Soccer team for a 7 year that isn't too serious/competitive
Hello! My son has been doing and loving Soccer2Gether for a couple of years and now wants to play games on a team. The problem is that I only know of East Shore Alliance (which I'm told is very serious and competitive and requires 2-3 practices/week), and ABSC (also pretty time consuming and harder to get information on signups etc). Are there others out there? My husband and I both work so chances are slim we could make it to weekday practices. We are really just hoping for a team in which our son can play soccer games, rather than drills and scrimmage, and more than anything HAVE FUN!!! We are located in El Cerrito. Appreciate your advice.
Sep 22, 2023
Parent Replies
Hello!
Both ABSC and Eastshore Alliance (EAFC) offer competitive as well as recreational soccer. There are other clubs but they are further away from your location. Recreational teams have lower expectations for player participation. Competitive soccer is geared toward players who are looking for a more challenging soccer environment. Recreational teams usually have fewer and shorter practices, and participation in all practices is not required. Additionally, recreational teams play all of their games locally, while competitive teams are usually required to travel.
My daughter participated in both ABSC and EAFC, and had a positive experience in both. I would guess that you are seeking a recreational experience for your son, in which case either ABSC or EAFC would be a good fit. At the age of seven, teams typically have one practice during the weekday and one game on the weekend. The fall season is ending in mid-November, so you are likely looking at the spring season, which begins in March. You can sign up for either ABSC or EAFC through their websites beginning in January.
I understand that you cannot attend many practices, which is acceptable. However, I would still recommend attending practices, as they are beneficial in developing a love and understanding of the game.