It is that time of year again. Spring sports. Last night I was at the lacrosse field. Today I spent the morning at the soccer field and then back to the lacrosse field only to wake up tomorrow morning and do it all over again. I think I spend more time at those fields than my own house. We had about a two week break in between seasons. A small break where we had nowhere to go after dinner during the week and our weekends were free.
Okay, so I wasn’t much of a sports fanatic when I was a kid but I really do not remember it this way. I remember after school sports and some weekend games but it is way more than that now. It is a constant regular part of our lives today. Not an extracurricular activity.
I was reading an article just yesterday about how school coaches are almost ‘requiring’ kids to play off season. Parents feel the pressure to keep their kids playing the whole year in order to ‘make the team’ or better themselves in the sport. This is no joke. I know this first hand.
My son plays lacrosse, not just in the spring season, but all year long. We spend many hours in arenas and on fields. He loves it. We do it because he loves it, he gets his school work done and does very well. But, even so…we don’t do it all. There are so many private leagues and off-season camps out there to be a part of – if we did it all, let’s just say we wouldn’t be able to buy groceries. It is expensive. And, the coaches do make you feel as if this is something that is really almost required.
We have two schools in our area that are known as really good lacrosse teams. They are also known as schools with a large amount of wealthy people. Coincidence?
Parents and the kids at our school are told by coaches, “Programs like this $900 summer program are why these schools do as well as they do“. Sure, they are taught great skills at these camps which can help out tremendously, but how many people really can afford to send their kids to programs like this, year after year…and to feel that it is a necessary thing?
When did this happen? When did school sports go beyond the school? Isn’t the reason for school sports supposed to be that it is something available to all students? Why should only the kids who can afford the ‘extra stuff’ make the teams? Something seems wrong here.
In the article I read two parents had just recieved the registration for the $850 summer travel league and stated…
Father: ”Are we going to do this again?”
Mother: ”I don’t think we have a choice.”
Is that right?
{ 8 comments }
We couldn’t afford the extras, so I felt a little left out, but I wasn’t that into sports as a child. There should be a better way, imo.
Miel et Lait´s last [type] ..The art of the oral tradition
Great points, all. We are just getting involved with sports this year and to say it’s been a shock to my system is an understatement. I just showed my husband my calendar for this week (which I’ve nicknamed hell week, if that gives you a clue) and he was like, “but lacrosse is on there every day next week? Is there a mistake?” No mistake – this is the last week of lacrosse and between practices and games, we have it 6 days this week. And it’s her first year. Uh, hello? Balance?
I wasn’t a sports kid and I don’t see myself becoming a sports mom either. Too much. But, like you said, she likes it, all her friends are doing it and it’s a good way to “fit in.”
Sigh.
missy´s last [type] ..Out of the Mouths of Babes – S-E-X and the talk
That’s ridiculous! Now, I can’t really say that there’s no way, no how I would ever pay that because I’m not at that point with my kids. But a lot would depend on my kid’s age, how serious they were about that sport, and if there were any other sports or activities she was involved in. I would not allow year-round practices and clinics if my child also wanted to do other sports.
liz´s last [type] ..Can You Guess My Favorite
I think we all have to make those choices and it really does suck when our children want to participate and we either can’t afford it or think that it is ridiculous. The only way I could see spending that type of money is if my child had some kind of natural ability that was going to send them to the professional arena. If not? If they are doing it because they enjoy it and it is the sport they are just playing in school? Then no, I don’t really see the point at all.
Jennifer´s last [type] ..Everyone cried at my wedding
I am happy to say that my kids, son included, have never been into sports. My kids did play soccer this past fall, and my entire Saturday was destroyed. We were unable to do the things we had n the past, like go apple picking, go to fairs, etc. Not to mention I had a teenager who needed to go places, too.
I did the happy dance when both said they did not want to play soccer this fall!
That being said, my younger daughter has a natural talent for softball, but did not want to play again this year, after two years of playing., It broke my heart, as she has such a gift. Had she pursued it, we still would not have had the extra money for coaches and camps.
mommymommymommy´s last [type] ..Amusement Park and Water Park Discounts Do Exist!
I think it’s really sad that the sport seasons never seem to end. Kids NEED DOWNTIME. Their bodies are still growing, and not only do they need to rest their bodies (and in many cases, let them heal from sports injuries) they need to rest their minds, too. This is not to say they should be couch potatoes 24/7 for the remaining months of the year their sport is not “in season.”
I do think it’s ridiculous that a kid is “required” to play their chosen sport year-round. It’s fine to enjoy a sport, to excel (or not) at it, to bring your team to a championship (or not) – but isn’t this a little bit overboard, this constant training and playing?
Years ago, we turned deaf ears to our (then, very young) daughter’s pleas to play soccer. By the time she reached 3rd grade, we hadn’t hear anything about wanting to live/eat/breath/play the game. Of course, by that time, her classmates had been playing soccer since they were 4 years old and in preschool – and had 5 or 6 years of soccer already under their belts. There’s no way our daughter would have made a team at the ancient age of 9, with no experience whatsoever.
Who suddenly decided that kids had to play a sport from the time they were potty trained in order to “make the team” in high school? Who suddenly decided that kids had to be played like they’re professional athletes? Why is it suddenly passe’ to play a sport just for the sheer enjoyment of the game, the physical activity, and the good-natured competition? Who decided that sports were an activity only for the wealthy, who can afford all the extra camps, etc., for year-round play?
BLECH, I say.
Kathy´s last [type] ..Mothers Day Madness
I know! Sometimes we all just need a break. Not to mention the expense….wow.
My oldest is only in Kinder but we are starting to see this now.
BTW, I hope you had a fabulous Mother’s Day.
Melissa (Confessions of a Dr.Mom)´s last [type] ..Little Treasures
What I dislike most about this trend is that school sports was supposed to be the one thing anybody could participate in regardless of what means they had at their disposal…this makes it just like everything else.
Swati
Swati´s last [type] ..Happy Mother’s Day to All the Mommas