Parent guides › U12
For parents · Ages 11–12 · Last year before the full pitchU12 soccer:
what parents should expect
U12 is the last year before the full pitch, and for many families it is the year the big questions arrive. Travel or rec? One sport or two? What if they want to stop? None of those needs an answer tonight. Here is how to think about it.
At U12, it matters more and more that this is your child’s game, not yours.
What the game looks like
U12 plays 9v9 on a field 70 to 80 yards long. Heading is limited at U12, so check your league’s rule. It is the last step before 11v11 at U13.
What your child is working on
The habit is Look First: check your shoulder before the ball arrives. You may see your child start glancing around before they receive. It is a small thing, and it is worth noticing and praising.
Everyone is growing at a different speed
Some twelve-year-olds look like high school kids and some look nine. The early growers can dominate now, and that can change fast over the next few years. Try not to judge your child, or anyone else’s, on how big they are this season.
What a good practice looks like
Sessions run about 90 minutes and move faster. Players work on checking their shoulder and playing out of the back, then finish with a 9v9 game. Coaches expect more focus now, because players at this age can hold an idea in their heads and work on it with teammates.
Do not be surprised if your child cannot tell you what they did. Ask what game they played and they will often remember.
What is normal at this age
- Wanting to play with friends more than wanting to win.
- Losing confidence after moving to a different team or position.
- Talking about quitting.
- Being embarrassed by you on the sideline.
Good signs
- They check their shoulder before the ball arrives.
- They talk to teammates on the field.
- They want to fix something that went wrong, without being told.
- They still look forward to going.
How you can help
- If they want to quit, ask why before you answer. It is often one thing: a coach, a friend, a bad month.
- Try not to decide anything in the car. Wait a day.
- Let them try other sports if they want to.
- Stay quiet on the sideline. They can hear you, and so can their friends.
Before you make a big decision
If you are choosing between teams or programs, ask three things. Will my child play? Is the coach someone they will learn from? Does the schedule leave room for the rest of their life?
A team’s record at U12 tells you very little. Talk it over with your child, and let them have a real say.
After the game
Leave the door open and let them walk through it.
“I’m here if you want to talk about it.”
Questions parents ask
My U12 wants to quit. What should I do?
Listen first and find out what is behind it. If it is one fixable thing, fix it. If they have lost interest, finish the season if you can, then let them decide.
Should my child play one sport or several?
At this age, playing more than one sport is fine if your child enjoys it and the schedule allows it. Let their interest lead.
What happens next year?
The full pitch: 11v11, a size 5 ball and two 35-minute halves. It is a big step, and most kids look a little lost at first.
Rec or travel? ›Is my child behind? ›My child wants to quit ›What to say after a game ›U12 drills and practice plans ›Next: what to expect at U13 ›Field sizes and rules by age ›What age group is my child in? ›