"9th man" on travel or starter in rec league?
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Anonymous
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My DS was chosen for a travel sports team last year. He loves it but he's constantly struggling because he is no longer considered to be one of the best players, as he was in the rec league. He has become accustomed to playing positions he doesn't necessarily enjoy playing, but it is tough when he is asked to sit out for part of a game while other kids (who aren't that much better) get to play the whole game (normally the coachs' kids, but not always).
They are holding tryouts again soon. He would like to keep doing the travel team because he thinks it's better to be playing on a more selective team, even if it is in positions he doesn't really like playing (or even if he has to sit out for half a game). I would like him to go back to rec league because I think it would benefit him more to be playing more and in the positions he enjoys playing. It would also be much cheaper. Any parents out there who have been in a similar position? What did your kids choose and how did it work out? |
Anonymous
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A lot of people will make a quick decision about this but there are 2 schools of thought. Sure he gets to ply more playing rec but is he getting any better by not being challanged? 2nd, he is practicing with the better players all week long and is he getting better by doing that.
It is a team sport and if he is helping the team get better by practicing with them and in turn gettgin better by practicing with them he neds to understand that. My guess is he is pretty young |
Anonymous
| The travel team in generally has better coaching and a bigger time committment. Its very different from rec. If he wants more training time, then I would stick to travel - he is more likely to improve there. My child doesn't want to commit to the travel schedule, and loves rec + all-stars in McLean and finds it a good compromise for him. |
Anonymous
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He is 10.
At that age I feel like the "best" players are better but not so much better that it's obvious at all times. He does receive better coaching in the travel league, because the head coach is paid (and has experience). The assistsants are parents. Rec league coaches are always parents. |
Anonymous
| It depends. If all you want is a fun activity with exercise thrown in, go with rec. If he wants to one day play for his middle school or high school teams, he should stick with travel. |
Anonymous
| If he's getting paid a nice salary to travel, then by all means stick with it!!! If not, maybe you should just let him enjoy being a kid. |
Anonymous
He absolutely wants to play for his middle and high school teams. He has been told that his current travel team is a feeder to the high school team, although that's up for debate. Many of the other parents and I believe that, if a kid is good enough, the high school coach will pick him, regardless of what teams he's played on in the past. Do these travel teams really act as feeder teams? I hear so much back and forth that I don't know what to believe anymore. |
Anonymous
You obviously didn't read my OP. |
Anonymous
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You are going to hate my answer. BOTH. UGGGHHH!
Talk to the rec coach. Explain the situation. For his self confidence and for the fun of it he needs to play with his friends (I assume he has played with these kids a while). Games only or a practice here an there. If he likes the sport he needs to get better and pay his dues. It is part of life. Eventually the "being the best player" will wear on him, his team will lean too much on him to win the game and he will start to hate it. He won't actually get better so moving to travel will be harder. He will eventually get more playing time with the travel team, he will enjoy it more, etc. My son plays on a travel team and with the same kids since kindergarten. It is the best of both worlds. |
Anonymous
| He's 10 years old. Let him play for fun (whether it's rec or travel). Why are you thinking about the high school team right now??? |
Anonymous
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OP here.
First, as I said in my OP, I would like him to move back to rec league. He is motivated and would like to stay on the travel team. Why are we thinking about high school? Because in this area that's what you're forced to do at the 5th/6th grade level. He wants to make the high school team and he thinks the only way he can do that is to play travel. I can't tell him he's wrong, because I don't know for sure. What I do know is that he isn't having as much fun as he used to -- which is why I'm pushing for him to go back to the rec league. In the end, though, I will support his decision. I was just hoping to gain some perspective from parents who have been in my position before. |
Anonymous
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I am a PP who asked his age, you fell inot the trap of all youth sports thinking if your child doesn;t play travel at the first chance they can they will never play for their middle or high school team.
That is not true as 4 of my kids played rec or classic actually one never played organized sports until high school and they all made their teams. It comes down to the kid wanting to work hard no matter who the coach is. 10 is way too young to be focused on one sport. Get out of the trap and let him be 10. |
Anonymous
| From what I've seen in this area, PP's kids are definitely the exception and not the rule |
Anonymous
it's hard to get challenged sitting on the bench and it is a shitter for a kid's self-esteem. |
Anonymous
Really super players don't even play for their HS teams anymore. |