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re: Youth sports (overall Importance)?
Posted on 11/18/25 at 4:58 pm to burger bearcat
Posted on 11/18/25 at 4:58 pm to burger bearcat
quote:
How important in the long run are youth sports to kids development and long term success in life.
Yes
quote:
Example, is spending thousands of dollars on training, tournaments, etc worth the investment if it means your kid could be a certain % better?
This is not necessary and 9 times out of 10 is just satisfaction of the parents more than the kid.
0
Posted on 11/18/25 at 5:08 pm to burger bearcat
The system is set up now that you have to play travel ball to even sniff most high school teams. It sucks but that’s the way it is now.
That said, if your kid isn’t athletic you should absolutely not force sports on him. It will do more to destroy his confidence than any benefit gained. Kids compare themselves to others.
That said, if your kid isn’t athletic you should absolutely not force sports on him. It will do more to destroy his confidence than any benefit gained. Kids compare themselves to others.
Posted on 11/18/25 at 5:10 pm to burger bearcat
playing sports and excelling at them is a great confidence booster for the superficial fricks with whom our kids attend school.
that confidence carries over into high school and in college. that's all.
teach them to be competitive and healthy young people, and they usually stay that way.
that confidence carries over into high school and in college. that's all.
teach them to be competitive and healthy young people, and they usually stay that way.
Posted on 11/18/25 at 5:11 pm to Chaz95
Parents, me included should all be banned. Then kids could have fun
Posted on 11/18/25 at 5:13 pm to burger bearcat
If nothing else, it limits their time in front of screens and expands their social circles. Also, I believe there are a lot of inherent physical and mental health benefits from the ones with a lot of aerobic exercise (soccer, basketball, tennis, cross-country, etc.) and some sports you can take with you into adulthood.
Posted on 11/18/25 at 5:16 pm to RandySavage
quote:
Children playing sports is a great thing, "youth sports" in its current state in suburban America are a terrible thing for most kids and families. It's such a shame and shame
This is an oversimplification and stereotype. Yes, there are the arse parents and coaches who fight and cuss and have no class.
But we were fortunate to have great fun in rec leagues and in travel/competitive we had good coaches, parents and kids. I wouldn't trade those years for anything.
I wish sportsmanship was still a thing, but kids learn from their role models who celebrate, dance, fight, stare down and all the other crap
It's up to parents and coaches to get that under control.
Posted on 11/18/25 at 5:19 pm to burger bearcat
Depends on the sport. IMO, a sport like wrestling teaches discipline, builds confidence and instills a work ethic that will serve them well in life.
Posted on 11/18/25 at 5:32 pm to thegambler
Stereotypes exist for a reason. I will say yes, I'm speaking generally and it's obviously not true across the board for every kid and family. Overall though it's not a good thing what it has become.
Posted on 11/18/25 at 5:33 pm to onelochevy
quote:
Depends on the sport. IMO, a sport like wrestling teaches discipline, builds confidence and instills a work ethic that will serve them well in life.
Absolutely. A good beat down on the mats is a huge character builder.
Posted on 11/18/25 at 5:34 pm to onelochevy
Is it important for a child to participate in sports No.
Is it important for kids to participate in activities that are competitive, build discipline, and provide opportunities to win and lose.
My two daughters were in the high school marching band and several competitive orchestras (ones where they try out for all district and all State orchestras) and my son played football and basketball.
I would say the benefit of each of these activities were the same and much better than sitting in front of screens.
Is it important for kids to participate in activities that are competitive, build discipline, and provide opportunities to win and lose.
My two daughters were in the high school marching band and several competitive orchestras (ones where they try out for all district and all State orchestras) and my son played football and basketball.
I would say the benefit of each of these activities were the same and much better than sitting in front of screens.
Posted on 11/18/25 at 5:39 pm to burger bearcat
Youth sports are great and can be very helpful in building many skills. It's just not the only game in town and there are lots of things that can be just as beneficial.
Posted on 11/18/25 at 5:56 pm to burger bearcat
There are valuable lessons that can and should be learned and taught in youth sports but sadly it’s lost on many
The ability to be coachable take direction and listen. The lessons of learning how to lose and win. The understanding that winning is easy, but do it when it takes to win is hard and on the other hand, losing as hard but doing what it takes to lose is easy. The value that comes from playing under different coaches and different personalities and understanding and identifying the leadership style you gravitate to. The lessons learned by being part of a group where leaders are identified and followed for their work ethic and not just because they’re popular.
I coach at the high school level and while it is not always obvious who played or even excelled in youth sports. It’s obvious the kids that learned those traits early on through youth, sports or activities, and where deeply reinforced in the home.
I also have and have had athletes that are entitled, never take responsibility, constantly blame someone else and are always the victim, and they are extremely talented and played multiple sports since they were very young.
Youth sports is in a guarantee of an improved development path into adolescence, teenage or adulthood, but it does offer one avenue
The ability to be coachable take direction and listen. The lessons of learning how to lose and win. The understanding that winning is easy, but do it when it takes to win is hard and on the other hand, losing as hard but doing what it takes to lose is easy. The value that comes from playing under different coaches and different personalities and understanding and identifying the leadership style you gravitate to. The lessons learned by being part of a group where leaders are identified and followed for their work ethic and not just because they’re popular.
I coach at the high school level and while it is not always obvious who played or even excelled in youth sports. It’s obvious the kids that learned those traits early on through youth, sports or activities, and where deeply reinforced in the home.
I also have and have had athletes that are entitled, never take responsibility, constantly blame someone else and are always the victim, and they are extremely talented and played multiple sports since they were very young.
Youth sports is in a guarantee of an improved development path into adolescence, teenage or adulthood, but it does offer one avenue
This post was edited on 11/18/25 at 5:58 pm
Posted on 11/18/25 at 6:31 pm to MattA
quote:
Depends on the sport. IMO, a sport like wrestling teaches discipline, builds confidence and instills a work ethic that will serve them well in life. Absolutely. A good beat down on the mats is a huge character builder.
In youth wrestling I’ve seen kids go 0-20 their first year and then win the state in their third year after working incredibly hard. Imagine that life lesson.
I have also seen that kids that excel at certain sports excel in the classroom, cross country, swimming, wrestling.
Posted on 11/18/25 at 7:00 pm to burger bearcat
They are important but not in the current sense. They’re supposed to be for fun, teach teamwork, and build confidence. It was fine in the 80s and 90s. Not it’s all about the “hardware” and getting your kids to the next level, regardless of cost.
You can probably plot the obsession with youth sports vs moms posting on social media and get a pretty good fit
You can probably plot the obsession with youth sports vs moms posting on social media and get a pretty good fit
Posted on 11/18/25 at 8:25 pm to burger bearcat
quote:
How important in the long run are youth sports to kids development and long term success in life.
Extremely important. It’s physical activity, it’s team work, it’s competition, and it’s learning how to win and lose with grace.
quote:
Example, is spending thousands of dollars on training, tournaments, etc worth the investment if it means your kid could be a certain % better?
Probably not
quote:
Does them being better at sports open up other avenues in their life whether it be confidence, making connections, general health, etc
Confidence yes, connections, absolutely. Get him or her on a team that isn’t just the same kids as their classmates. General health, I’d say yes in the short term but if they quit playing sports and pick up very unhealthy habits as young adults the fact that they played youth sports isn’t important.
quote:
There is probably a trade off at some point. There is definitely value to kids playing sports and excelling, just not sure at what point it becomes more of a net negative with the costs and time people invest in it.
Way too broad of a question to answer. It entirely up to the individual and family.
Posted on 11/18/25 at 8:28 pm to whoa
quote:
Anything more is a colossal waste of time and money. Parents are stealing their kids childhoods doing all this travel league bullshite.
Serious question, what if your kid is the best player on that team by far and wants to play more and/or play with players as good as, or better than, himself? Are parents just supposed to not let him play that sport more?
And no, I’m not advocating for year round travel any sport. Sports should have seasons and kids should play multiple sports until high school with real, prolonged breaks of not playing one sport
Posted on 11/18/25 at 8:31 pm to TutHillTiger
quote:
Parents, me included should all be banned. Then kids could have fun
As a parent with two kids in tournament ball, hell yes. Send me to where the team cannot hear me and just let the kids play and have fun.
Posted on 11/18/25 at 8:33 pm to MattA
quote:
Absolutely. A good beat down on the mats is a huge character builder.
Sacrificing dinner and doing extra cardio so that you can come in under weight at the weigh ins so your team has that spot filled is also a phenomenal teacher of self discipline for team achievement.
Wrestling is the greatest sport in the world and I wish it was MUCH bigger in the south.
Posted on 11/18/25 at 8:33 pm to bird35
quote:
My two daughters were in the high school marching band and several competitive orchestras (ones where they try out for all district and all State orchestras)
How is an orchestra judges objectively?
Posted on 11/18/25 at 8:38 pm to burger bearcat
I agree completely. Time for them to allocate their money to a real sport, F1. Need more Americans in that sport—the only country where if you ain’t first, your last. Sick of getting embarrassed by all these Europeans fruit cakes.
Get rid of these travel sportsball leagues and invest that in US karting. Even more won’t make it, but at least that lifts the country in one of the international sports that matters, and the exit opps into other series isn’t bad.
Get rid of these travel sportsball leagues and invest that in US karting. Even more won’t make it, but at least that lifts the country in one of the international sports that matters, and the exit opps into other series isn’t bad.
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