One thing I really like about the winter "break" is that it's really not a break, per se. But it's a chance for the bb to be just another kid on the indoor pitch.

Fortunately or unfortunately, however you want to look at it, practices on the main team really aren't reduced. But the game schedule seems to ease up a bit. So, the bb is free to play with his non-club buddies.

Whether it's playing ball in one of the pirate indoor centers in NW Dallas or in a nice indoor center (with clean bathrooms) in the 'burbs, it's all good. The kits are colorful. Camouflage. The socks and shorts don't need to match. There's no "uniform" police to shake a stick at your kid. You can show up late or just before kick-off without penalty.

I'm lucky the bb just wants to be with his 'boys'… his soccer buddies. He'd play all day and night if I allowed. My job as a dad, is to make he gets enough sleep, eats well, finishes his homework and gets his soccer fix. In that order, of course, LOL.

Anyway, the break seems to make me a little busier than normal. But his smile when he's laughing with his buds makes it all worthwhile.

p.s. you ain't experienced soccer till you watch your boy play ball in a pirate league. Between wincing and flinching… that's just the parents, it's a wild affair. The boys grow hair on their chest just stepping on the green carpet. Its intense.

Hate to be a party pooper but you may not be so happy if he suffers an injury in that "pirate league ".......

anselansel wrote:Hate to be a party pooper but you may not be so happy if he suffers an injury in that "pirate league ".......

I worry about him developing a bad habit in a pirate league.

True , kids do seem to play to the level of their peers and competition...

anselansel wrote:True , kids do seem to play to the level of their peers and competition...

For my BB he needs confidence. Thats why I believe during the winter and summer breaks. We work on differenet parts of his game that I think needs to be corrected. We mainly work on dribbling, juggling, and shooting. We do a ton of drills. Some parents might say you are working him to hard at a young age. Everytime I see him he tells me he has to get better and how can he improve his game. He takes his ball with him everywhere he goes.

Futsal and pirate leagues to me is the time to try out different things you have been practicing on during the winter and summer breaks. IMHO.

Pirate leagues, really??? You guys are funny!!

Do the kids have to wear eye patches and run around with swords during the games?? Is the trophy a big parrot named Paulie???

imjustsayin wrote:

indyfc wrote:Pirate leagues, really??? You guys are funny!!

Do the kids have to wear eye patches and run around with swords during the games?? Is the trophy a big parrot named Paulie???

Perhaps the parents are drinking Rum? Doesn't sound like a bad league. Heck, I might have my bb join if there were drinks!

SoccerXXX wrote:

indyfc wrote:Pirate leagues, really??? You guys are funny!!

Do the kids have to wear eye patches and run around with swords during the games?? Is the trophy a big parrot named Paulie???

Perhaps the parents are drinking Rum? Doesn't sound like a bad league. Heck, I might have my bb join if there were drinks!

In ours it's more Tequila than Rum.....all joking aside, what I love about our pirate league is the last second schedule changes.

Eh, Pirate Leagues = elbows to the face, 1 foot distance on free kicks, punches to the both eyes, and older kids pretending to be little kids.

It is what it is.

At least you know ahead of time it's PIRATA!

It's not for the feint of heart. You think the rest of the world plays fair, think again.

Ya, it's a risk.

My bb knows enough to pull back on a crazy play. He begs to play. Throw on the replica Mexican jersey, let's roll!!!!

It's OK, the next day he gets to play against the polite kids in Collin County. One day, war, the next day, smell the flowers.

I must add… I can't help it… you folks have no idea what happens in the big city. You really don't. You stay safe and cozy in the hinterland. Too many Disney characters in 'Pirates of Caribbean' have discolored your perspective.

Right under all of our noses… leagues, indoor/outdoor are sprouting all over the place.

Pirate, to me, means the leagues pay zero $ to NTSSA and US Soccer. The leagues are significantly less expensive. Pirate doesn't mean an eye-patch. You all have been watching too many Disney movies.

There are diamonds to be found.

PG-Boy wrote:I must add… I can't help it… you folks have no idea what happens in the big city. You really don't. You stay safe and cozy in the hinterland. Too many Disney characters in 'Pirates of Caribbean' have discolored your perspective.

Right under all of our noses… leagues, indoor/outdoor are sprouting all over the place.

Pirate, to me, means the leagues pay zero $ to NTSSA and US Soccer. The leagues are significantly less expensive. Pirate doesn't mean an eye-patch. You all have been watching too many Disney movies.

There are diamonds to be found.

Obviously you aren't smart enough to tell the difference between sarcasm & criticism. I know exactly what you were talking about, but I was adding a bit of sarcasm to get a laugh from the words you chose to use.

Here's some critiicism for you since you want to go there....

In the hispanic community, these leagues are only referred to as "Ligas Piratas" by people like you who know about USSF leagues such as NTX or US Club Soccer. To the teams who play in these leagues, these leagues are not "Ligas Piratas" because they most of the time don't know about USSF and their affiliated leagues. These leagues are simply Independent Leagues. If you were to ask any of those league coordinators they would tell you that "Liga Pirata" is a derogatory term to them. "Pirata" refers to stealing or breaking laws, neither of which is applicable to what they are doing. They are not stealing and they have the right to have their independent league.

If you didn't want to be made fun off, you could have simply called the leagues you are talking about "Independent League", or a "Rogue Leaque" if you wanted to make a point of them being outside of USSF.

Oh and btw, please feel free to school us on what happens in the city, since I guess you are the only one who has ever been on that side of the tracks.

"Eh, Pirate Leagues = elbows to the face, 1 foot distance on free kicks, punches to the both eyes, and older kids pretending to be little kids.It is what it is."

or just an ordinary day in any mexican league by the way don't worry about playing against kids who are your son's age, they won't...........