Any huge believers in traveling youth sports out there? If so, which reasons? (a) I want my kids to play on high school team, (b) for learning teamwork, hard work, and confidence, (c) for a possible college scholarship, and (d) they’re obsessed with the sport. Have any doubts?

I’ll give away my leaning toward recommending kids play (instead of travel sports) a recreational sport each season with (if possible) school classmates and focusing on teamwork, hard work, families, and exercise, rather than scholarships and specialization. But still processing.

https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/1016419857666015232

 

Rev. Jess HB
@jess_h_b
Replying to @AndyRowell
Rec teams have really suffered due to travel clubs. By the time my boys got to 3rd grade the kids who enjoyed the sport went to club/travel and rec programs generally disorganized and not much emphasis on skill building 🙁 In our experience anyway…

 

@AndyRowell
Yes, good point. I think your experience is the norm. Trying to swim against this tide, I have coached a lot so that our kids have a good experience with rec. (And the massive time I have put in causes other parts of our lives to suffer).

 

Dan Reid
@editordanreid
Jul 9
Replying to @AndyRowell
Tough, isn’t it. Its dismaying how sports threaten to rule lives. My thinking is get them involved in a sport they can participate in all their lives. Like tennis or swimming. I wish I’d pursued tennis. It wears well.

 

Little Sailboat
@AmaraSailboat
Replying to @AndyRowell
I think it’s a balance! If they truly love it, let them pursue a more competitive traveling team. If they just want to try a sport out, a rec league or ymca class may be the right lane. Your attitude follows you in whatever you end up doing.

 

See also on Youth Soccer

 

 

Here, here to playing with your classmates, not destroying family life with travel, playing multiple sports, and not being delusional about getting sports scholarships.

https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/1016421057866158081

 

https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2018/07/the-downsides-of-americas-hyper-competitive-youth-soccer-industry/565109/

The Downsides of America’s Hyper-Competitive Youth-Soccer Industry
The sport’s top tier is organized around the goal of producing a tiny group of elite players, at the expense of kids’—and parents’—well-being.

LINDA FLANAGAN
JUL 13, 2018

 

See also: 

This is quite a powerful article on youth sports development, particularly soccer. Ted Kroeten argues against tryouts because of Relative Age Effect and argues the best players emerge late (age 15) after developing creatively by playing for fun.

What I take away from this is to facilitate (as a coach and parent) kids enjoying playing the sport. Encouraging pick-up games, small-sided games, scrimmaging.

https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/967626950994006017

 

 

The revolution will not hold tryouts
February 23, 2018

Ted Kroeten

https://www.poweredbyjoy.org/single-post/2018/02/13/The-revolution-will-not-hold-tryouts

 

 

I have been asking some other parents what sports their kids do here in Durham.  Our kids are 2 and 4 so I have been looking at the 2-5 age activities.  

Sports for Kids in Durham

• YMCA: Swim lessons, basketball, soccer, flag football and many more activities.  People have told me soccer and basketball are great.  There is always open family swimming.  There is childcare so the adults can work out.  Often the gym is open and you can bring some balls and play there too.
• Hillandale Soccer League: soccer in north Durham
• Triangle United at Woodcroft: soccer
• The Little Gym: classes, tumbling, gymnastics and more.
• Hillandale Baseball: baseball.
• North Durham Little League: baseball
• South Durham Little League: baseball
• Durham Parks and Recreation Department: all kinds of activities and classes from swim lessons to learning about animals to art classes.   
• Lacrosse
• Fencing
• Durham Bulls Baseball Camp (ages 7-14)

See also my post: Advice about moving to Durham, North Carolina

Update February 12, 2011:

See the excellent directory of SPORTS LEAGUES & CLUBS in the Triangle area at Carolina Parent magazine

We have ended up doing Hillandale Soccer in the fall (starting at age 3) and YMCA basketball (starting at age 3) in the winter, and Hillandale Baseball in the spring (starting at age 4).  We have chosen Hillandale sports for proximity to where we live.  We do basketball at the Y because as parents we like going to work out at the Y with childcare provided and we like to swim in the pool before or after basketball.