Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:70% of kids dropout of sports by the age of 13.


There’s an interesting article that describes why -

“ parents invest significant time and money in their kids to train with teams and buy their uniforms. They expect “results." They drive them all over to year-round sports, sometimes more than one during the same season. Oftentimes, perhaps unintentionally, they drive them out of sports entirely.

For a lot of kids, it comes down to the fact that sports become less fun and more about the concept of what success is from more of an adult’s eyes than a child’s eyes,” Moffatt says. "Kids want to stay active, play and have fun with their friends, and winning and losing is something that they care less about.”

About 70 % of kids drop out of organized sports by age 13 and the so-called “professionalization of youth sports” can’t be understated as a significant factor why, according to a new report released Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).


“In addition, the pressure to succeed at a young age, as well as the perception that this is the most efficacious route to future athletic success, further leads to high volumes of training and loss of enjoyment in sport, both of which can contribute to widespread burnout and attrition among youth athletes.”


https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2024/01/22/70-of-kids-drop-out-of-youth-sports-by-13-new-aap-study-reveals-why/72310189007/

Every time I read these articles I just think to myself: are the authors totally hallucinating and do they not know what high school is like these days? The reason the kids quit at that age is because we make it so difficult to make the high school sports teams at that age and then they choose do other extracurriculars at school if they can’t make the team.

It’s not just these days it’s been that way for decades. Maybe more kids would stick with it if there were more options. But there’s no denying pushy parents do ruin it for some kids who want low key fun.

Do most kids really want low key fun? As kids play more and get better they want to play with better kids. The kids who show up to have fun and don’t know the rules or make a lot of mistakes don't really make it fun for the kids who care.

I don’t know how many kids just want low key fun but that doesn’t mean they don’t know how to play the game or they aren’t good.

Don’t the travel teams put them on teams according to ability?
My point is these games are a recreational activity. Sometimes parents ruin it.

Any kids playing on a travel team other than the top (or arguably top 2) teams in any given organization would be better served playing rec ball. Those "average" teams use to be the majority of rec leagues. They've been consumed into travel organizations because parents were willing to pay with the idea that they could move up to elite levels with the right investment.

They are voting with their feet and their wallets. They see value in the travel experience. Obviously they disagree with you or they wouldn’t be doing it.

You're missing my point. Of course they see value in it. But why? What's the investment return that benefits kids from having them play on a club's 3rd, 4th or 5th team vs playing rec league with the same kids? I'm obviously talking ideal right now because the system is broken now.

To get away from the kids who are terrible and parents keep signing them up anyway. It's not "fun" to lose every game because like it or not the score is kept. Kids who are good and like the game want to be around other similar kids and sadly, they aren't on the rec teams.

Even more than winning or losing, IME, it’s not fun to play with kids who don’t know what they’re doing or just aren’t very good because then you can’t “really” play. For example, it’s not fun in baseball to walk every time you’re up to bat because the opposing pitcher can’t throw strikes. Most kids, once they’re good enough, would rather strike out against a good pitcher because there’s at least a chance to hit the ball.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:70% of kids dropout of sports by the age of 13.


There’s an interesting article that describes why -

“ parents invest significant time and money in their kids to train with teams and buy their uniforms. They expect “results." They drive them all over to year-round sports, sometimes more than one during the same season. Oftentimes, perhaps unintentionally, they drive them out of sports entirely.

For a lot of kids, it comes down to the fact that sports become less fun and more about the concept of what success is from more of an adult’s eyes than a child’s eyes,” Moffatt says. "Kids want to stay active, play and have fun with their friends, and winning and losing is something that they care less about.”

About 70 % of kids drop out of organized sports by age 13 and the so-called “professionalization of youth sports” can’t be understated as a significant factor why, according to a new report released Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).


“In addition, the pressure to succeed at a young age, as well as the perception that this is the most efficacious route to future athletic success, further leads to high volumes of training and loss of enjoyment in sport, both of which can contribute to widespread burnout and attrition among youth athletes.”


https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2024/01/22/70-of-kids-drop-out-of-youth-sports-by-13-new-aap-study-reveals-why/72310189007/

Every time I read these articles I just think to myself: are the authors totally hallucinating and do they not know what high school is like these days? The reason the kids quit at that age is because we make it so difficult to make the high school sports teams at that age and then they choose do other extracurriculars at school if they can’t make the team.

It’s not just these days it’s been that way for decades. Maybe more kids would stick with it if there were more options. But there’s no denying pushy parents do ruin it for some kids who want low key fun.

Do most kids really want low key fun? As kids play more and get better they want to play with better kids. The kids who show up to have fun and don’t know the rules or make a lot of mistakes don't really make it fun for the kids who care.

I don’t know how many kids just want low key fun but that doesn’t mean they don’t know how to play the game or they aren’t good.

Don’t the travel teams put them on teams according to ability?
My point is these games are a recreational activity. Sometimes parents ruin it.

Any kids playing on a travel team other than the top (or arguably top 2) teams in any given organization would be better served playing rec ball. Those "average" teams use to be the majority of rec leagues. They've been consumed into travel organizations because parents were willing to pay with the idea that they could move up to elite levels with the right investment.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:70% of kids dropout of sports by the age of 13.


There’s an interesting article that describes why -

“ parents invest significant time and money in their kids to train with teams and buy their uniforms. They expect “results." They drive them all over to year-round sports, sometimes more than one during the same season. Oftentimes, perhaps unintentionally, they drive them out of sports entirely.

For a lot of kids, it comes down to the fact that sports become less fun and more about the concept of what success is from more of an adult’s eyes than a child’s eyes,” Moffatt says. "Kids want to stay active, play and have fun with their friends, and winning and losing is something that they care less about.”

About 70 % of kids drop out of organized sports by age 13 and the so-called “professionalization of youth sports” can’t be understated as a significant factor why, according to a new report released Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).


“In addition, the pressure to succeed at a young age, as well as the perception that this is the most efficacious route to future athletic success, further leads to high volumes of training and loss of enjoyment in sport, both of which can contribute to widespread burnout and attrition among youth athletes.”


https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2024/01/22/70-of-kids-drop-out-of-youth-sports-by-13-new-aap-study-reveals-why/72310189007/

Every time I read these articles I just think to myself: are the authors totally hallucinating and do they not know what high school is like these days? The reason the kids quit at that age is because we make it so difficult to make the high school sports teams at that age and then they choose do other extracurriculars at school if they can’t make the team.

It’s not just these days it’s been that way for decades. Maybe more kids would stick with it if there were more options. But there’s no denying pushy parents do ruin it for some kids who want low key fun.

Do most kids really want low key fun? As kids play more and get better they want to play with better kids. The kids who show up to have fun and don’t know the rules or make a lot of mistakes don't really make it fun for the kids who care.

I don’t know how many kids just want low key fun but that doesn’t mean they don’t know how to play the game or they aren’t good.

Don’t the travel teams put them on teams according to ability?
My point is these games are a recreational activity. Sometimes parents ruin it.

Any kids playing on a travel team other than the top (or arguably top 2) teams in any given organization would be better served playing rec ball. Those "average" teams use to be the majority of rec leagues. They've been consumed into travel organizations because parents were willing to pay with the idea that they could move up to elite levels with the right investment.

They are voting with their feet and their wallets. They see value in the travel experience. Obviously they disagree with you or they wouldn’t be doing it.

You're missing my point. Of course they see value in it. But why? What's the investment return that benefits kids from having them play on a club's 3rd, 4th or 5th team vs playing rec league with the same kids? I'm obviously talking ideal right now because the system is broken now.

To get away from the kids who are terrible and parents keep signing them up anyway. It's not "fun" to lose every game because like it or not the score is kept. Kids who are good and like the game want to be around other similar kids and sadly, they aren't on the rec teams.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:70% of kids dropout of sports by the age of 13.


There’s an interesting article that describes why -

“ parents invest significant time and money in their kids to train with teams and buy their uniforms. They expect “results." They drive them all over to year-round sports, sometimes more than one during the same season. Oftentimes, perhaps unintentionally, they drive them out of sports entirely.

For a lot of kids, it comes down to the fact that sports become less fun and more about the concept of what success is from more of an adult’s eyes than a child’s eyes,” Moffatt says. "Kids want to stay active, play and have fun with their friends, and winning and losing is something that they care less about.”

About 70 % of kids drop out of organized sports by age 13 and the so-called “professionalization of youth sports” can’t be understated as a significant factor why, according to a new report released Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).


“In addition, the pressure to succeed at a young age, as well as the perception that this is the most efficacious route to future athletic success, further leads to high volumes of training and loss of enjoyment in sport, both of which can contribute to widespread burnout and attrition among youth athletes.”


https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2024/01/22/70-of-kids-drop-out-of-youth-sports-by-13-new-aap-study-reveals-why/72310189007/

Every time I read these articles I just think to myself: are the authors totally hallucinating and do they not know what high school is like these days? The reason the kids quit at that age is because we make it so difficult to make the high school sports teams at that age and then they choose do other extracurriculars at school if they can’t make the team.

It’s not just these days it’s been that way for decades. Maybe more kids would stick with it if there were more options. But there’s no denying pushy parents do ruin it for some kids who want low key fun.

Do most kids really want low key fun? As kids play more and get better they want to play with better kids. The kids who show up to have fun and don’t know the rules or make a lot of mistakes don't really make it fun for the kids who care.

I don’t know how many kids just want low key fun but that doesn’t mean they don’t know how to play the game or they aren’t good.

Don’t the travel teams put them on teams according to ability?
My point is these games are a recreational activity. Sometimes parents ruin it.

Any kids playing on a travel team other than the top (or arguably top 2) teams in any given organization would be better served playing rec ball. Those "average" teams use to be the majority of rec leagues. They've been consumed into travel organizations because parents were willing to pay with the idea that they could move up to elite levels with the right investment.

They are voting with their feet and their wallets. They see value in the travel experience. Obviously they disagree with you or they wouldn’t be doing it.

You're missing my point. Of course they see value in it. But why? What's the investment return that benefits kids from having them play on a club's 3rd, 4th or 5th team vs playing rec league with the same kids? I'm obviously talking ideal right now because the system is broken now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:70% of kids dropout of sports by the age of 13.


There’s an interesting article that describes why -

“ parents invest significant time and money in their kids to train with teams and buy their uniforms. They expect “results." They drive them all over to year-round sports, sometimes more than one during the same season. Oftentimes, perhaps unintentionally, they drive them out of sports entirely.

For a lot of kids, it comes down to the fact that sports become less fun and more about the concept of what success is from more of an adult’s eyes than a child’s eyes,” Moffatt says. "Kids want to stay active, play and have fun with their friends, and winning and losing is something that they care less about.”

About 70 % of kids drop out of organized sports by age 13 and the so-called “professionalization of youth sports” can’t be understated as a significant factor why, according to a new report released Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).


“In addition, the pressure to succeed at a young age, as well as the perception that this is the most efficacious route to future athletic success, further leads to high volumes of training and loss of enjoyment in sport, both of which can contribute to widespread burnout and attrition among youth athletes.”


https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2024/01/22/70-of-kids-drop-out-of-youth-sports-by-13-new-aap-study-reveals-why/72310189007/

Every time I read these articles I just think to myself: are the authors totally hallucinating and do they not know what high school is like these days? The reason the kids quit at that age is because we make it so difficult to make the high school sports teams at that age and then they choose do other extracurriculars at school if they can’t make the team.

It’s not just these days it’s been that way for decades. Maybe more kids would stick with it if there were more options. But there’s no denying pushy parents do ruin it for some kids who want low key fun.

Do most kids really want low key fun? As kids play more and get better they want to play with better kids. The kids who show up to have fun and don’t know the rules or make a lot of mistakes don't really make it fun for the kids who care.

I don’t know how many kids just want low key fun but that doesn’t mean they don’t know how to play the game or they aren’t good.

Don’t the travel teams put them on teams according to ability?
My point is these games are a recreational activity. Sometimes parents ruin it.

Any kids playing on a travel team other than the top (or arguably top 2) teams in any given organization would be better served playing rec ball. Those "average" teams use to be the majority of rec leagues. They've been consumed into travel organizations because parents were willing to pay with the idea that they could move up to elite levels with the right investment.

They are voting with their feet and their wallets. They see value in the travel experience. Obviously they disagree with you or they wouldn’t be doing it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:70% of kids dropout of sports by the age of 13.


There’s an interesting article that describes why -

“ parents invest significant time and money in their kids to train with teams and buy their uniforms. They expect “results." They drive them all over to year-round sports, sometimes more than one during the same season. Oftentimes, perhaps unintentionally, they drive them out of sports entirely.

For a lot of kids, it comes down to the fact that sports become less fun and more about the concept of what success is from more of an adult’s eyes than a child’s eyes,” Moffatt says. "Kids want to stay active, play and have fun with their friends, and winning and losing is something that they care less about.”

About 70 % of kids drop out of organized sports by age 13 and the so-called “professionalization of youth sports” can’t be understated as a significant factor why, according to a new report released Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).


“In addition, the pressure to succeed at a young age, as well as the perception that this is the most efficacious route to future athletic success, further leads to high volumes of training and loss of enjoyment in sport, both of which can contribute to widespread burnout and attrition among youth athletes.”


https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2024/01/22/70-of-kids-drop-out-of-youth-sports-by-13-new-aap-study-reveals-why/72310189007/

Every time I read these articles I just think to myself: are the authors totally hallucinating and do they not know what high school is like these days? The reason the kids quit at that age is because we make it so difficult to make the high school sports teams at that age and then they choose do other extracurriculars at school if they can’t make the team.

It’s not just these days it’s been that way for decades. Maybe more kids would stick with it if there were more options. But there’s no denying pushy parents do ruin it for some kids who want low key fun.

Do most kids really want low key fun? As kids play more and get better they want to play with better kids. The kids who show up to have fun and don’t know the rules or make a lot of mistakes don't really make it fun for the kids who care.

I don’t know how many kids just want low key fun but that doesn’t mean they don’t know how to play the game or they aren’t good.

Don’t the travel teams put them on teams according to ability?
My point is these games are a recreational activity. Sometimes parents ruin it.

Any kids playing on a travel team other than the top (or arguably top 2) teams in any given organization would be better served playing rec ball. Those "average" teams use to be the majority of rec leagues. They've been consumed into travel organizations because parents were willing to pay with the idea that they could move up to elite levels with the right investment.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:70% of kids dropout of sports by the age of 13.


There’s an interesting article that describes why -

“ parents invest significant time and money in their kids to train with teams and buy their uniforms. They expect “results." They drive them all over to year-round sports, sometimes more than one during the same season. Oftentimes, perhaps unintentionally, they drive them out of sports entirely.

For a lot of kids, it comes down to the fact that sports become less fun and more about the concept of what success is from more of an adult’s eyes than a child’s eyes,” Moffatt says. "Kids want to stay active, play and have fun with their friends, and winning and losing is something that they care less about.”

About 70 % of kids drop out of organized sports by age 13 and the so-called “professionalization of youth sports” can’t be understated as a significant factor why, according to a new report released Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).


“In addition, the pressure to succeed at a young age, as well as the perception that this is the most efficacious route to future athletic success, further leads to high volumes of training and loss of enjoyment in sport, both of which can contribute to widespread burnout and attrition among youth athletes.”


https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2024/01/22/70-of-kids-drop-out-of-youth-sports-by-13-new-aap-study-reveals-why/72310189007/

Every time I read these articles I just think to myself: are the authors totally hallucinating and do they not know what high school is like these days? The reason the kids quit at that age is because we make it so difficult to make the high school sports teams at that age and then they choose do other extracurriculars at school if they can’t make the team.

It’s not just these days it’s been that way for decades. Maybe more kids would stick with it if there were more options. But there’s no denying pushy parents do ruin it for some kids who want low key fun.

Do most kids really want low key fun? As kids play more and get better they want to play with better kids. The kids who show up to have fun and don’t know the rules or make a lot of mistakes don't really make it fun for the kids who care.

I don’t know how many kids just want low key fun but that doesn’t mean they don’t know how to play the game or they aren’t good.

Don’t the travel teams put them on teams according to ability?
My point is these games are a recreational activity. Sometimes parents ruin it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I was growing up in the 90s, kids around me did an instrument plus orchestra or band, maybe math or other tutoring, and sports. But these were rec sports. If you were particularly athletic, you'd maybe do two sports per season. Even for middle and high school, I don't remember kids really going off for travel teams. When did travel sports really take off?

I have an elementary schooler now and am really surprised at the number of kids on travel teams. Are these kids just leaning hard into that one sport? They haven't hit puberty yet. What if things don't work out... do they just go back to rec for that sport? And how do they balance that with other commitments? Even with kids who aren't particularly athletic, 7-8 year olds are signing up for basketball drill classes for 2 or 3 seasons, doing travel soccer, travel hockey, in the school's music program... Are these kids still able to do it all? How? Are they skipping some of their commitments?

How is high school different in terms of activities? Are seniors in high school applying for college as the 2 sport superstar who also learned 2 languages and plays in the regional youth orchestra, while maintaining an above 4 point GPA and setting up their own charity? And then getting rejected from all the Ivys? I'm getting sort of depressed about all the early pressure around me, and college apps are still a decade away!

Pro athletes start as tots or at least by K. It's a path you have to choose early and stick with for most sports except maybe wrestling and football. Look at a lot of the most famous pro and college athletes. Not only that, but a huge percentage have one parent who is a coach or former pro or college athlete. Unless this describes your family, just accept that your kid is not going to make a living as an athlete, so relax and enjoy sports as recreation and nothing more.

Are you saying that if the person didn’t start training as a toddler and have a parent who was a coach or college/pro athlete, then they should accept your opinion that they should stick to the rec league?

You sound like a troll who hopes everyone will drop out to advance your own precious one, lol.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:70% of kids dropout of sports by the age of 13.


There’s an interesting article that describes why -

“ parents invest significant time and money in their kids to train with teams and buy their uniforms. They expect “results." They drive them all over to year-round sports, sometimes more than one during the same season. Oftentimes, perhaps unintentionally, they drive them out of sports entirely.

For a lot of kids, it comes down to the fact that sports become less fun and more about the concept of what success is from more of an adult’s eyes than a child’s eyes,” Moffatt says. "Kids want to stay active, play and have fun with their friends, and winning and losing is something that they care less about.”

About 70 % of kids drop out of organized sports by age 13 and the so-called “professionalization of youth sports” can’t be understated as a significant factor why, according to a new report released Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).


“In addition, the pressure to succeed at a young age, as well as the perception that this is the most efficacious route to future athletic success, further leads to high volumes of training and loss of enjoyment in sport, both of which can contribute to widespread burnout and attrition among youth athletes.”


https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2024/01/22/70-of-kids-drop-out-of-youth-sports-by-13-new-aap-study-reveals-why/72310189007/

Every time I read these articles I just think to myself: are the authors totally hallucinating and do they not know what high school is like these days? The reason the kids quit at that age is because we make it so difficult to make the high school sports teams at that age and then they choose do other extracurriculars at school if they can’t make the team.

It’s not just these days it’s been that way for decades. Maybe more kids would stick with it if there were more options. But there’s no denying pushy parents do ruin it for some kids who want low key fun.

Do most kids really want low key fun? As kids play more and get better they want to play with better kids. The kids who show up to have fun and don’t know the rules or make a lot of mistakes don't really make it fun for the kids who care.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:70% of kids dropout of sports by the age of 13.


There’s an interesting article that describes why -

“ parents invest significant time and money in their kids to train with teams and buy their uniforms. They expect “results." They drive them all over to year-round sports, sometimes more than one during the same season. Oftentimes, perhaps unintentionally, they drive them out of sports entirely.

For a lot of kids, it comes down to the fact that sports become less fun and more about the concept of what success is from more of an adult’s eyes than a child’s eyes,” Moffatt says. "Kids want to stay active, play and have fun with their friends, and winning and losing is something that they care less about.”

About 70 % of kids drop out of organized sports by age 13 and the so-called “professionalization of youth sports” can’t be understated as a significant factor why, according to a new report released Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).


“In addition, the pressure to succeed at a young age, as well as the perception that this is the most efficacious route to future athletic success, further leads to high volumes of training and loss of enjoyment in sport, both of which can contribute to widespread burnout and attrition among youth athletes.”


https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2024/01/22/70-of-kids-drop-out-of-youth-sports-by-13-new-aap-study-reveals-why/72310189007/

Every time I read these articles I just think to myself: are the authors totally hallucinating and do they not know what high school is like these days? The reason the kids quit at that age is because we make it so difficult to make the high school sports teams at that age and then they choose do other extracurriculars at school if they can’t make the team.

It’s not just these days it’s been that way for decades. Maybe more kids would stick with it if there were more options. But there’s no denying pushy parents do ruin it for some kids who want low key fun.

Do most kids really want low key fun? As kids play more and get better they want to play with better kids. The kids who show up to have fun and don’t know the rules or make a lot of mistakes don't really make it fun for the kids who care.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:70% of kids dropout of sports by the age of 13.


There’s an interesting article that describes why -

“ parents invest significant time and money in their kids to train with teams and buy their uniforms. They expect “results." They drive them all over to year-round sports, sometimes more than one during the same season. Oftentimes, perhaps unintentionally, they drive them out of sports entirely.

For a lot of kids, it comes down to the fact that sports become less fun and more about the concept of what success is from more of an adult’s eyes than a child’s eyes,” Moffatt says. "Kids want to stay active, play and have fun with their friends, and winning and losing is something that they care less about.”

About 70 % of kids drop out of organized sports by age 13 and the so-called “professionalization of youth sports” can’t be understated as a significant factor why, according to a new report released Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).


“In addition, the pressure to succeed at a young age, as well as the perception that this is the most efficacious route to future athletic success, further leads to high volumes of training and loss of enjoyment in sport, both of which can contribute to widespread burnout and attrition among youth athletes.”


https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2024/01/22/70-of-kids-drop-out-of-youth-sports-by-13-new-aap-study-reveals-why/72310189007/

Every time I read these articles I just think to myself: are the authors totally hallucinating and do they not know what high school is like these days? The reason the kids quit at that age is because we make it so difficult to make the high school sports teams at that age and then they choose do other extracurriculars at school if they can’t make the team.

It’s not just these days it’s been that way for decades. Maybe more kids would stick with it if there were more options. But there’s no denying pushy parents do ruin it for some kids who want low key fun.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:70% of kids dropout of sports by the age of 13.


There’s an interesting article that describes why -

“ parents invest significant time and money in their kids to train with teams and buy their uniforms. They expect “results." They drive them all over to year-round sports, sometimes more than one during the same season. Oftentimes, perhaps unintentionally, they drive them out of sports entirely.

For a lot of kids, it comes down to the fact that sports become less fun and more about the concept of what success is from more of an adult’s eyes than a child’s eyes,” Moffatt says. "Kids want to stay active, play and have fun with their friends, and winning and losing is something that they care less about.”

About 70 % of kids drop out of organized sports by age 13 and the so-called “professionalization of youth sports” can’t be understated as a significant factor why, according to a new report released Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).


“In addition, the pressure to succeed at a young age, as well as the perception that this is the most efficacious route to future athletic success, further leads to high volumes of training and loss of enjoyment in sport, both of which can contribute to widespread burnout and attrition among youth athletes.”


https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2024/01/22/70-of-kids-drop-out-of-youth-sports-by-13-new-aap-study-reveals-why/72310189007/

Every time I read these articles I just think to myself: are the authors totally hallucinating and do they not know what high school is like these days? The reason the kids quit at that age is because we make it so difficult to make the high school sports teams at that age and then they choose do other extracurriculars at school if they can’t make the team.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I was growing up in the 90s, kids around me did an instrument plus orchestra or band, maybe math or other tutoring, and sports. But these were rec sports. If you were particularly athletic, you'd maybe do two sports per season. Even for middle and high school, I don't remember kids really going off for travel teams. When did travel sports really take off?

I have an elementary schooler now and am really surprised at the number of kids on travel teams. Are these kids just leaning hard into that one sport? They haven't hit puberty yet. What if things don't work out... do they just go back to rec for that sport? And how do they balance that with other commitments? Even with kids who aren't particularly athletic, 7-8 year olds are signing up for basketball drill classes for 2 or 3 seasons, doing travel soccer, travel hockey, in the school's music program... Are these kids still able to do it all? How? Are they skipping some of their commitments?

How is high school different in terms of activities? Are seniors in high school applying for college as the 2 sport superstar who also learned 2 languages and plays in the regional youth orchestra, while maintaining an above 4 point GPA and setting up their own charity? And then getting rejected from all the Ivys? I'm getting sort of depressed about all the early pressure around me, and college apps are still a decade away!

Pro athletes start as tots or at least by K. It's a path you have to choose early and stick with for most sports except maybe wrestling and football. Look at a lot of the most famous pro and college athletes. Not only that, but a huge percentage have one parent who is a coach or former pro or college athlete. Unless this describes your family, just accept that your kid is not going to make a living as an athlete, so relax and enjoy sports as recreation and nothing more.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I was growing up in the 90s, kids around me did an instrument plus orchestra or band, maybe math or other tutoring, and sports. But these were rec sports. If you were particularly athletic, you'd maybe do two sports per season. Even for middle and high school, I don't remember kids really going off for travel teams. When did travel sports really take off?

I have an elementary schooler now and am really surprised at the number of kids on travel teams. Are these kids just leaning hard into that one sport? They haven't hit puberty yet. What if things don't work out... do they just go back to rec for that sport? And how do they balance that with other commitments? Even with kids who aren't particularly athletic, 7-8 year olds are signing up for basketball drill classes for 2 or 3 seasons, doing travel soccer, travel hockey, in the school's music program... Are these kids still able to do it all? How? Are they skipping some of their commitments?

How is high school different in terms of activities? Are seniors in high school applying for college as the 2 sport superstar who also learned 2 languages and plays in the regional youth orchestra, while maintaining an above 4 point GPA and setting up their own charity? And then getting rejected from all the Ivys? I'm getting sort of depressed about all the early pressure around me, and college apps are still a decade away!

Pro athletes start as tots or at least by K. It's a path you have to choose early and stick with for most sports except maybe wrestling and football. Look at a lot of the most famous pro and college athletes. Not only that, but a huge percentage have one parent who is a coach or former pro or college athlete. Unless this describes your family, just accept that your kid is not going to make a living as an athlete, so relax and enjoy sports as recreation and nothing more.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I was growing up in the 90s, kids around me did an instrument plus orchestra or band, maybe math or other tutoring, and sports. But these were rec sports. If you were particularly athletic, you'd maybe do two sports per season. Even for middle and high school, I don't remember kids really going off for travel teams. When did travel sports really take off?

I have an elementary schooler now and am really surprised at the number of kids on travel teams. Are these kids just leaning hard into that one sport? They haven't hit puberty yet. What if things don't work out... do they just go back to rec for that sport? And how do they balance that with other commitments? Even with kids who aren't particularly athletic, 7-8 year olds are signing up for basketball drill classes for 2 or 3 seasons, doing travel soccer, travel hockey, in the school's music program... Are these kids still able to do it all? How? Are they skipping some of their commitments?

How is high school different in terms of activities? Are seniors in high school applying for college as the 2 sport superstar who also learned 2 languages and plays in the regional youth orchestra, while maintaining an above 4 point GPA and setting up their own charity? And then getting rejected from all the Ivys? I'm getting sort of depressed about all the early pressure around me, and college apps are still a decade away!

Pro athletes start as tots or at least by K. It's a path you have to choose early and stick with for most sports except maybe wrestling and football. Look at a lot of the most famous pro and college athletes. Not only that, but a huge percentage have one parent who is a coach or former pro or college athlete. Unless this describes your family, just accept that your kid is not going to make a living as an athlete, so relax and enjoy sports as recreation and nothing more.