"9th man" on travel or starter in rec league?

[Anonymous]

OP, I think that this is really a personality issue. My kid would rather be a small part of something "big" than a star on something small. This is true in everything he does. He'd rather be the third tenor in the honors chorus, than a soloist in a lesser group. He's happy to do stage crew for a big school production. For him playing on a top ranked travel team (football, so he was the "12th man" rather than the 9th) was much more satisfying that playing rec.

I'm the opposite. I'd much rather actually play and lose, than sit on the bench at the state championships.

If money is a major issue, then let the money make the decision. Otherwise, I'd let your kid choose and focus more on him having the experience he wants now, than on assuming that he'll want to play this particular sport in HS.

[Anonymous]

Is the sport in question lacrosse? Is the team Bethesda? We're also unhappy with the "playing favorites" on the part of the dad coaches. Having many regrets. Don't know how my kid will improve it coaches bench certain kids for most of the game. Self-fulfilling to have the "better" players get all the attention and playing time.

[Anonymous]

Is he enjoying travel practice? Otherwise don't try out again. He probably won't get better in rec.

Many kids sit out half a game. The big clubs all have deep benches.

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised there are any parent coaches in a travel league. That (for me) is a big reason to get out of rec sports if possible. The level of coaching my fairly average 10-year-old travel player is getting is far, far superior to what rec teams would offer. I would be furious if I were paying for a travel experience and a parent coach was playing their same-range player instead of my kid. I suggest you speak to the head coach and/or league commissioner to figure out what it going on. On my son's team - in a club his sport considers to be one of the top in the area - everyone gets a good amount of playing time and they do still switch around positions, although not nearly as much as they did a year ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised there are any parent coaches in a travel league. That (for me) is a big reason to get out of rec sports if possible. The level of coaching my fairly average 10-year-old travel player is getting is far, far superior to what rec teams would offer. I would be furious if I were paying for a travel experience and a parent coach was playing their same-range player instead of my kid. I suggest you speak to the head coach and/or league commissioner to figure out what it going on. On my son's team - in a club his sport considers to be one of the top in the area - everyone gets a good amount of playing time and they do still switch around positions, although not nearly as much as they did a year ago.

Hard to complain to the head coach and/or commissioner when that is the very parent who is pushing his own kid's playing time. To be honest, many of these dads coach so that they can MAKE SURE their kid gets plenty of playing time. Complaining doesn't get you anywhere.