
By katsmeow1213
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
United States
November 3, 2008 8:06am CST
Yesterday was basketball sign ups for our community recreation department. I went down and signed up my 3 older kids. The recreation director was there doing the sign ups. When I handed him my children's forms he asked me if my oldest was currently playing soccer. I said yes, and he began talking about some indoor soccer league starting up. I assumed he wanted me to sign up for it, but then he said the league was for 7th and 8th graders, and is being coached by the high school varsity soccer coach. So I told him my son was only a 6th grader.
He said "Yes, I know, but the coaches called me and told me they want him to play in this league" WHAT??? I mean this is huge. They think my son is so good, they want him to play on a league with kids who are 1-2 years older than him. They don't often take 6th graders, as I said, the league is for 7th and 8th graders only. I just think this is such an honor that they think my son is good enough to play with these kids. And of course it would be a huge benefit to him if he got on the team. It would really hone in on his skills, and probably teach him a whole lot more about soccer that he hasn't been learning in the recreational league.
Nothing is set in stone yet, first they have to make sure they have the spot open for him. Of course they have to take the 7th and 8th graders first, but if they can get him in, they will. Wow!!
Do your kids play sports? Are they really good at it? Have you ever been asked to get them into a more advanced league due to their skills?
2 people like this
13 responses
@redkathy (3374)
• United States
3 Nov 08
My boys both played sports. You are right this is a big honor. I remember when my oldest son, who is thin, was playing Pop Warner football. They coaches would always ask if my youngest was "ready". He was a stocky kid, full of energy and always 'ready to run" LOL I had to reply "No not yet" 
for a few years. He ended up being a first string player both offense and defense for something like 10 years. The boys he started with all move up together so that made it really fun. They were undefeated and went to the Pop Warner Superbowl at Disney Wide World of Sports in Orlando. What great memories 
for a few years. He ended up being a first string player both offense and defense for something like 10 years. The boys he started with all move up together so that made it really fun. They were undefeated and went to the Pop Warner Superbowl at Disney Wide World of Sports in Orlando. What great memories 1 person likes this
@sunshine4 (8703)
• United States
3 Nov 08
That is great that the coaches see that your son has great abilities in soccer.
All of my kids play sports. When the kids are in 8th grade, sometimes they move them up to play in the high school if they are really good. Then when they are in 9th, they will take them from the freshman team to the jv team. The only downfall I see in this is that the kids that have been moved up are usually the ones sitting on the bench most of the game. They asked to move my son up in football and we said no thanks. This way he played every game in freshman. The boy that did move up, sat the bench most of the game. I don't see an advantage when the coaches do this.
Now for a sport like wrestling, it is a huge advantage because the boys wrestle off for the varsity spots and then they always wrestle in the matches. At least with this sport, the boys with the better ability have a chance to show it.
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
3 Nov 08
Luckily this is not a school team, just an indoor winter thing put together by the recreation department, so if we find that he is sitting the bench too much, we'll have learned a lesson from it, but I don't think that will happen with a soccer team. They usually try to rotate the kids a fair bit so none of them get too tired.
1 person likes this
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
3 Nov 08
Congratulations to your son!
I am wondering however if there will be rules that may keep him from joining. I hope not!
My son is big in acedemics and as a freshman, was asked this year to be on the varsity quiz bowl team replacing one of it's Senior members. The little brainiac!
I am wondering however if there will be rules that may keep him from joining. I hope not!
My son is big in acedemics and as a freshman, was asked this year to be on the varsity quiz bowl team replacing one of it's Senior members. The little brainiac!1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
3 Nov 08
It is done through the recreation department, so if there was a rule against it, the director would not have mentioned it to me.
Congrats to your son, my oldet is not much of a brainiac... he's a definite jock. But my younger ones are all brilliant for their age.
2 people like this
@jackiew (915)
• Canada
3 Nov 08
That is really great.I hope everything works out for your son and that there is a spot for him.I don't have any small children,but in their schoold days they were involved in sports.It is great for them to participate.It also keeps them off the streets and out of trouble.Good Luck
@gardenstategreg (175)
• United States
3 Nov 08
This really is a reason to celebrate in a big way... go to Red Lobster or have family gathering with potluck dishes brought by people and share in the good news of your sons success story I mean I would... esp since it isn't every day that as young as your son is that he would get accepted to play on a team of older boys and as you said this would give him the opportunity to take his skills at playing soccer to a whole new level and I would be quite proud of him if I were you as a parent you just don't know what to expect and i can certainly understand why this news would shock and amaze you so go ahead and cherish this day both you and him deserve it
@LBWebb1945 (38)
• United States
3 Nov 08
Just make sure this is your son's dream and not the parents' dream. Make usre your son doesn't become stressed out from the pressure. I think kids lose so much when we make them grow up quicker than they should. Just make sure the older kids don't teach your young sons things that are contrary to your values. Not saying older kids are bad, they just have different experiences from the younger kids.
Good luck.
1 person likes this
@shymurl (2765)
• United States
3 Nov 08
That is wonderful. Every year my children always play soccer. This year was rough on us and we didn't have the money for our son to play. And he was going to have surgery towards the end of the season. A coach came over to the house and asked me if my son could play. I told her the situation and she said I wouldn't have to pay anything and he can play up till his surgery. I thought this was wonderful and he wanted to so I let him. Its always a great feeling when someone says something good about your children. Congratulations for you and your son.
1 person likes this
@littleone3 (2063)
•
3 Nov 08
My 11 year old daughter is brilliant at sports her school described her as one of the best athletes they have ever seen. She has only been there since September
Back in September she run a 1500ms it was only her second time she had ran it and she knocked nearly 30 seconds off her personal best and went on to win it for the under 13's.
She is also double national champion (English and Welsh) for her judo weight group. She done a interview in our local paper after achieving this as her coach was so proud of her he set it up.
Out of 18 competitions she has got 16 medals.
Both her coaches for judo and athletics say she has great potential.
She is also in the football and netball school teams.
When she was in primary school she was the only one from year 3 to be chosen to play the netball tournament. All the other schools were talking about her that day saying how well she played. She was the youngest player there that day.
1 person likes this
@Barb42 (4214)
• United States
3 Nov 08
That is great, Kats. Yes, they have to be good in order to go up a notch. All of my daughter's children played above their age group. In Premier soccer, her youngest son was courted by the best team around,but she chose not to let him go because it costs SO much money and also it would have been hard for him to make it there for practice. He's a 7th grader and may be trying out for Varsity. His older brother, who is a 9th grader has never played with the 7th & 8th graders, but with the Varsity soccer team and he's on the first string. His younger brother is a goalie and one of the best and that's the reason they wanted him on that upscale team. You are right; your son will learn lots of skills on that league. Hopefully, he will be chosen. Usually, when they come to you and not you to them, they will make a way for him to play. They just have to make sure you agree first.
@camomom (7535)
• United States
3 Nov 08
That's great!!! My stepson used to play baseball but wasn't very good so he no longer plays. Good luck for your son.
@Lee_Rites (845)
• United States
3 Nov 08
Congrats!
I think the feeling you get when your kids succeed is the greatest feeling a parent can have. Kids are really the greatest gift.
