Hurst,
Perhaps a more achievable goal would be to have your HS team all playing club soccer, period, let alone Challenge level. There are some teams that have that, and they get talked about quite often.
I have to chime in and agree with what Addidaskitten is saying. Having also had the opportunity for my child to do the same thing. He was able to play and contribute on the HS Varsity team as a 7th grader, became a starter as an 8th grader, and has 3 SCISA State Championships as a Sophomore. So in addition to competitive club play, he has been able to gain other field positional experience against faster, stronger players. I think it has contributed greatly to his overall development.
Were we concerned about burn out and injury, absolutely. However, we put the faith in our coaches, both club and HS, to have his interest in mind. When they noticed he was tiring near the end of the season, we cut it back. Interestingly, once the rest of the team realized at practices he could in fact play and hold his own, they not only involved him, but also "watched out" for him on the field. When the HS match was very physical, the coach wouldn't put him in.
I've found this debate interesting every year, and in the end, if the player is ready and committed, and the coaches are mindful of the play on the field, it can work. Is it for everyone, no.
As for physical size, if you put Convey in with most U16 teams with their backs to you, you couldn't pick him out.
