Kind of tempted to let him try, but he’s actually good at soccer so bummed to watch him give it up. He also says he’ll stop bugging us about playing tackle football (hard no) if we say yes to lacrosse.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5706948&forum_id=2).#48824825)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5706948&forum_id=2).#48824899)

1. how would you know? did you ever play organized football at any level?

2. you're wrong. offense especially line play is almost entirely footwork, muscle memory and technique. you would know this if you knew the feeling of running a route or run blocking. defense is more about athleticism and reaction but there is still some element of positioning and learned footwork

3. yes, football has the strongest, most explosive athletes, but to say it relies purely on athleticism suggests you don't know anything about how the game is actually played

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5706948&forum_id=2).#48827861)

“Footwork” isn’t a skill. It’s coordination and athleticism. I played soccer, so I had good footwork which translated to tennis and basketball despite my never having really played competitively until high school.

I was able to play backyard football with kids who played on teams and was better than most of them because I was fast.

You can’t do that with soccer. If you don’t develop a touch by age 10, you never will. There is no scenario where even the most athletic person kicks a ball for the first time at age 14 and becomes a good much less a great player.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5706948&forum_id=2).#48828366)

That said, if he genuinely dislikes playing soccer and you think he's mature enough to make this kind of decision, then maybe respect that and let him steer the ship.

If your son is good at 10 years old because he's athletic but doesn't love soccer, his development will stagnate and he will be just an average player in a couple years. The kids who become elite players will kick a ball around all day if you let them. Maybe trying lacrosse will help him realize how much he likes soccer.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5706948&forum_id=2).#48824957)

He'll be fine. Things don't get real until puberty, same as with most sports. Let him have fun and let do.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5706948&forum_id=2).#48825250)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5706948&forum_id=2).#48825464)

Tennis is prob the worst for internationals but soccer is close. Hockey obv lots of Canadians but most of them just play juniors, prob similar # to soccer.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5706948&forum_id=2).#48825518)

With this background it’s almost all smoke in mirrors and marketing bullshit. After each academy’s first team, the rest of the players get treated like shit and are there just to create revenue for the club while ignorant parents pay to be affiliated with what they believe is something elite.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5706948&forum_id=2).#48825654)

In NJ alone, there are hundreds of travel teams in each gender and at every age. This is on top of town rec programs and unranked town travel teams.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5706948&forum_id=2).#48826452)

If you want to do what is best, push him towards the sport he is genetically most suited for.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5706948&forum_id=2).#48825534)

For example, I played football and ran track in HS because that's what my friends did. I was athletic enough to compete at HS varsity level, but not enough to pursue in college. Based on my 6'2"/180 frame and other attributes (like vision, hand-eye coordination, endurance >>>>> speed), I should have focused on swimming, rowing, baseball, tennis, or even lacrosse. I'll push my son towards baseball.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5706948&forum_id=2).#48827425)

Lax remains a niche sport for privileged white kids. For the most part, the smaller ones aren't athletic enough to play soccer and the bigger ones aren't athletic enough for football.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5706948&forum_id=2).#48827668)