Why do kids here in the US spend so much time and effort on sports?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP is not asking "why do kids do sports at all." She's asking why we have a culture where sports take up so much time to the exclusion of other things. I am from the US and I often wonder the same thing. I worked hard to raise a kid who is well-rounded. She has a physical activity that is not a sport (dance, we don't do competition dance, just performance and classes), and a solo sport she likes (rock climbing). She's also dabbled in tennis, soccer, and basketball. She also loves art and music. She also has downtime (she likes to read for pleasure and to do art on her own time). And then of course school.

I do not understand how/why many kids are dedicating 20+ hours a week on a single sport or on multiple sports. Unless your kid actually has the talent/dedication (and often natural body type) to go pro or be very competitive at the college level, or is just uniquely passionate about their sport, I don't get it. It's just a lot of time to spend on one thing. Wouldn't you rather your kid become an adult who not has athletic skill but also can play an instrument, has relaxing hobbies/interests, and knows how to deal with unscheduled time? It just seems weird to me.

But it's not really 20+ hours on "one thing." It sounds like OP's kid plays multiple sports; why is your daughter's dance and rock climbing and art inherently better than someone else's soccer and swimming and karate or someone else's violin and piano and science olympiad? Most these are hobbies than can follow them into adulthood and you can't really predict what tween passions will actually stick long term. FWIW, my sister grew up doing ballet and cello; I did figure skating and viola. As an adult she still plays the cello; I still do a performance-based physical activity (and skate for fun occasionally) but haven't touched my viola in nearly a decade.

Maybe soccer/swim/karate kid will grow up to only pursue one of those sports or get really into Crossfit or whatever. Maybe they'll give them all up and discover painting as an adult. Maybe your daughter will later decide she really missed out on not doing travel field hockey. You're letting your daughter do what she wants to do and OP is letting her son do the same. I don't see what the issue is?

I am not sure where the 20+ hours a week comes from? What sports practice can be more than 2 hours/day?

I am 40, but was a recruited athlete at a DI school (that won championships). This was years ago but the idea of most sports having 2x day practice (outside of swimming where I know it's a thing) is unusual

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My issue is not what people choose to pursue as hobbies. My problem is that there is an inherent belief that sports are better than other hobbies. I have teens and they are made well aware that unless they do a sport, they are part of the less popular crowd. I am thankful they don't careas much, but there are many kids who probably do care.

Where is your evidence to backup that claim?  I am sure a lot more women want to date Shawn Mendes than some random athletes.

Just ask your teens. I am sure there is rare exceptions but the sport star is always seemingly the popular ones at school.

then explain to me why women would prefer to date Shawn Mendes than some US soccer athletes?

That is a straw man because no one knows that. And I think most women would prefer to date a hot football QB than a hot pop singer, yes.

[Anonymous]

Where you get 20 hours from . Most sports are more competitive than they were 20-25 years ago

[Anonymous]

Because noone believes in free, exploratory time anymore. Every afternoon and weekend must.be.scheduled. And to many, sports=popularity and maybe, just maybe, that elusive college scholarship.

Kids prefer to sit in front of a screen and parents are too weak to put limits on that from an early age.

Parents prefer to look at their screens vs play with or plan or do activities with their kids.

So what do we do? Overschedule our kids to keep them busy to allow us to do less parenting.

I would say it is a result of two parent households but I see more overscheduled kids with a SAHP than in two parent households.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My issue is not what people choose to pursue as hobbies. My problem is that there is an inherent belief that sports are better than other hobbies. I have teens and they are made well aware that unless they do a sport, they are part of the less popular crowd. I am thankful they don't careas much, but there are many kids who probably do care.

Where is your evidence to backup that claim?  I am sure a lot more women want to date Shawn Mendes than some random athletes.

Just ask your teens. I am sure there is rare exceptions but the sport star is always seemingly the popular ones at school.

then explain to me why women would prefer to date Shawn Mendes than some US soccer athletes?

That is a straw man because no one knows that. And I think most women would prefer to date a hot football QB than a hot pop singer, yes.

If Landon Donovan or Clint Dempsey, US men soccer superstars, walk into a Giant grocery store, probably 99% of shoppers in the store would neither recognize them nor do they care. If Justin Beiber or Post Malone walk into the same Giant grocery store, the police would be called in within minutes to restore order because a lot of young women want to be there and touch them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My issue is not what people choose to pursue as hobbies. My problem is that there is an inherent belief that sports are better than other hobbies. I have teens and they are made well aware that unless they do a sport, they are part of the less popular crowd. I am thankful they don't careas much, but there are many kids who probably do care.

Where is your evidence to backup that claim?  I am sure a lot more women want to date Shawn Mendes than some random athletes.

Just ask your teens. I am sure there is rare exceptions but the sport star is always seemingly the popular ones at school.

then explain to me why women would prefer to date Shawn Mendes than some US soccer athletes?

That is a straw man because no one knows that. And I think most women would prefer to date a hot football QB than a hot pop singer, yes.

If Landon Donovan or Clint Dempsey, US men soccer superstars, walk into a Giant grocery store, probably 99% of shoppers in the store would neither recognize them nor do they care. If Justin Beiber or Post Malone walk into the same Giant grocery store, the police would be called in within minutes to restore order because a lot of young women want to be there and touch them.

You are really off the mark here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because noone believes in free, exploratory time anymore. Every afternoon and weekend must.be.scheduled. And to many, sports=popularity and maybe, just maybe, that elusive college scholarship.

Kids prefer to sit in front of a screen and parents are too weak to put limits on that from an early age.

Parents prefer to look at their screens vs play with or plan or do activities with their kids.

So what do we do? Overschedule our kids to keep them busy to allow us to do less parenting.

I would say it is a result of two parent households but I see more overscheduled kids with a SAHP than in two parent households.

Thos with the exception of the two parent household thing.

[Anonymous]

It’s not exactly a sport but my teen dances those intense hours as a kind of creative and physical release. It helps with her anxiety, keeps her in shape, teaches her to work with others (when putting on a performance), teaches her how to handle disappointment (when she is critiqued or doesn’t get a role) and is a social outlet. We pay for it and handle all the commutes because she loves it. No she won’t be a professional and might not even dance in college, but as long as she is maintaining her grades and having fun, I have no intention of stopping.

[Anonymous]

My son has ADHD and needs a lot of physical activity. Travel sports are a great outlet for him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My issue is not what people choose to pursue as hobbies. My problem is that there is an inherent belief that sports are better than other hobbies. I have teens and they are made well aware that unless they do a sport, they are part of the less popular crowd. I am thankful they don't careas much, but there are many kids who probably do care.

Where is your evidence to backup that claim?  I am sure a lot more women want to date Shawn Mendes than some random athletes.

Just ask your teens. I am sure there is rare exceptions but the sport star is always seemingly the popular ones at school.

then explain to me why women would prefer to date Shawn Mendes than some US soccer athletes?

That is a straw man because no one knows that. And I think most women would prefer to date a hot football QB than a hot pop singer, yes.

If Landon Donovan or Clint Dempsey, US men soccer superstars, walk into a Giant grocery store, probably 99% of shoppers in the store would neither recognize them nor do they care. If Justin Beiber or Post Malone walk into the same Giant grocery store, the police would be called in within minutes to restore order because a lot of young women want to be there and touch them.

Most women would prefer a man with the body of a professional soccer player over a man with the body of Post Malone

[Anonymous]

I love me some post Malone

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My issue is not what people choose to pursue as hobbies. My problem is that there is an inherent belief that sports are better than other hobbies. I have teens and they are made well aware that unless they do a sport, they are part of the less popular crowd. I am thankful they don't careas much, but there are many kids who probably do care.

Where is your evidence to backup that claim?  I am sure a lot more women want to date Shawn Mendes than some random athletes.

Just ask your teens. I am sure there is rare exceptions but the sport star is always seemingly the popular ones at school.

then explain to me why women would prefer to date Shawn Mendes than some US soccer athletes?

That is a straw man because no one knows that. And I think most women would prefer to date a hot football QB than a hot pop singer, yes.

If Landon Donovan or Clint Dempsey, US men soccer superstars, walk into a Giant grocery store, probably 99% of shoppers in the store would neither recognize them nor do they care. If Justin Beiber or Post Malone walk into the same Giant grocery store, the police would be called in within minutes to restore order because a lot of young women want to be there and touch them.

Most women would prefer a man with the body of a professional soccer player over a man with the body of Post Malone

Maybe adult women would but teen girls are definitely lining up for Harry Styles over any unrecognizable soccer player. It's not even a contest. Most of those soccer players are no names to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My issue is not what people choose to pursue as hobbies. My problem is that there is an inherent belief that sports are better than other hobbies. I have teens and they are made well aware that unless they do a sport, they are part of the less popular crowd. I am thankful they don't careas much, but there are many kids who probably do care.

Where is your evidence to backup that claim?  I am sure a lot more women want to date Shawn Mendes than some random athletes.

Just ask your teens. I am sure there is rare exceptions but the sport star is always seemingly the popular ones at school.

then explain to me why women would prefer to date Shawn Mendes than some US soccer athletes?

That is a straw man because no one knows that. And I think most women would prefer to date a hot football QB than a hot pop singer, yes.

If Landon Donovan or Clint Dempsey, US men soccer superstars, walk into a Giant grocery store, probably 99% of shoppers in the store would neither recognize them nor do they care. If Justin Beiber or Post Malone walk into the same Giant grocery store, the police would be called in within minutes to restore order because a lot of young women want to be there and touch them.

Most women would prefer a man with the body of a professional soccer player over a man with the body of Post Malone

Most soccer players are under 6 feet no thanks

[Anonymous]

These last few comments have gotten really weird

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of kids on travel teams that just aren't talented and shouldn't play. Their parents continue paying for them to be in travel and it just makes no sense since its a huge time suck. Rec league is a great place for majority of kids, which leaves more time to do other things such as enrichment.