It would be nice to have higher levels of competition in rec - you would not spend that much on club. You cannot grow after 1, max 2 years of rec - that's why we went the club route. It will be tough to make the transition from rec for beginners and club for advanced players to rec for everyone. It would also be nice because I am already sick about travelling for the sake of travelling. Our team should stay home and play in regional tournaments, not travel out of state for the coach to see the world.

Anonymous wrote:Who pays for this? If it's public funds then it's accessible to everyone. If private, it becomes pay for play.
The reason European counties have strong soccer teams is that the private clubs sponsor a ton of very affordable kids clubs as they want to grow the players. In the US, sports and youth sports is huge money and everyone wants to lobby and protect that cash cow.

The prestige effect and every parent thinking they need to say "my kid plays travel" (or club, or whatever) if their kid is in the top half of talent on a 7 year old rec team plays into the problem as well.

Who pays for this? If it's public funds then it's accessible to everyone. If private, it becomes pay for play.
The reason European counties have strong soccer teams is that the private clubs sponsor a ton of very affordable kids clubs as they want to grow the players. In the US, sports and youth sports is huge money and everyone wants to lobby and protect that cash cow.

Grades K–2 (Ages 5–8):

Early Exposure Phase
Students rotate through 10–15 sports.
Focus: Exploration, motor skills, teamwork, and confidence-building.
Grades 3–7 (Ages 8–13):

Track A – Beginner
Track B – Intermediate
Track C – Advanced
Placement is based on skill and experience, with flexibility to move up as students develop.
Focus: Long-term skill growth, sports education, and readiness for higher levels.
Grades 8–12 (Ages 13–18):

Elite Track – Advanced training and high-level competition
Developmental Track – Focused training without full competitive pressure
Recreational Track – Reserved for beginners or those seeking relaxed, non-competitive play
Only true beginners may enter the recreational track—experienced players are not eligible. This ensures a welcoming space for new participants to learn and enjoy without pressure.
Focus: Purposeful participation, upward mobility, and tailored paths in sport and life.

List your rec problem, and my idea solves it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand this at all. There are rec sports available for most sports.

Are you simultaneously banning all private club teams so everyone has to play in the Federal league?

What’s the plan for sports where gold medal olympians are only 15…like gymnastics?

Everything you said fits in my plan. It’s the same as now. But raise/separate ages and skills for competitive specialization.

We have this now. But rec is still quite competitive, full of kids and parents who can’t stand the commitment of travel.

We need two levels of rec.
And we need more variety available for beginners of all ages.

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand this at all. There are rec sports available for most sports.

Are you simultaneously banning all private club teams so everyone has to play in the Federal league?

What’s the plan for sports where gold medal olympians are only 15…like gymnastics?

Everything you said fits in my plan. It’s the same as now. But raise/separate ages and skills for competitive specialization.

We have this now. But rec is still quite competitive, full of kids and parents who can’t stand the commitment of travel.

Anonymous wrote:This sounds so Hitler circa 1936.

Op here. Currently reading the boys in the boat( a story about the 1936 Berlin Olympics). So this is funny.

No it would still be optional. Just.. bring athleticism / a reason to live besides on screens and the coming AI avalanche.

But you’re right, aspects of fictional The Book Thief in my idea too.

Anonymous wrote:This sounds so Hitler circa 1936.

+1 !My thoughts exactly as I was reading this!

I don’t understand this at all. There are rec sports available for most sports.

Are you simultaneously banning all private club teams so everyone has to play in the Federal league?

What’s the plan for sports where gold medal olympians are only 15…like gymnastics?

This sounds so Hitler circa 1936.

Anonymous wrote:Just like with public education, this would be great until people realized they could go private.

I think the funding would not be public. It would still be private. But labels and rec goals would have a classification.

For example a 10yo boy who has played only 1 season of soccer may join in a beginner group until he gets classified/brought up into a higher level. Focus on skills before he gets put in competition with peers at the competitive level.

Op here. This portion of AI I dislike. It misread my idea.
Edit it out
“with national tournaments like a yearly ‘America Cup’ providing moments of patriotic celebration and sportsmanship.”

Just like with public education, this would be great until people realized they could go private.

The US (under a democrat ideally) should start a nationalistic program for youth sports.

Disclosure, i used ai to write this for speed. But I fed it all the ideas—I also edited portions.

The purpose: promote health, inclusion, discipline, and a sense of national unity through sport. The program would begin in grades K–2 by introducing children to a wide variety of sports—ranging from soccer and basketball to martial arts and swimming—with a focus on motor skill development, teamwork, and fun. These early years would avoid competition and instead create a joyful, curiosity-driven environment where students can explore physical activity in a safe, supportive space through both school-based PE and community sessions.

In grades 3–7, the program would evolve to offer more structured exposure and skills development through a tiered track system. Students could be grouped into Track A (beginner), Track B (intermediate), or Track C (advanced) levels within each sport based on experience and interest. This can also be divided by age and/or size. This phase would emphasize skill-building over competition, with increased focus on discipline, tactical understanding, and teamwork. It would offer regular after-school programs and summer sports camps to encourage growth at every level, while still prioritizing enjoyment and personal progress over early specialization or high-stakes play.

By grades 8–12, students would have the option to join one of three distinct tracks based on their aspirations: an elite/competitive track for those aiming at regional and national competition or college athletics; a developmental track for athletes who want serious training without the pressure of formal competition; and a recreational track to support lifelong fitness, mental health, and social connection. These tracks would offer a mix of school and community-based teams, with national tournaments like a yearly "America Cup" providing moments of patriotic celebration and sportsmanship. The program would foster not only athletes, but also leaders, coaches, and volunteers.

All optional, some kids love reading, no sports, walking or casual play for fitness.

However, this would be in the national interest to improve physical fitness, increase opportunities for all kids, and track kids along appropriate zones (not just a limited number of seats in a competitive track). It also allows all kinds of kids to have time to try out a variety before the specialization race begins.