HS Team Time Commitment - particularly baseball - Sleep Health

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yep. My daughters play both a fall and spring sport. My youngest considered trying out for a winter sport but, while leaving the decision solely up to her, I did say it is nice to have a season off.

I don't remember sports being so time consuming when I was in high school. Is there really a good reason to make it a 6 day commitment? I also hate when practices start at 5. I wish all practices were after school.

Ugh. DS’s buddy was bemoaning how he just feels like all he does is go from school to basketball to sleep and repeat. He loves bball but he wishes he had time for other stuff as well. I played bball 3 seasons a year but the two off-season seasons were shorter. Today some kids do 4 plus seasons through middle school (with an overlapping season, like in rec, playing with school friends). I coached for many years at different levels. About 10 years ago I coached some girls who played rec bball as their extra work out. They’d have bball practice before heading off to their travel soccer practice/game (8th graders). I’m not sure if that is possible today — and I thought that was bananas then.

I read an interview with LeBron James who was bemoaning what has become of youth basketball. He was complaining about the sheer number of tournaments and games for his kids and no rest days. He said it has gotten so bad. None of this is for development of the player and none is designed with a player's physical and mental health in mind.

And after that I read an article about FIFA soccer superstar Ivan Ibrahimovic blasting and complaining that he pays $3500/yr for his kid to play soccer. And, how ridiculous it is that kids can't just go out and play anymore that it is such a big business that excludes so many.

My kids are in high school now and I truthfully hate how things have become and no parents will speak up they will do whatever the Club asks for, even when it is not beneficial or detrimental to the kids. And, its the FOMO by the parents---if Timmy's dad is going to do it--we better do it or you won't play..each parent trying to make their kid look more dedicated

This year we've decided that we're just going to start telling coaches no when it's too much for our kids. DD is taking off winter soccer entirely. Her coach had a big talk with us about it and threatened to demote her. We told him to do what he feels he needs to and that we're going to do the same. Making the decision to not care really is liberating

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter trains 3 hours every weekday plus tournaments on the weekend (about 2-3 each month). She takes several honors classes and has an early out for her training. Every night, she is in bed by 9:30pm. Her day starts at 7am. Almost all homework/school work gets done during study halls at school. She loves her sport and being able to train with her friends at the sport facility, so this has created incentives to be super organized at school.

Shhh it’s a secret the sportv

[Anonymous]

I agree that kids sports have gotten out of control (I have a HS baseball kid), but back in the day, I did 3 varsity sports, clubs, honors/APs with heavy homework levels, and long morning and evening practices, all while taking a 30 minute school bus ride to school (leaving at 7 am!), and a 60 minute school bus ride back from school (arriving home at 7 pm). I thrived on it. During swimming I'd get to school for 6 am practices. Didn't get much sleep, but such is life.

The planning and study skills I learned back then have been invaluable in my adult life.