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Message |
    
Tygar
Citizen
Username: Tygar
Post Number: 1
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2003 - 4:49 pm: | 
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I’m considering enrolling my nearly-six-year-old daughter in the South Mountain Soccer program, but I wanted to solicit opinions concerning the nature of the program from anyone who’s been involved with it. How intense are practices and games for kids my daughter’s age? Does the Thursday practice/Saturday game schedule apply to the youngest kids (the U8’s?), as well as to the older age groups? Does anyone recommend any of the other soccer programs in SO/M (my daughter seemed a little overwhelmed with the aggressiveness of the boys in her Y soccer class, so I’m hoping that she’ll feel more comfortable playing with girls)?
Thanks in advance for your input!
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bookgal
Citizen
Username: Bookgal
Post Number: 393
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2003 - 10:20 pm: |
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Why not sign her up for the Maplewood rec dept program on Saturdays? I think it is only 7 or 8 weeks. I'd hesitate about committing to a program twice a week at that age unless your daughter really, really loves it.
Our daughter who is very, very nearly 7 will be doing South Mountain soccer in the fall after several happy years of soccer with coach Dave. |
justmelaura
Citizen
Username: Justmelaura
Post Number: 222
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 18, 2003 - 1:05 am: |
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Hey there Tygar
I have done the full gamut of soccer in the South Orange/Maplewood area (including Coach Dave at the Y) If your daughter is a diehard soccer fan, you want her in Cougar Soccer where she will learn everything about the game (practice 2 times a week, topnotch trainers, etc. with games on Saturdays). The cost is high, in the $400 plus range for the entire year. On the other hand, if you feel like she is just liking the game and wants to learn more, the South Mountain league is great, they also have trainers and learn the rules of the game. They practice once a week and have games on Saturdays and if she really had a good time, you can sign up again for the spring season. The cost tends to run $125 for the fall and if she returns in the spring, about $75. If you think she just needs some exercise and running around, but is not very interested in the game, I would sign her up for the Maplewood Rec league. The kids have fun, but it is not real soccer. Then again, a great deal for about $25. FWIW, I have 3 of my kids in Cougar and South Mountain. One jumped up from Rec/Y league to Cougar, one bumped down from Cougar to South Mountain, and one stuck with South Mountain instead of going to Cougar.
jml |
deborahg
Citizen
Username: Deborahg
Post Number: 615
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 18, 2003 - 8:20 am: |
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Laura,
What age did your kids start at? While my 8 y.o. has NO interest in soccer (she's more of a figure skating kind of gal), I've got a 2 1/2 y.o. who is raring to go! Not that he has a clue about the rules, but he loves chasing the ball around (preferably with large groups of other kids who are knocking each other over), has energy to burn, and thinks every day should begin and end with a mud bath. |
3mom
Citizen
Username: 3mom
Post Number: 94
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 18, 2003 - 10:22 am: |
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Is the South Mountain Soccer program affiliated with one of the schools or with an organization? Any opinions from parents of girls whether the girls seem to prefer playing with girls or in a co-ed group? |
soresident
Citizen
Username: Soresident
Post Number: 64
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 18, 2003 - 1:23 pm: |
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South Mountain Soccer is not affiliated with any school (I assume you were thinking of South Mountain School). Kids from all over town play. The program is sponsored by the SO rec department, but coordinated by a parent volunteer. It has grown dramatically in last 5 or so years. Last year there were 4 girls teams (about 12-14 kids a team) for 2nd grade girls, this year there were 3 teams of third grade girls.
The once a week practices are not intense, but do provide some actual training if the kids pay attention. While most kids try to make the practices, there's no pressure if you miss them sometimes. In my experience, that's not always the situation with Cougar (at least from the boys side), a much more intense program, which requires a great deal of commitment on the part of the parents as well as the child. There is some travel involved for the South Mountain weekend games. This year's Girls U10 (3rd grade) had several local teams in this league (ie - you could be playing another SO team in SO), but also played in (if I recall right) several Union county towns. There's also a tournament one weekend in Metuchen. However, there was so much rain this spring that we in fact didn't play a number of our games and ran out of weeks to reschedule |
justmelaura
Citizen
Username: Justmelaura
Post Number: 225
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 3:32 pm: |
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Deborahg - All of my kids have been playing since about 4 years old, although my daughter (13) dropped out early and picked up the game a year ago with South Mountain. I highly recommend the local Y for your youngest. Coach Dave is great about teaching the game and keeping the kids involved. My now 10 year old sounds just like your son. I could never get him into enough sports. Luckily, our old town had an abundance of 'drop in' rec sports that he took to. The Y seems to have a nice program for children which my kids have always enjoyed. In regards to 3mom's question, I have found that the majority of girls tend to have a better time playing with girls (especially the older they get). On the other hand, if your daughter is a diehard sports addict, she will do great with the boys. I have seen fantastic girl players on my sons' teams who outrank many of the guys and love playing.
jml
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Tygar
Citizen
Username: Tygar
Post Number: 3
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 9:13 am: |
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Thanks for all of the good info, but I have a follow-up question: is the Maplewood Rec. Department soccer program co-ed, or are the kids separated by gender? |
C Bataille
Citizen
Username: Nakaille
Post Number: 1490
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 11:06 am: |
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Co-ed, at least at the first grade level.
Cathy
aka Bacata/Nakaille
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3mom
Citizen
Username: 3mom
Post Number: 95
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 3:44 pm: |
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Thanks for the info, SOresident and Justmelaura. Do you know when/where the sign-up for South Mountain Soccer is? Would it be offered through the Baird Center? Many thanks. |
justmelaura
Citizen
Username: Justmelaura
Post Number: 227
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 9:58 pm: |
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Sign up for South Mountain is going on now at the Baird Center and practice starts mid-September. Have fun!
jml |
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