https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/27356477/kids-playing-enough-sports-culprit-cost
It's not the cost of sports, it's stupid video games and participation trophies that are ruining the experience.
I don't want to know how much I spent over a 14 or 15 year period. A small fortune.... mostly in gasoline.
It's not cost? You don't have kids that play travel ball I take it lol
What is killing kids sports is the fact that parents are ramming one sport down a kids throat all year around and putting to much pressure on kids to compete at a young age. Just let them have fun and play
posted by kizer permanenteIt's not cost? You don't have kids that play travel ball I take it lol
LOL I take it you don't realize that travel ball isn't the only option?
posted by gutLOL I take it you don't realize that travel ball isn't the only option?
You haven't seen a modern day little league or rec league in a long time I imagine?
Why is this in the politics forum?
And yes, playing sports costs money, especially non-school focused club teams.
I wanted to play club ice hockey when I was like 12-13. I went to a few open practices, discussed the cost and ice time schedules. My parents then told me to find something else I enjoyed. LOL
I know people spending easily 4-5 k in a summer for their kids in travel baseball and travel soccer. I think their kids might get free college it looks like so for some people I can understand the sacrifices they make to pay that kind of money
I used to think parents were crazy to spend the money they did on sports, but when you look at little league anymore, it's not what it used to be. The worst of the worst play it. So unless your kids is part of the worst, you're doing them a disservice, even if they only want to play in high school. There's no way they make a high school team playing modern day little league or local ymca league stuff. It used to be only elite kids played travel. now average kids do. So even if your kid is just good.. not great... they have to find some travel team to play on.
posted by kizer permanenteI used to think parents were crazy to spend the money they did on sports, but when you look at little league anymore, it's not what it used to be. The worst of the worst play it. So unless your kids is part of the worst, you're doing them a disservice, even if they only want to play in high school. There's no way they make a high school team playing modern day little league or local ymca league stuff. It used to be only elite kids played travel. now average kids do. So even if your kid is just good.. not great... they have to find some travel team to play on.
This is so true.
When I was playing little league baseball, (80s to early 90s) the regular little league teams were good. Typically only the top player off each team got "picked" to play travel ball. I was playing travel ball most summers growing up, the only summers I didn't was when I chose to play pee wee football instead (my parents had a 1 sport at a time rule).
Back then the "travel ball" season didn't start until around early June after the regular little league season was over. The tryouts for the team was either by selection (like I said, they would grab the best kid or 2 from each team in the league) or by tryout. So even the "elite" kids played little league as well.
Now, even the above average kids aren't playing little league at all, they are playing "travel ball" year round. Its ridiculous to be honest. I absolutely love baseball and was darn good at it (played in D1 college until I hurt my shoulder and couldn't throw anymore). But even I would have been burned out by this type of "year round travel ball" that parents put kids through now.
There is no reason for a kid to "specialize" in one sport anytime before high school.
Kids that only play one sport often find themselves injured more. Playing more sports works side muscles and prevents overuse injuries. I know 2 kids who are only freshman and had elbow surgery already
posted by jmogThis is so true.
When I was playing little league baseball, (80s to early 90s) the regular little league teams were good. Typically only the top player off each team got "picked" to play travel ball. I was playing travel ball most summers growing up, the only summers I didn't was when I chose to play pee wee football instead (my parents had a 1 sport at a time rule).
Back then the "travel ball" season didn't start until around early June after the regular little league season was over. The tryouts for the team was either by selection (like I said, they would grab the best kid or 2 from each team in the league) or by tryout. So even the "elite" kids played little league as well.
Now, even the above average kids aren't playing little league at all, they are playing "travel ball" year round. Its ridiculous to be honest. I absolutely love baseball and was darn good at it (played in D1 college until I hurt my shoulder and couldn't throw anymore). But even I would have been burned out by this type of "year round travel ball" that parents put kids through now.
There is no reason for a kid to "specialize" in one sport anytime before high school.
Yeah when I was a kid you played a little league season and kids were selected for “Allstars” which was travel ball. Now kids try out for year round travel teams.
All year around single sport shit is the worst
posted by kizer permanenteYou haven't seen a modern day little league or rec league in a long time I imagine?
That's not the point of the article. The article claims sports aren't accessible because of cost. That's demonstrably false, and your points about the quality/competition of local little league are irrelevant.
The goal of putting your kid in sports really isn't college scholarships. So the idea that the only option is travel or not playing is ridiculous.
Go on then. Feel free to refute the article...
posted by gutThat's not the point of the article. The article claims sports aren't accessible because of cost. That's demonstrably false, and your points about the quality/competition of local little league are irrelevant.
The goal of putting your kid in sports really isn't college scholarships. So the idea that the only option is travel or not playing is ridiculous.
The cost absolutely doesn’t allow inner city kids to play baseball. The cost to maintain the field and lack of fields is bad too. This is why most kids play basketball. Easily the cheapest sport. Lots of kids who are economically disadvantaged if they are really Good and the team wants to win will often have a “sponsor” which is usually the team booster club or a rich parent of another player. I have seen this happen in football and baseball in my coaching days
posted by SpockAll year around single sport shit is the worst
Do you encourage distance running all year round, and participating in 5Ks, etc? Just playing devil's advocate. I hate year round sports.
I don't think the time and money commitment to travel ball, be it soccer, baseball, basketball, etc is as much a reason as being made here. Sure, it does take time and money, but it isn't a deal breaker in most cases.
IMO, the real culprit is that kids stay in the house more and don't congregate in the summer at the baseball fields, basketball courts and just play! Be it due to kids being at a daycare as both parents (if there are 2 in the home) are working, not allowing the kids to run their neighborhood or just staying in the house playing video games. I truly think this is why participation in sports is down.
Sports are accessible to play....all of the schools that I know of have baseball fields, basketball courts and greenspace that kids can congregate on. No need to have sponsors, schedules or team booster clubs..just kids who want to play.
Why does it have to be one or the other? I think it's a mixture of everything brought up in this thread.
Last year was my daughter's first year of "rec / travel" league. She's 12 and plays volleyball. It has been very eye opening to me how the whole thing works. Basically, you cannot take the attitude of "well I'll try different sports each season" or "maybe I'll try out for volleyball when I get to high school to supplement my other activities". You have to specialize at least by middle school if you want any chance to play in high school. Unless you are an unusually good athlete, a coach will not look closely at someone who hasn't shown the commitment to a sport by playing it year round long before high school.
My daughter is not aiming for an athletic scholarship either. Her goal is to just be on the team in high school. And apparently this is what it takes. It's unbelievable.
posted by Dr Winston O'BoogieLast year was my daughter's first year of "rec / travel" league. She's 12 and plays volleyball. It has been very eye opening to me how the whole thing works. Basically, you cannot take the attitude of "well I'll try different sports each season" or "maybe I'll try out for volleyball when I get to high school to supplement my other activities". You have to specialize at least by middle school if you want any chance to play in high school. Unless you are an unusually good athlete, a coach will not look closely at someone who hasn't shown the commitment to a sport by playing it year round long before high school.
My daughter is not aiming for an athletic scholarship either. Her goal is to just be on the team in high school. And apparently this is what it takes. It's unbelievable.
Coaches are 100% the problem. They absolutely punish kids for playing other sports for their own self gain
