I only did rec sports as a kid, and very sporadically at that. I was an orchestra, scholar's bowl, science olympiad, debate team type of kid. So when my husband suggested our kids do travel sports, I had no idea what we were getting into, and my views have certainly evolved over time.

At first, it seemed like a way for our kids to learn a skill and be on a team. Then it seemed like a good way for them to stay out of trouble and learn time management. But now I think the greatest value is for them to develop the mindset and attitude that you can also get from non sporting activities, but with the added physical component. There is something about pushing themselves to their physical limit in a competitive sport that unlocks something in their psyches. It's not a recipe that works for everyone. It didn't work for me as a kid. And like in most sports, they can only get the level of training and intensity from a travel club.

High level travel teams = parents that played in college or professionally
Olympics are a good example too.

Anonymous wrote:Travel mindset. lol 99.9 percent of these kids won’t play d1 level college

That is true...but in most sports 100% of D1 college players played on a travel team. Football is the one major exception where there really is no travel (at least at the HS level) and HS football is most critical.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One reason my son plays travel soccer is because it's one of the only areas in his life that he encounters a challenge. Even in advanced classes at school, academics are easy. He likes music and theater, and participates in those clubs, but its for fun, its not hard. Travel sports are the one thing that he encountered that made him step it up and work harder. And that is a great skill for young kids to learn. Maybe your kids get that elsewhere. But for those who don't, the challenge is the thrill of travel sports.

You have a ton of inconsistency in your answer. The best musicians in the world find pieces that are extremely difficult even for them. Is your kid the 2nd coming of Mozart?

It sounds like your kid enjoys those activities, but is not interested in becoming a top actor or musician, which is fine...but that's a different story then saying "it's not hard".

Yes, that could be. The level of engagement he is in (a performance band and a weekend theater group) meets his interest level. He's not driven to push harder in those areas even if there were opportunities to do so. But my point is the level he is at with those is an advanced level (he was moved to a more advanced group already) and its not challenging. Im sure we could find more challenging avenues. But travel sports fills that for him. I think its good for all kids to have something challenging to understand the need to work hard and prove yourself. That is one reason we "have a travel mindset" as OP asked.

No...not "could be"...it is. Again, you are completely full of s**t in your answers...he's not anywhere close to an advanced level. Do you even read what you are writing? To use your sports analogy, that's like playing on the D team and saying my kid is advanced because he was moved to the C team, completely oblivious to the fact that you have to be 5x better to be on the A team.

That's literally the equivalent of what your kid is doing in those activities.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents are living vicariously through he kid

Why do people say dumb sh— like this? My DH did play a sport in college. I didn’t and didn’t want to. Lots of parents let their kids lead what they want to do and at what level.

My DC found their sport in roughly 6th grade. Up to that we were very casual
About sports. DC was good and wanted to get better and there are very few rec opportunities in the sport. We moved to travel. Then DC decided they wanted to pursue college. And has been successful in that.

So your sweeping generalizations are wrong on every count, for us personally and for many.

What sport? If it’s one of the tough sports like basketball or hockey then your son proves that you can start at 11 or 12 and do very well. Although I already knew that but some parents think you need to start at 5 years old.

Which, as I said, is what happened with my kid at 6th grade. But some kids are like that younger. My neighbor's child (currently D1 baseball) only ever wanted to play baseball. For hours, and hours, and hours, even in preschool, the kid was out front throwing the ball and doing all sorts of thing (swinging off the tee). It made sense to put that kid in travel early.

And honestly, some sports you DO need to start very very early if they show an aptitude, unfortunately.