Hi.
If anyone is in here reading this...
My daughter just turned six. We have had her in Super Soccer Stars, a skills-instruction program, since she was 2. She has always loved it, and has developed some impressive ball skills. (IIRC, they have SSS in the Boston area). She clearly has some talent.
Now, though, the classes have gradually changed to fewer skills drills, more small games (3 on 3 usually, for 5 minutes at a time). Of course, strategic/tactical knowledge is zero at this age, so the games are pretty much mayhem as all the kids chase the ball. The coaches try to get the kids to space out, pass, etc., but with minimal success.
Most of the other kids are boys. They are, as 5-6yo boys tend to be, aggressive to the point of recklessness. Lil OCST is usually a boisterous kid, but in these mobs, she gets spooked and withdraws. She says she wants to be "goalie," which means standing on the back line and sucking her thumb. Again, it's a shame, because in small drills, she loves dribbling, shooting, passing, defending, etc. She's also really fast.
An aggravating factor may be that has been inside on a private school's hardwood gym floor for the winter session. To be fair, kids have taken some pretty horrific spills onto the floor. She seems to do better outside in the summer.
This wasn't a problem when she was 3-4, but the boys are getting bigger and crazier.
I'm a firm believer in team sports, especially for girls, and I don't want her to get discouraged.
As of now, we have enrolled her for the spring, not in Super Soccer Stars, but in a youth academy program sponsored by the NY Red Bulls: http://www.redbullsacademy.com I'm not sure if this would be better.
Thoughts on how we can address this? Anyone been down this road? Would a girls-only program be better? Are such things even common at this age- I'm not aware of any gender-specific programs? Anything else that can be done?
TIA.
If anyone is in here reading this...
My daughter just turned six. We have had her in Super Soccer Stars, a skills-instruction program, since she was 2. She has always loved it, and has developed some impressive ball skills. (IIRC, they have SSS in the Boston area). She clearly has some talent.
Now, though, the classes have gradually changed to fewer skills drills, more small games (3 on 3 usually, for 5 minutes at a time). Of course, strategic/tactical knowledge is zero at this age, so the games are pretty much mayhem as all the kids chase the ball. The coaches try to get the kids to space out, pass, etc., but with minimal success.
Most of the other kids are boys. They are, as 5-6yo boys tend to be, aggressive to the point of recklessness. Lil OCST is usually a boisterous kid, but in these mobs, she gets spooked and withdraws. She says she wants to be "goalie," which means standing on the back line and sucking her thumb. Again, it's a shame, because in small drills, she loves dribbling, shooting, passing, defending, etc. She's also really fast.
An aggravating factor may be that has been inside on a private school's hardwood gym floor for the winter session. To be fair, kids have taken some pretty horrific spills onto the floor. She seems to do better outside in the summer.
This wasn't a problem when she was 3-4, but the boys are getting bigger and crazier.
I'm a firm believer in team sports, especially for girls, and I don't want her to get discouraged.
As of now, we have enrolled her for the spring, not in Super Soccer Stars, but in a youth academy program sponsored by the NY Red Bulls: http://www.redbullsacademy.com I'm not sure if this would be better.
Thoughts on how we can address this? Anyone been down this road? Would a girls-only program be better? Are such things even common at this age- I'm not aware of any gender-specific programs? Anything else that can be done?
TIA.