Two questions come to mind:
1. Is this a good thing?
2. Are there so many crazy parents out there?
Fascinating topic.
1. Is this a good thing?
2. Are there so many crazy parents out there?
Fascinating topic.
OT - HBO Real Sports - Segment on Youth/Travel Sports
- Thread starter T2Kplus10
- Start date
1. Not usually
2. Yes
Not sure if this is exactly the topic of Time's cover story on the "professionalization" of youth sports, but I find the entire concept to completely suck. Kids are no longer kids. It's bad enough kids are discourages from playing multiple sports in high school, but now they are being told to focus on something as if it will be their career from the time they start first grade. It's awful.
And bad enough for high school football teams from Florida play teams from California (or New Jersey and Nevada, for that matter), but now kids in grade school are playing tournaments all over the country, getting private coaching when they are not traveling. The only athletic kids who are still kids are the ones good enough to get on a field or a court but not good enough to actually succeed.
2. Yes
Not sure if this is exactly the topic of Time's cover story on the "professionalization" of youth sports, but I find the entire concept to completely suck. Kids are no longer kids. It's bad enough kids are discourages from playing multiple sports in high school, but now they are being told to focus on something as if it will be their career from the time they start first grade. It's awful.
And bad enough for high school football teams from Florida play teams from California (or New Jersey and Nevada, for that matter), but now kids in grade school are playing tournaments all over the country, getting private coaching when they are not traveling. The only athletic kids who are still kids are the ones good enough to get on a field or a court but not good enough to actually succeed.
What gets me is when I hear parents talk about their kid playing travel ball so the kid will be considered for his high school team. Please tell me this isn't true. So, a child might be better then someone else, but not make the high school team because he didn't play for the coaches travel team. That's bull stuff if true.
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Parents are insane and can suck the fun out of it. It's way too competive at these young ages. I write this as I sit in my RV in Boston for a soccer tournament. My middle child is going Into 5th grade, I've had multiple High schools contact me about her playing there.
As for the Time article, I don't like Johnny baseballs swing but @zappaa would know better.
As for the Time article, I don't like Johnny baseballs swing but @zappaa would know better.
no
Yes
Its insane and kids develop differently a kid who is goid now may suck later and vice versa. travel teams r about the money, im convinced. have seen one, exactly one kid on travel baseball who id say should be playing more ball vs kids playing rec seasonally. also, more kids are upset when they do poorly, thats on the parents
Yes
Its insane and kids develop differently a kid who is goid now may suck later and vice versa. travel teams r about the money, im convinced. have seen one, exactly one kid on travel baseball who id say should be playing more ball vs kids playing rec seasonally. also, more kids are upset when they do poorly, thats on the parents
That's what it looks like, travel teams are about money and parents are the suckers. The family in the segment is spending $15k a year on costs. Put that in a 529 and let the kids play at school.
That was crazy - thankfully my little guy doesn't seem to be much of an athlete so I don't even have to think about that insanity.
No, I always ask my friends who spend so much of their time coaching/attending their kids sports activitys. Do you spend part of that time taking your kids to museums/historical sites, reading newspaper/books, math/science, general non-competive recreation, etc.... Their response is that sports builds character and teamwork
Nit yours but i know several 8, 10 yr olds that suck in school but are out 2 nights a week till 10 on traveland these kids aren't making d1
Parents need to ensure balance for their kids, especially if a child is sports crazy and loves it.
Yeah, just wondering? Why are you feeding the youth travel beast? You seem to think there are issues with the system.
Let me just say as a parent who has experienced the "select" culture as we call it in Texas, very few people are spending $15k/year. Thats not saying it doesn't happen, but most select teams are playing other "local" teams. You know going in where a given team travels to for the most part. If you don't want to travel to different states and face overnights, there are plenty of very competitive options for you.
Let me also add that the kids love it. I would have loved it when I was 10. But some parents do have a hyper focus on scholarships which is wrong for so many reasons.
Let me also add that the kids love it. I would have loved it when I was 10. But some parents do have a hyper focus on scholarships which is wrong for so many reasons.
My 18 year old son played travel baseball from age 7 to 14 leading up to HS where he played for 4 years. Generally travel was local as Monmouth and Ocean county have great baseball. The experience he had was great for everyone and he developed a lot of good friendships over that time....and along the way, he got to compete and have fun. Traveling from city to city every weekend seems a little over the top. We did trips to Cooperstown for a 104 team tournament where they played 8 games in 6 days.... he had the time of his life (to date). We also went to the Ripken complex in MD for three tournaments. The rest was within an hours drive.
Sometimes when I try to understand a person’s motives, I play a little game. I assume the worst. What’s the worst reason they could possibly have for saying what they say and doing what they do? Then I ask myself: how well does that reason explain what they say and what they do?
Fall Baseball starts in MA next week (Six Sundays). I coach with another father. 1st and 2nd graders
Its already been established when we coached last spring with the Ks and 1st graders - "We're here to have fun, learn and throw it around. Parents, if you want something different take my spot out here or ask for your kid to be moved to a different team."
I truly believe these whacko parents today for the most part know their kid isn't going to get a full ride to college. I really think its about them proving they are superior and can produce an athlete better than the next door neighbors kid.
I was at BBQ last Saturday and guy was showing a video on his phone of his 3yr old "switch hitting" with a plastic bat ball. Video in slow motion "Look at his concentration!"
And people wonder why I don't really socialize with people beside a couple of friends.
Its already been established when we coached last spring with the Ks and 1st graders - "We're here to have fun, learn and throw it around. Parents, if you want something different take my spot out here or ask for your kid to be moved to a different team."
I truly believe these whacko parents today for the most part know their kid isn't going to get a full ride to college. I really think its about them proving they are superior and can produce an athlete better than the next door neighbors kid.
I was at BBQ last Saturday and guy was showing a video on his phone of his 3yr old "switch hitting" with a plastic bat ball. Video in slow motion "Look at his concentration!"
And people wonder why I don't really socialize with people beside a couple of friends.
Mostly because if your kids are good athletes you have to. REC sports are a joke because the better athlete are playing travel and academy. If my oldest played REC soccer she would score 10 goals a game. Second, they enjoy it and look forward to these trips. Third, I can afford it and already have all their college money put away so it's not like I'm leveraging their future. Most of the time they are great weekend get aways
Our travel hockey is great, soccer and baseball is on par with rec. the difference in baseball is u get one good pitcher and its a big difference
VKJ answer is spot on. If his kid is enjoying it, then go ahead and do it. Plus, the reality of all of this is that you now have to do it. Back in the day when Kevin was playing ball as a youth, he didn't do travel and he decided to stay at his public school rather than go to DBP when they were recruiting him. I am not sure he would be able to make that decision today.
On the other hand. I have a neighbor whos son has been a very good REC RB in football. His Dad is sending him to DBP with hopes of him playing football. Kid is 5ft4, 105lbs...smh they don't talk of the great education he will get but only of sports
On the other hand. I have a neighbor whos son has been a very good REC RB in football. His Dad is sending him to DBP with hopes of him playing football. Kid is 5ft4, 105lbs...smh they don't talk of the great education he will get but only of sports
Not all travel teams are the same. My town's soccer travel teams in Long Islands don't leave Suffolk/Nassau county until they are in U13. Our U10 team specifically only participates in 3 tournaments each year, all of them within a half hour drive. The season runs for a little over 3 months in the fall and spring and we only play 11-12 games per season (league) and practice for 90 minutes twice a week. A handful of the kids play lacrosse, others play basketball as well as baseball. We budgeted for $2000 per player for the season (annual), but ended up spending only $1400. BTW, all practices and games were run by lisenced trainers, not parents.
On the other hand our nephew (also in Long Island) plays travel baseball. During the summer his team played 72 games (not a typo).....did I mention, he's 9 years old.
On the other hand our nephew (also in Long Island) plays travel baseball. During the summer his team played 72 games (not a typo).....did I mention, he's 9 years old.
My son played on a high level travel soccer team and has played (and I coached) travel baseball, including now on an exposure team. I've seen it all - the good and the bad. Mostly great memories. My daughter, now a college athlete, also did travel soccer on a top team, but she also played USTA tennis from age 8 through 18 here in Florida - tremendous international talent, many home-schooled and tennis academy kids - nothing, I mean nothing, compares to the insanity of that scene. Illegal coaching by parents and coaches during matches in various languages, fist fights between parents - including one involving a mom who played at Wimbledon whose daughter grew up playing with my daughter. There are no refs on every court in these tournies and the cheating on line calls is rampant as these kids vye for scholarships and pro contracts - especially by the many ex pats playing here who come from a certain country and its former satellites (I won't say what country it is but the current leader of its main former constituent entity's name rhymes with "shootin"). Nothing compares with the insanity (and expense - coaches, etc.) of USTA tennis.
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Not to hijack the thread, but you see this sort of thing in academics as well. IMO, a good reason the West Windsor school district is so highly rated is because of all of the tiger parenting going on outside of the classrooms.
I talk to vkj about this topic all the time..pretty much daily. I think legit arguments can be made on both sides. He is a parent who is doing it, but has it all in perspective. Most parents are not like him.
I coach or assistant coach 3 sports at the Rec level for my sons. I ran my oldest son's rec basketball team with the precision of swiss watch--but within the constraints of rec rules. Everybody has to play, only practices on sanctioned days, no "extra" work, etc. Some of the kids were a little taken aback at first. One kid quit after the first practice. But point being, kids can have a high quality experience within the Rec system. My guys played the league's all-star team (as a joke between coaches) and beat them by 17 and it wasn't that close. We beat one team that had 4 of the travel team players on it 51-14 (vkj can attest as he saw the picture of the scoreboard. lol).
Kids can get good run and instruction at the Rec level in the right circumstances. You can also waste crap tons of money on travel sports where you get coaches who more often than not are the same guys who coach rec--just with players willing to pay $1,200 for jerseys with their names on them and customized bat bags.
I live in a Group 5 HS town. Tons of kids walking around these fields. I see precious few who are D1 caliber athletes. And that plays itself out in where these kids end up going to school. You'll see D1a football player every 2nd season or so. There hasn't been a D1 basketball player in the 6 years I've been here. Baseball is a little better. Soccer about the same as baseball. Maybe the talent leaves for CBA, RBC or SJV. I dunno. But the juice isn't worth squeeze when you look at the results of all this money spent on scholarship chasing--which is exactly what it is in my town.
I coach or assistant coach 3 sports at the Rec level for my sons. I ran my oldest son's rec basketball team with the precision of swiss watch--but within the constraints of rec rules. Everybody has to play, only practices on sanctioned days, no "extra" work, etc. Some of the kids were a little taken aback at first. One kid quit after the first practice. But point being, kids can have a high quality experience within the Rec system. My guys played the league's all-star team (as a joke between coaches) and beat them by 17 and it wasn't that close. We beat one team that had 4 of the travel team players on it 51-14 (vkj can attest as he saw the picture of the scoreboard. lol).
Kids can get good run and instruction at the Rec level in the right circumstances. You can also waste crap tons of money on travel sports where you get coaches who more often than not are the same guys who coach rec--just with players willing to pay $1,200 for jerseys with their names on them and customized bat bags.
I live in a Group 5 HS town. Tons of kids walking around these fields. I see precious few who are D1 caliber athletes. And that plays itself out in where these kids end up going to school. You'll see D1a football player every 2nd season or so. There hasn't been a D1 basketball player in the 6 years I've been here. Baseball is a little better. Soccer about the same as baseball. Maybe the talent leaves for CBA, RBC or SJV. I dunno. But the juice isn't worth squeeze when you look at the results of all this money spent on scholarship chasing--which is exactly what it is in my town.
Odds of scholarship - are less than 1%
I still say its for the parents to feel superior that they are producing a better athlete than the next door neighbor.
I still say its for the parents to feel superior that they are producing a better athlete than the next door neighbor.
I also heard that they don't want their kids to be anti-social..
Then the same parents complain that their grades suck once they realized that there is no such thing as a full sports scholarship for anything besides football and basketball. Schools expect academic scholarships to make up the difference.
Very few people will get a job playing sports.
I agree that there's some me of that, but to the extent parents can afford it, the reality is that to have any chance at playing certain sports in college - especially soccer - and yes it is a long shot to get a D1 schollie for so many reasons - you need to play travel. Sad but true.
I agree with vjk that you have to do it order for your high-skill kid to develop as peers are doing. And I also agree that this isn't limited to sports, as was pointed out. I was shocked to learn that many kids take summer classes in other locations so that when they take the same difficult classes in HS that count in their GPA it will be their second time through it, boosting grades relative to others.
I disagree with Fink though about some players making teams via politics and pre existing relationships sometimes ahead of better players. Of course they do. Always have and always will. That's how the world works.
I disagree with Fink though about some players making teams via politics and pre existing relationships sometimes ahead of better players. Of course they do. Always have and always will. That's how the world works.
I hear what you are saying. I do get that not every parent who has their kids in year round travel sports aren't there hoping for their kid to play of Notre Dame, and truly believe its a great experience for the kid - which is can be.
There are a lot of forces at play here - its not always about the scholarship. There is no question sports helps you get into school. If you are marginal in the classroom, but a stud on the field, a coach at Middlebury/Williams and the like will help you get in.
But I will tell you, playing a sport in college isn't fun. It basically s*cks. Its worse than job. Hence why you walk in with your freshman class and maybe 25% remain on the team as seniors.
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I also get the "fun" argument. I'm dealing with it with my older one now. He's 10. He's a Plus level pitcher for his age with above average glove and average bat. Travel coaches beg me to let him play. He begs me to let him play. I have no doubt that he could play, contribute, get better and have fun with his friends.
The issue I have is that travel is a 10 month commitment now. So have "fun" at the expense of what? He likes to hike, camp, fish, paddle and wants to learn to hunt. He plays judo and jjui jitsu. Weekend tournaments 20+ weeks a year, on top of Rec basketball and flag football means you are trading off one kind of fun for another. And as a family you are making a financial commitment that might not break the bank, but will definitely incentivize you not to miss too many games.
The other thing that fires me up is how obvious the money grab is. Travel as a means of getting better competition is one thing. But when travel programs field "B" and sometimes "C" teams, just because there is demand from parents to prove their kid is "special," the entire point gets diluted. To combat that, academy baseball and soccer have popped up. That is travel plus--and many multiples the price. Once the people running that dilute themselves to satisfy demand from parents, the next thing will pop up. Inter-galactic domination leagues, etc.
The issue I have is that travel is a 10 month commitment now. So have "fun" at the expense of what? He likes to hike, camp, fish, paddle and wants to learn to hunt. He plays judo and jjui jitsu. Weekend tournaments 20+ weeks a year, on top of Rec basketball and flag football means you are trading off one kind of fun for another. And as a family you are making a financial commitment that might not break the bank, but will definitely incentivize you not to miss too many games.
The other thing that fires me up is how obvious the money grab is. Travel as a means of getting better competition is one thing. But when travel programs field "B" and sometimes "C" teams, just because there is demand from parents to prove their kid is "special," the entire point gets diluted. To combat that, academy baseball and soccer have popped up. That is travel plus--and many multiples the price. Once the people running that dilute themselves to satisfy demand from parents, the next thing will pop up. Inter-galactic domination leagues, etc.
One pitfall with REC is its luck of the draw. It every kid is lucky enough to have an NBA level coach like yourself at the REC level. I applaud anyone who volunteers but some of these guys know squat about sports
I know where you live and you are way off on soccer. Some of the best youth soccer teams in the country are right around the corner.
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