Unpopular opinion: Kids' soccer is not that fun to watch

Dec 51 min read

Don't come at me. My son is 6 and just started and we've been to 4 games. They're just... standing around mostly? There's like 15 minutes of actual soccer happening in a 45 minute game. Half the kids are picking dandelions. The goal is tiny. Nobody's keeping score. I get why it's good for him—fresh air, learning teamwork, whatever—but can we please normalize that it's okay for parents to just... not be super invested? I still go to every game, I still cheer, but I'm also honest that I'm mostly thinking about what's for dinner. Idk why we all have to pretend we're on the edge of our seats watching 6yos kick a ball into a field.

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Comments(6)

AAaron W.Regular19h ago

This isn't unpopular, this is just the truth nobody admits out loud. It's glorified babysitting with a ball involved. But your kid is having fun and getting exercise so... worth?

GGabe R.Regular20h ago

My 6yo's coach basically uses it as "structured running around time" and honestly that's fine. He comes home sweaty and happy. I've accepted that the actual soccer is like 15% of the experience.

DDrew H.Regularjust now

The dandelion thing is so real. Yesterday a kid just laid down in the middle of the field. Just... laid down. Soccer was happening but he was done.

HHector R.Regular14h ago

Honestly just use it as phone time. Bring a book. Your 6yo doesn't care if you're watching intensely—he just knows you're there. Don't torture yourself pretending it's riveting.

DDave K.Regularjust now

This is actually hilarious because you're completely right but also this is exactly the point of 6-year-old soccer. The organizing and running around matters more than the actual soccer.

GGene K.Regularjust now

Wait until he's 10-11. Then it actually gets interesting because they finally have the coordination and focus to play actual soccer. The 6-year-old version is basically just child wrangling.