Agree or disagree? Kids should only play travel sports if they have college or pro potential

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand how they'd could be family time, but what about the siblings and what they might want? Do they have to go all the time? What if they just want to hang out with their friends or something?

Yeah, I think a lot of sporty parents have a blind spot when it comes to their non-athlete kids. They would never, for example, drag the athletic kid out to a D&D convention if that's what the non-athletic kid wanted to do on a Saturday.

Usually the kids have opposite activities so it's divide and conquer. It's rare that in my family we're all at any one activity. That's how many people balance it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand how they'd could be family time, but what about the siblings and what they might want? Do they have to go all the time? What if they just want to hang out with their friends or something?

I certainly don’t drag the siblings to tournaments “all the time” - but if you see one of mine there or here about it, don’t assume we do, and don’t assume we aren’t also doing things as a family and making a mini getaway out of the sports weekend. Especially if it’s somewhere sort of fun like at the beach or near Busch Gardens etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been through the sports wringer with my kids and as a volunteer. I have never, ever met parents of a kid on a travel team who did not assume that their kid was a potential star. I've never met one.

Also those posts about young kids being frustrated by playing with less talented peers. The parents are the ones who feel that way and teach it to their kids.

This. Like the people on another current thread who have CONVINCED themselves (and tried to convince others) that without spending all weekend every weekend shuttling around to endless sports, their elementary school kid simply won’t be able to get into a good college.

That’s what they *think* they’re doing. The reality is that being the 900th soccer player they see in the admission pool is meaningless.

Hardly. It's because if my sporty kid wasn't doing his sport he'd be playing video games. He's not into other activities. He has made his choice so we support him. I don't care how many other kids are in his sport, in our house he has to find something to do with his time because he's not going to be a lump on the log while he's under my roof. If you're cool with your kid playing video games all day and nothing else, then you do you. Why are you so concerned with how people not you spend their time? And believe me, he still finds plenty of time for video games, just not all weekend long.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand how they'd could be family time, but what about the siblings and what they might want? Do they have to go all the time? What if they just want to hang out with their friends or something?

Yeah, I think a lot of sporty parents have a blind spot when it comes to their non-athlete kids. They would never, for example, drag the athletic kid out to a D&D convention if that's what the non-athletic kid wanted to do on a Saturday.

Usually the kids have opposite activities so it's divide and conquer. It's rare that in my family we're all at any one activity. That's how many people balance it.

Almost all the families I know who have a kid in travel sports…have multiple kids who also do their own (sometimes different) travel sports. These are pretty pro sports families. The completely non athletic kid related to an athlete one is unusual…or that child isn’t at the games because I don’t usually see it. I’m SURE there are the bad apples out there who have an unhappy sibling dragged to sport weekends and never given priority, but that’s an exception not a rule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been through the sports wringer with my kids and as a volunteer. I have never, ever met parents of a kid on a travel team who did not assume that their kid was a potential star. I've never met one.

Also those posts about young kids being frustrated by playing with less talented peers. The parents are the ones who feel that way and teach it to their kids.

This. Like the people on another current thread who have CONVINCED themselves (and tried to convince others) that without spending all weekend every weekend shuttling around to endless sports, their elementary school kid simply won’t be able to get into a good college.

That’s what they *think* they’re doing. The reality is that being the 900th soccer player they see in the admission pool is meaningless.

Hardly. It's because if my sporty kid wasn't doing his sport he'd be playing video games. He's not into other activities. He has made his choice so we support him. I don't care how many other kids are in his sport, in our house he has to find something to do with his time because he's not going to be a lump on the log while he's under my roof. If you're cool with your kid playing video games all day and nothing else, then you do you. Why are you so concerned with how people not you spend their time? And believe me, he still finds plenty of time for video games, just not all weekend long.

It's odd that you have such an all or nothing attitude. If all your kid is interested in is 100% sports or 100% video games, that's a problem.

Plenty of kids have numerous interests and ways to spend their times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been through the sports wringer with my kids and as a volunteer. I have never, ever met parents of a kid on a travel team who did not assume that their kid was a potential star. I've never met one.

Also those posts about young kids being frustrated by playing with less talented peers. The parents are the ones who feel that way and teach it to their kids.

This. Like the people on another current thread who have CONVINCED themselves (and tried to convince others) that without spending all weekend every weekend shuttling around to endless sports, their elementary school kid simply won’t be able to get into a good college.

That’s what they *think* they’re doing. The reality is that being the 900th soccer player they see in the admission pool is meaningless.

Hardly. It's because if my sporty kid wasn't doing his sport he'd be playing video games. He's not into other activities. He has made his choice so we support him. I don't care how many other kids are in his sport, in our house he has to find something to do with his time because he's not going to be a lump on the log while he's under my roof. If you're cool with your kid playing video games all day and nothing else, then you do you. Why are you so concerned with how people not you spend their time? And believe me, he still finds plenty of time for video games, just not all weekend long.

It's odd that you have such an all or nothing attitude. If all your kid is interested in is 100% sports or 100% video games, that's a problem.

Plenty of kids have numerous interests and ways to spend their times.

Those are 2 main things he likes to do. There isn't that much more time after all the homework is done to dabble in a zillion things. When he's not playing his main sport he's on the school teams for 3 other sports. In his downtime he plays video games with friends. If I was curating this whole thing I'd force him to focus on obscure activities. But, that's now what's happening. He's found what he likes so we do that. How many hours do you think there are in a day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been through the sports wringer with my kids and as a volunteer. I have never, ever met parents of a kid on a travel team who did not assume that their kid was a potential star. I've never met one.

Also those posts about young kids being frustrated by playing with less talented peers. The parents are the ones who feel that way and teach it to their kids.

This. Like the people on another current thread who have CONVINCED themselves (and tried to convince others) that without spending all weekend every weekend shuttling around to endless sports, their elementary school kid simply won’t be able to get into a good college.

That’s what they *think* they’re doing. The reality is that being the 900th soccer player they see in the admission pool is meaningless.

Hardly. It's because if my sporty kid wasn't doing his sport he'd be playing video games. He's not into other activities. He has made his choice so we support him. I don't care how many other kids are in his sport, in our house he has to find something to do with his time because he's not going to be a lump on the log while he's under my roof. If you're cool with your kid playing video games all day and nothing else, then you do you. Why are you so concerned with how people not you spend their time? And believe me, he still finds plenty of time for video games, just not all weekend long.

Why do parents think they have zero control on their child's video game/screen time? Why is that the only alternative?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been through the sports wringer with my kids and as a volunteer. I have never, ever met parents of a kid on a travel team who did not assume that their kid was a potential star. I've never met one.

Also those posts about young kids being frustrated by playing with less talented peers. The parents are the ones who feel that way and teach it to their kids.

This. Like the people on another current thread who have CONVINCED themselves (and tried to convince others) that without spending all weekend every weekend shuttling around to endless sports, their elementary school kid simply won’t be able to get into a good college.

That’s what they *think* they’re doing. The reality is that being the 900th soccer player they see in the admission pool is meaningless.

Hardly. It's because if my sporty kid wasn't doing his sport he'd be playing video games. He's not into other activities. He has made his choice so we support him. I don't care how many other kids are in his sport, in our house he has to find something to do with his time because he's not going to be a lump on the log while he's under my roof. If you're cool with your kid playing video games all day and nothing else, then you do you. Why are you so concerned with how people not you spend their time? And believe me, he still finds plenty of time for video games, just not all weekend long.

Why do parents think they have zero control on their child's video game/screen time? Why is that the only alternative?

It's the alternative I personally have chosen. I'm sure other parents have other strategies. Why does it matter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand how they'd could be family time, but what about the siblings and what they might want? Do they have to go all the time? What if they just want to hang out with their friends or something?

Yeah, I think a lot of sporty parents have a blind spot when it comes to their non-athlete kids. They would never, for example, drag the athletic kid out to a D&D convention if that's what the non-athletic kid wanted to do on a Saturday.

I really do not understand why people think this kind of thing is specific to sports. One of my neighbors has a teenage daughter who is an amazing pianist. The youngest sibling totally gets dragged to her concerts and competitions all over the place even though that child does not play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been through the sports wringer with my kids and as a volunteer. I have never, ever met parents of a kid on a travel team who did not assume that their kid was a potential star. I've never met one.

Also those posts about young kids being frustrated by playing with less talented peers. The parents are the ones who feel that way and teach it to their kids.

This. Like the people on another current thread who have CONVINCED themselves (and tried to convince others) that without spending all weekend every weekend shuttling around to endless sports, their elementary school kid simply won’t be able to get into a good college.

That’s what they *think* they’re doing. The reality is that being the 900th soccer player they see in the admission pool is meaningless.

Hardly. It's because if my sporty kid wasn't doing his sport he'd be playing video games. He's not into other activities. He has made his choice so we support him. I don't care how many other kids are in his sport, in our house he has to find something to do with his time because he's not going to be a lump on the log while he's under my roof. If you're cool with your kid playing video games all day and nothing else, then you do you. Why are you so concerned with how people not you spend their time? And believe me, he still finds plenty of time for video games, just not all weekend long.

Why do parents think they have zero control on their child's video game/screen time? Why is that the only alternative?

It's the alternative I personally have chosen. I'm sure other parents have other strategies. Why does it matter?

But, why does it have to be sports? Limit screen time, yes, but what's wrong with just being a kid and hanging out with friends?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand how they'd could be family time, but what about the siblings and what they might want? Do they have to go all the time? What if they just want to hang out with their friends or something?

Yeah, I think a lot of sporty parents have a blind spot when it comes to their non-athlete kids. They would never, for example, drag the athletic kid out to a D&D convention if that's what the non-athletic kid wanted to do on a Saturday.

I really do not understand why people think this kind of thing is specific to sports. One of my neighbors has a teenage daughter who is an amazing pianist. The youngest sibling totally gets dragged to her concerts and competitions all over the place even though that child does not play.

I know it's not sports specific, but are they thinking about the other siblings? What if they don't want to be dragged around? Don't you think they could have resentment towards the other child?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been through the sports wringer with my kids and as a volunteer. I have never, ever met parents of a kid on a travel team who did not assume that their kid was a potential star. I've never met one.

Also those posts about young kids being frustrated by playing with less talented peers. The parents are the ones who feel that way and teach it to their kids.

This. Like the people on another current thread who have CONVINCED themselves (and tried to convince others) that without spending all weekend every weekend shuttling around to endless sports, their elementary school kid simply won’t be able to get into a good college.

That’s what they *think* they’re doing. The reality is that being the 900th soccer player they see in the admission pool is meaningless.

Hardly. It's because if my sporty kid wasn't doing his sport he'd be playing video games. He's not into other activities. He has made his choice so we support him. I don't care how many other kids are in his sport, in our house he has to find something to do with his time because he's not going to be a lump on the log while he's under my roof. If you're cool with your kid playing video games all day and nothing else, then you do you. Why are you so concerned with how people not you spend their time? And believe me, he still finds plenty of time for video games, just not all weekend long.

Why do parents think they have zero control on their child's video game/screen time? Why is that the only alternative?

It's the alternative I personally have chosen. I'm sure other parents have other strategies. Why does it matter?

But, why does it have to be sports? Limit screen time, yes, but what's wrong with just being a kid and hanging out with friends?

It doesn't have to be sports, my kid likes sports. Do you have serious FOMO or something?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand how they'd could be family time, but what about the siblings and what they might want? Do they have to go all the time? What if they just want to hang out with their friends or something?

Yeah, I think a lot of sporty parents have a blind spot when it comes to their non-athlete kids. They would never, for example, drag the athletic kid out to a D&D convention if that's what the non-athletic kid wanted to do on a Saturday.

I really do not understand why people think this kind of thing is specific to sports. One of my neighbors has a teenage daughter who is an amazing pianist. The youngest sibling totally gets dragged to her concerts and competitions all over the place even though that child does not play.

I know it's not sports specific, but are they thinking about the other siblings? What if they don't want to be dragged around? Don't you think they could have resentment towards the other child?

When my younger 2 go to my oldest sons games they have a blast. They play with the other kids, find the park that is usually adjacent to the fields, hit up the snack bar, etc. But thanks for your concern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand how they'd could be family time, but what about the siblings and what they might want? Do they have to go all the time? What if they just want to hang out with their friends or something?

Yeah, I think a lot of sporty parents have a blind spot when it comes to their non-athlete kids. They would never, for example, drag the athletic kid out to a D&D convention if that's what the non-athletic kid wanted to do on a Saturday.

I really do not understand why people think this kind of thing is specific to sports. One of my neighbors has a teenage daughter who is an amazing pianist. The youngest sibling totally gets dragged to her concerts and competitions all over the place even though that child does not play.

I know it's not sports specific, but are they thinking about the other siblings? What if they don't want to be dragged around? Don't you think they could have resentment towards the other child?

When my younger 2 go to my oldest sons games they have a blast. They play with the other kids, find the park that is usually adjacent to the fields, hit up the snack bar, etc. But thanks for your concern.

+1. My youngest plays travel now, but she used to loving hanging out with the other siblings at games. We trie divide and conquer and she wanted none of it. Oddly, we also ended up doing a ton of hikes, berry picking, museum visits... because if we had to drive more than an hour and a half, we were going to make a day of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been through the sports wringer with my kids and as a volunteer. I have never, ever met parents of a kid on a travel team who did not assume that their kid was a potential star. I've never met one.

Also those posts about young kids being frustrated by playing with less talented peers. The parents are the ones who feel that way and teach it to their kids.

This. Like the people on another current thread who have CONVINCED themselves (and tried to convince others) that without spending all weekend every weekend shuttling around to endless sports, their elementary school kid simply won’t be able to get into a good college.

That’s what they *think* they’re doing. The reality is that being the 900th soccer player they see in the admission pool is meaningless.

Hardly. It's because if my sporty kid wasn't doing his sport he'd be playing video games. He's not into other activities. He has made his choice so we support him. I don't care how many other kids are in his sport, in our house he has to find something to do with his time because he's not going to be a lump on the log while he's under my roof. If you're cool with your kid playing video games all day and nothing else, then you do you. Why are you so concerned with how people not you spend their time? And believe me, he still finds plenty of time for video games, just not all weekend long.

Why do parents think they have zero control on their child's video game/screen time? Why is that the only alternative?

It's the alternative I personally have chosen. I'm sure other parents have other strategies. Why does it matter?

But, why does it have to be sports? Limit screen time, yes, but what's wrong with just being a kid and hanging out with friends?

It doesn't have to be sports, my kid likes sports. Do you have serious FOMO or something?

What males you think I have FOMO?