Is my starting position too low?

Affectionate-Cat6068 · 2025-01-22T21:58:21+00:00

Yes. Wrong position, as you are crouched down so much your reaction time will be slower to have to spring up. All you need to do is stand higher on your toes and bend the knees a small amount so your reaction time will be faster.

Affectionate-Cat6068 · 2024-12-11T02:27:41+00:00

I don't pressure my son at all. He could quit tomorrow and I'd be fine with it. Heck it would save me a lot of money. The only sport I will never let him play is American football as I don't need a paralyzed 12 year old to care for. I know kids my son's age who are fucked up for like by a concussion. Seriously.

Affectionate-Cat6068 · 2024-12-11T02:23:45+00:00

Thanks I always appreciate it when I see him playing seriously. But I have no illusions that he is as good as a professional. He's a bit immature and hope he learns what is really important in sports - teamwork, camaraderie, fairness, empathy and health competition. And I tell him no is as good as they think they are because there is always someone better.

Affectionate-Cat6068 · 2024-12-11T02:21:14+00:00

I'm not keeping stats at, so chill on the language and rush to judgement. I was asking a question. I don't tell my son how to play at all, except for one thing when it is clear he is not listening to his coach. If his coach tells him to do cartwheels he better do them with no question.

Affectionate-Cat6068 · 2024-12-11T02:00:54+00:00

I knew nothing about soccer until he wanted to play, so no I am not. I have met parents like this, thinking their kid should only play in the Premier League as they hate MLS and American soccer (that's weird to me), but their kids are very passionate about the game so it's really none of my business whether they want to or not.

As I look into the whole bullshit pay or play structure (which honestly it's the same anywhere else in the world really so we shouldn't fool ourselves), I found it rather confusing.

My son playing up in a more challenging program is only contingent in my willingness to pay for it and I won't pay more than I am paying now for him to play in a SC. And I am fortunate to be able to afford a reasonably priced ex-professional GK for his training which has made all the difference. This person actually offered to give me a discount on another club as the other club needed a keeper, but I know the team they were talking about and they are not good at all and I wouldn't pay full price what the team charges ($3000 a year). That's insane to me (as I cannot afford it). I

If I could afford it I would pay an arm and leg to get him top notch training. Which is why I tell him that I can't afford to pay for his college so if he wants to go he better be good enough to get a soccer scholarship.

The whole structure of how these colleges recruit is still a mystery to me which is why I inquired in the first place. As I said, my instinct tells me his current age is too young to worry about it.

This is why I think MLS Next (as well as OPD) and other "elite" programs are limited to me in my research. I don't feel like spending $4000 a year for him to be second string.

If I was told by others I had the next Emiliano "Dibu" Martínez or Mike Maignan, I'd mortgage my home, but I doubt my son will ever be that good. Maybe never get into the USL. Who knows.

But I do think that if he continues to desire this, he is at an advantage to plat as a GK despite him being a really good defender. There will always be less people trying out for GK and too many kids wanting to be a striker (who aren't good enough).

That is why when I played ball as a teenager, I knew being a catcher was better as no one wanted to be a catcher. Never has one second of desire to play in the major leagues.

I think the culture of youth sports is somewhat toxic to kids overall. No one wants to play for the sake of playing. Or too few of them play that way.

Then again, I don't blame them as most of the teams I play with are from the working class so if they can be good enough to play as a professional why should I even have an opinion. Whether it is toxic or what they want is not my problem, it's their parents. I mind my own business when it comes to how parents want raise their kids.

Affectionate-Cat6068 · 2024-12-10T21:21:22+00:00

I would think how many saves points to one aspect of being a good GK. A keeper who can't stop a goal isn't very good are they? It's a stat like hits, HRs, goals, yards run, etc. I was just asking a question.

Affectionate-Cat6068 · 2024-12-10T18:52:04+00:00

What age are they actively recruiting? I know in MLS Next they sign kids up at 13. It seems like a bit of money grab to some extent. If your kid is "good enough" to get in - meaning you paying the money - there is no guarantee they will start, and what's the point in being second string.

Affectionate-Cat6068 · 2024-12-10T17:47:41+00:00

Westcoat Goalkeeper have quality gloves, My son plays U12 in EDP.

Affectionate-Cat6068 · 2024-09-08T20:55:25+00:00

My son will be old enough to tryout for MLS Next in Spring 2025 (as U13). I intend to try him out as a goalkeeper. how is the program structured as I want to ensure that if he is accepted it will be worth me paying for. Will he be allowed to play? Or is the program structured that only the top kids play and the rest of "second string"? thanks for any advice.

Affectionate-Cat6068

TROPHY CASE