Youth Sports Insanity

[Cat]

I don’t like this trend at all.

I’ve seen it several places lately on CAF, and of course, in real life.

The trend is, you don’t like something, so stop doing it totally.

Where I’ve seen it on CAF is people who get embroiled in a tough issue, and rather than sticking with a thread and working out the issue, they post a “FINAL POST” stating that this will be their last post, that they never should have gotten involved with this thread and often with CAF and all forums in general, and that they will never be back.

I guess that’s easier than sticking to it, doing some research, and working hard to stay civil and charitable while resolving the conflict and ironing out the issues, including any personal issues.

I’ve seen it many, many times in real life. People start a job and then quit. People start a Bible study and quit. People start a diet and quit.

People get their kids involved in an activity or activities, and then when life starts happening, they quit to “stay home and just be a family.”

IMO, this trend is very bad. There is SOOOOOO much value from getting children involved with competitive–yes COMPETITIVE–sports! Teamwork skills, coping with disappointment, hard work ethic, dealing with conflicts, getting along with a variety of people, handling pressure, physical training and fitness…I could take up a huge post listing the benefits.

The benefits of staying sequestered safe at home with family and doing non-competitive activities–well, IMO, this doesn’t prepare kids for real life in the United States of America in 2010. Certainly when children are babies and toddlers, this is the correct approach. But I agree that in many sports, it is helpful to become involved early so that the child is prepared for competition when they are older.

I say let them stick with it, and figure out a realistic way to be involved as parents. Many parents do not attend any games or practices, choosing instead to make sure that the home is a pleasant and organized place for the kids to come back to after the game. And many never miss a practice or a game. You have to decide which approach is better for you, or how you can achieve a blending of the two approaches that works well for you.

But pulling the kids out because it’s difficult–what kind of lesson does that teach them about life?

My daughters were figure skaters from the time they were 3 and 5 years old. We have absolutely NO regrets. It’s a great sport, and it is our privilege to be associated with it. Both daughters still spend several hours a week on the ice (one is working on completing all the ice dance tests and the other is coaching synchronized skating teams and singles skaters, and directing her local ice show).

 

[jmcrae]

Not everywhere has those other opportunities. Around here once you get to high school your only shot is high school team or travel ball. They are both extremely competitive, and hardly any recreational leagues offer teams for high school aged kids.

Again -

I work with kids from ages 7-17. The high school boys all get together in the winter time and play hockey in the field behind the Church. It’s icy enough to skate on, it’s free, they all live around here, so they don’t need rides from their parents, and they all know the game well enough to be able to keep score - they don’t need coaches.

Yes, it’s true that no scouts are going to come and watch their games, or give them scholarships. They don’t care - they’re just out there to compete against each other, to have something to brag to the girls about, and to have fun. None of them is planning to go into a career in hockey - most of them are thinking of going into teaching.

 

[psr13]

Again -

I work with kids from ages 7-17. The high school boys all get together in the winter time and play hockey in the field behind the Church. It’s icy enough to skate on, it’s free, they all live around here, so they don’t need rides from their parents, and they all know the game well enough to be able to keep score - they don’t need coaches.

Yes, it’s true that no scouts are going to come and watch their games, or give them scholarships. They don’t care - they’re just out there to compete against each other, to have something to brag to the girls about, and to have fun. None of them is planning to go into a career in hockey - most of them are thinking of going into teaching.

It’s all fine and dandy that there happens where you are. That doesn’t happen a lot around here. Sometimes there will be random games of pickup basketball, but that’s it. Many of the fields for baseball (a very popular sport here) are locked up. You can’t use them unless you are a part of the league. The reason for this is that many leagues play at schools that are locked when not in session. It’s kind of hard to play pick up football which is another popular sport here.

 

[jmcrae]

It’s all fine and dandy that there happens where you are. That doesn’t happen a lot around here. Sometimes there will be random games of pickup basketball, but that’s it. Many of the fields for baseball (a very popular sport here) are locked up. You can’t use them unless you are a part of the league. The reason for this is that many leagues play at schools that are locked when not in session. It’s kind of hard to play pick up football which is another popular sport here.

Don’t you have public parks and fields that are available for kids to do whatever they want in? It wouldn’t have to be specifically a baseball field or a football field, but just any field, meaning, a long, wide patch of grass where people might take their dogs, or go for picnics with their kids, or set up a game of football or baseball, or throw a frisbee around, etc.

 

[monicatholic]

youth sports is feeling like a form of slavery.

really it’s become a form of idolotry.

competition for kids? sure in limited amounts.

commitment? sure, but these are not commitments-- they eat up families’ lives. 6 hours of organized ball per week for a 11 year old is unbalanced.

i have 5 sons. 2 of them (adults now) were intense athletes. our youngest looks like he’s following suit. we ask lotsa questions before we hand over our cash. we look for alternatives if the committment is more like indentured servitude. we’ve ***organized ***a few alternatives too.

 

[PatriceA]

That’s a great idea if you can afford it. Martial arts around here are around $100 a month per kid.

Maybe it was just my daughter’s school, but her martial arts school had to be one of the most expensive sports for a kid to be involved in. Especially if your child becomes competitive. It wasn’t just $100 a class, it was all the competition fees, and the various weapons and ugh, the black belt testing fee.

 

[KCT]

Maybe it was just my daughter’s school, but her martial arts school had to be one of the most expensive sports for a kid to be involved in. Especially if your child becomes competitive. It wasn’t just $100 a class, it was all the competition fees, and the various weapons and ugh, the black belt testing fee.

It wasn’t cheap, that’s for sure. But it was worth it for us and them. Plus I figure I saved on gas and time.

With team sports there was a fee, plus we had to work the snack shack, contribute to a coach gift and drive all over the place for practice and games. Taking all 3 to one place at the same time was worth the trade off for us.

 

[PatriceA]

It wasn’t cheap, that’s for sure. But it was worth it for us and them. Plus I figure I saved on gas and time.

With team sports there was a fee, plus we had to work the snack shack, contribute to a coach gift and drive all over the place for practice and games. Taking all 3 to one place at the same time was worth the trade off for us.

It was worth it the first three years my daughter did it, and then it just seemed like it became a cash cow. She gets the same benefits from being on the swim team, where she actually feels like a part of a team and not so much an individual competitor and it it is soooo much cheaper.

 

[psr13]

Don’t you have public parks and fields that are available for kids to do whatever they want in? It wouldn’t have to be specifically a baseball field or a football field, but just any field, meaning, a long, wide patch of grass where people might take their dogs, or go for picnics with their kids, or set up a game of football or baseball, or throw a frisbee around, etc.

Many parks won’t let people play sports at them. There is too much liability around here. We also don’t have many parks in the first place.

 

[psr13]

It wasn’t cheap, that’s for sure. But it was worth it for us and them. Plus I figure I saved on gas and time.

With team sports there was a fee, plus we had to work the snack shack, contribute to a coach gift and drive all over the place for practice and games. Taking all 3 to one place at the same time was worth the trade off for us.

I played various sports and became a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Tae Kwon Do was hands down the most expensive. $100 a month. The uniform was quite expensive. When I became a brown belt I had to get a nicer uniform that was even more expensive. It cost around $30 to test for every belt, and we had 11 belts. Weapons cost money, and since I was on track to be a black belt I had to do weapons. Sparring equipment cost money. Oh man, the tournaments. Black belt testing itself was around $100, and the belt itself cost about $100 I think.

 

[catharina]

Again -

I work with kids from ages 7-17. The high school boys all get together in the winter time and play hockey in the field behind the Church. It’s icy enough to skate on, it’s free, they all live around here, so they don’t need rides from their parents, and they all know the game well enough to be able to keep score - they don’t need coaches.

Yes, it’s true that no scouts are going to come and watch their games, or give them scholarships. They don’t care - they’re just out there to compete against each other, to have something to brag to the girls about, and to have fun. None of them is planning to go into a career in hockey - most of them are thinking of going into teaching.

Now for EXTREME insanity.

A mommy told me recently that she planned to enroll her son in Baby Soccer.
He is not even two-and-a-half yrs old. HELLO!
He is a happy and darling little boy -
but he’s still learning to accept bedtime on a regular basis.
He is not toilet-trained at all.

He should learn SOCCER now?
Yes, I talked the mommy out of it.
Talk about youth sports as insanity - but it’s a MONEY-MAKER.
Completely disgusting - and I thought I’d heard everything!

Soccer for Two Year Olds? YUCK. Completely insane.

 

[Rico_S]

Now for EXTREME insanity.

A mommy told me recently that she planned to enroll her son in Baby Soccer.
He is not even two-and-a-half yrs old. HELLO!
He is a happy and darling little boy -
but he’s still learning to accept bedtime on a regular basis.
He is not toilet-trained at all.

He should learn SOCCER now?
Yes, I talked the mommy out of it.
Talk about youth sports as insanity - but it’s a MONEY-MAKER.
Completely disgusting - and I thought I’d heard everything!

Soccer for Two Year Olds? YUCK. Completely insane.

I’ve seen some of these soccer classes for the toddlers…so funny to watch. They are out there kicking this big ball around and having an absolute blast. Most are giggling so hard they have a hard time just staying on their feet. (my kids did not start playing soccer till K, so they didn’t do those) It is not insanity…at least no less insane then enrolling your toddler in mommy & me music class–which we did do and it absolutely was a money making venture. “Money making” does not equal evil, wrong, or bad.

 

[Rico_S]

I don’t like this trend at all.

I’ve seen it several places lately on CAF, and of course, in real life.

The trend is, you don’t like something, so stop doing it totally.

Where I’ve seen it on CAF is people who get embroiled in a tough issue, and rather than sticking with a thread and working out the issue, they post a “FINAL POST” stating that this will be their last post, that they never should have gotten involved with this thread and often with CAF and all forums in general, and that they will never be back.

I guess that’s easier than sticking to it, doing some research, and working hard to stay civil and charitable while resolving the conflict and ironing out the issues, including any personal issues.

I’ve seen it many, many times in real life. People start a job and then quit. People start a Bible study and quit. People start a diet and quit.

People get their kids involved in an activity or activities, and then when life starts happening, they quit to “stay home and just be a family.”

IMO, this trend is very bad. There is SOOOOOO much value from getting children involved with competitive–yes COMPETITIVE–sports! Teamwork skills, coping with disappointment, hard work ethic, dealing with conflicts, getting along with a variety of people, handling pressure, physical training and fitness…I could take up a huge post listing the benefits.

The benefits of staying sequestered safe at home with family and doing non-competitive activities–well, IMO, this doesn’t prepare kids for real life in the United States of America in 2010. Certainly when children are babies and toddlers, this is the correct approach. But I agree that in many sports, it is helpful to become involved early so that the child is prepared for competition when they are older.

I say let them stick with it, and figure out a realistic way to be involved as parents. Many parents do not attend any games or practices, choosing instead to make sure that the home is a pleasant and organized place for the kids to come back to after the game. And many never miss a practice or a game. You have to decide which approach is better for you, or how you can achieve a blending of the two approaches that works well for you.

But pulling the kids out because it’s difficult–what kind of lesson does that teach them about life?

My daughters were figure skaters from the time they were 3 and 5 years old. We have absolutely NO regrets. It’s a great sport, and it is our privilege to be associated with it. Both daughters still spend several hours a week on the ice (one is working on completing all the ice dance tests and the other is coaching synchronized skating teams and singles skaters, and directing her local ice show).

Thought this post deserved a little love.

One thing that stood out was this statement:
“**The benefits of staying sequestered safe at home with family and doing non-competitive activities–well, IMO, this doesn’t prepare kids for real life in the United States of America in 2010. **”

A discussion on this is probably worthy of its own thread.

 

[Rico_S]

6 hours of organized ball per week for a 11 year old is unbalanced.

What does a “balanced” 11 year old’s schedule look like?

 

[belmontmac]

really it’s become a form of idolotry.

.

For kids and adults.

 

[Jay82]

I don’t like this trend at all.

I’ve seen it several places lately on CAF, and of course, in real life.

The trend is, you don’t like something, so stop doing it totally.

Where I’ve seen it on CAF is people who get embroiled in a tough issue, and rather than sticking with a thread and working out the issue, they post a “FINAL POST” stating that this will be their last post, that they never should have gotten involved with this thread and often with CAF and all forums in general, and that they will never be back.

I guess that’s easier than sticking to it, doing some research, and working hard to stay civil and charitable while resolving the conflict and ironing out the issues, including any personal issues.

I’ve seen it many, many times in real life. People start a job and then quit. People start a Bible study and quit. People start a diet and quit.

People get their kids involved in an activity or activities, and then when life starts happening, they quit to “stay home and just be a family.”

IMO, this trend is very bad. There is SOOOOOO much value from getting children involved with competitive–yes COMPETITIVE–sports! Teamwork skills, coping with disappointment, hard work ethic, dealing with conflicts, getting along with a variety of people, handling pressure, physical training and fitness…I could take up a huge post listing the benefits.

The benefits of staying sequestered safe at home with family and doing non-competitive activities–well, IMO, this doesn’t prepare kids for real life in the United States of America in 2010. Certainly when children are babies and toddlers, this is the correct approach. But I agree that in many sports, it is helpful to become involved early so that the child is prepared for competition when they are older.

I say let them stick with it, and figure out a realistic way to be involved as parents. Many parents do not attend any games or practices, choosing instead to make sure that the home is a pleasant and organized place for the kids to come back to after the game. And many never miss a practice or a game. You have to decide which approach is better for you, or how you can achieve a blending of the two approaches that works well for you.

But pulling the kids out because it’s difficult–what kind of lesson does that teach them about life?

My daughters were figure skaters from the time they were 3 and 5 years old. We have absolutely NO regrets. It’s a great sport, and it is our privilege to be associated with it. Both daughters still spend several hours a week on the ice (one is working on completing all the ice dance tests and the other is coaching synchronized skating teams and singles skaters, and directing her local ice show).

I second what Cat says and can’t agree more.

Thought this post deserved a little love.

One thing that stood out was this statement:
“**The benefits of staying sequestered safe at home with family and doing non-competitive activities–well, IMO, this doesn’t prepare kids for real life in the United States of America in 2010. **”

A discussion on this is probably worthy of its own thread.

Absolutely. This would be an interesting discussion topic.

 

[Jay82]

What does a “balanced” 11 year old’s schedule look like?

You should have seen my schedule as an 11 yr old.

It usually consisted of traveling soccer 4 days a week (probably 10 hrs a week). Baseball 2-3 days a week (6 hrs a week). Music lessons 1-2 days a week + other time practicing, Boy Scouts 1 day a week, school clubs, volunteer efforts, CCD, etc. And of course this doesn’t include time spent on school work.

I was a busy kid - I thrived on it and loved every second of it.

 

[jmcrae]

IMO, this trend is very bad. There is SOOOOOO much value from getting children involved with competitive–yes COMPETITIVE–sports! Teamwork skills, coping with disappointment, hard work ethic, dealing with conflicts, getting along with a variety of people, handling pressure, physical training and fitness…I could take up a huge post listing the benefits.

I always thought that was what gym class, and school in general, was for.

Also, if kids are continually being supervised by adults from the moment they wake up until the moment they go to sleep, when will they ever learn to work with each other to solve their own problems? When will they learn to create their own recreational activities and invent their own games, without someone organizing everything for them?

Some day, we will no longer be there for them, and they will have to rely on each other without (name removed by moderator)ut from us. They might as well get some practice with that while they are still young.

 

[Rico_S]

Also, if kids are continually being supervised by adults from the moment they wake up until the moment they go to sleep, when will they ever learn to work with each other to solve their own problems? When will they learn to create their own recreational activities and invent their own games, without someone organizing everything for them?

Some day, we will no longer be there for them, and they will have to rely on each other without (name removed by moderator)ut from us. They might as well get some practice with that while they are still young.

I don’t necessarily disagree with this, but I think it is an exaggeration to poo poo organized sports maintaining kids can no longer can create, solve problems and play without some sort of structure. All 4 of my kids are in organized sports (some in a very “unbalanced” way) and still find tons of time to ride bikes, play school, play in the sand box iwth the neighbors, draw, etc. I would guess this is true of almost all who participate in organized activities.

 

[Jay82]

I always thought that was what gym class, and school in general, was for. .

In my experience, school gym class is a joke. You have about 25% of kids actually interested in playing the game that the teacher selects. Another small portion of kids who may contribute or ‘try’ and then the rest just stand around and socialize and only do something if the ball comes near them, if at all. They just make sure they change clothes to get credit for attending and get their A+ or A for the marking period.

Gym class gives very few kids exercise.

Also, if kids are continually being supervised by adults from the moment they wake up until the moment they go to sleep, when will they ever learn to work with each other to solve their own problems? When will they learn to create their own recreational activities and invent their own games, without someone organizing everything for them?

Some day, we will no longer be there for them, and they will have to rely on each other without (name removed by moderator)ut from us. They might as well get some practice with that while they are still young.

I disagree with this. During my free time as a kid, as early as 11-13ish - my friends and I would organize whiffle ball games after school where we would agree to meet at the park or at someone’s house. We would use imaginary things as bases or a fence would be the homerun, if we didn’t have enough people, we would use ‘ghost runners’. It was a great time and stemmed creativity.

In addition to that, we would organize pickup soccer, basekball, and football games at local parks or play tag, or do other things. Just about all the kids who participated in these activities also played organized sports. We would also ask the kids who didn’t play sports on organized teams to join us, but they generally would say no and not come out to play. I am not sure what they did instead.

Thinking back, it is remarkable how much we were able to accomplish at such a young age without e-mail, cell phones, etc. We did this all by word of mouth, handing out hand made flyers at school, or knocking on doors to round up people to play.

Ultimately, it is the kids who play organized sports who go out and do recreational activities on their own in a creative manner. With a few exceptions…the kids who don’t play organized sports don’t go out and do things on their own.