This post was provided by Stacey Sheetz:
After reading these short articles and from what you may know personally how do you feel about kids in grades 3rd-5th participating in the traveling sports such as AAU, Jr. Olympic volleyball, hockey, softball, baseball, and soccer? What are the benefits for these kids?
http://livefitblog.com/2010/03/15/how-parents-are-hurting-their-child-athletes/
http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;119/6/1242
http://topnews.us/content/23808-children-should-not-overdo-sport-experts-warn
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I know from personal experience that competing in a single sport, training 25 hours a week, and traveling the country competing was the best thing my parents could have done for me. I loved the fact that I was solely a gymnast, and didn't spread my passion for sports so thin. My intense high school career lead me into a full ride scholarship which doenst happen when you dedicate your time to multiple sports. The kids who are highly successful in collegiate sports are the kids who trained one sport and did that one sport faithfully.
ReplyDeleteI think that with moderation these things can be good for a child. It opens them up to new things: new opponents, new styles, and new friendships. But the question is: when is it too much?
ReplyDeleteMy brother played on traveling teams for baseball since he was in 4th grade and he loved every minute of it and said he wishes he could have played even more. In the end, I believe it helped him get a scholarship to play baseball. Another examples is Bryce Harper, who was just selected as the number 1 overall pick in the MLB draft. He played on numerous traveling teams, in numerous states. But in the end it paid off for him. Because of his competing almost everyday, he made his dream come true. I know these are just two examples, and they are most likely the exception rather than the rule.
I can see where the argument comes in, well the kid might get burnt out or eventually just quit. But that is a risk that comes with everything in life. The child has to have a passion for whatever it is they're doing, otherwise its just a waste of time.
When I have kids, I will most definitely put them on traveling teams. But I'll make sure its not too much. Parents need to be the ones to talk with the coaches and the child to make sure this is what they want to do and that the kids aren't being to hard or too far.
I am big on allowing kids at a young age find their passion in sports and to allow them to choose there particular sport that they want to become heavily involved in. Also, for growth purposes I think that each sports allows a particular growth. For instance, baseball teaches great hand-eye coordination, Soccer teaches great feet coordination, etc, etc... However, I do believe that there become a certain time when a kid needs to find their passion and stick to it. By doing this it will give them a tremendous amount of growth opportunity in the sport of their choice.
ReplyDeleteI think it is acceptable to allow children to play on travel teams at a young age, but I also believe this needs to be closely monitored. More children than ever are suffering from overuse injuries and are having surgery as young as 8 years old. This is the result of children focusing on one sport at an early age and training multiple days a week for several hours a day. There is no scientific research to support the widespread belief that specializing in sport at an early age is the only way to be successful at a sport. Furthermore, it is possible for athletes to receive a scholarship to college even if they play more than one sport. The emphasis on receiving a college scholarship is often created by parents who then pressure children to specialize early. Children are often fearful of telling their parents they do not want to play for fear of how their parents will react. Parents need to allow their children to participate in the sports they want to play and specialize when they are ready.
ReplyDeleteSports can have great benefits for youth that go beyond the sport itself.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of the sport, the individual is provided with support (i.e. coaching and teaching) in learning a skill which can aid in early motor development. The skills also can provide opportunities for improvement which needs to be aknowledged as success.
Outside of the sport itself, youth sport provides extracurricular activities that can be a better alternative than other choices they would make (i.e. video games, tv, mischief, etc). Also, being on a team of peers allows for a social environment which can build relationships.
When children are starting out in their sport world, I think it is important to allow them to play a variety of sports. When I was young my mother put me in everything under the sun to introduce me to a variety of sports, hoping that I would find a few that I truly enjoyed playing. I remember that there were some that clicked for me, and others that I didn't enjoy. As children get older, and become involved in organized sports, they are forced to cut down their involvement to three sports; one in the fall, winter, and spring. I do not agree that an athlete truly has to specialize in one sport in order to gain an athletic scholarship in college. This is a major misconception in American society and it is sad that there aren't as may 3-sport athletes as in the past. I think that all athletes have a passion for one sport, and that is the one they choose to play more in the summer. This specialization is important for overall skill development and getting recruited by colleges, but it is important that kids get a break from playing that one sport in the K-12 setting to avoid burnout.
ReplyDeleteI am all for allowing kids at a young age find their passion in sports and to allow them to find there sport that they want to become heavily involved in. I am tired of seeing kids get burned out in life because they were forced to play something for so long. In todays society there are not many multi sport athletes any more due to specialization. Parents take there kids to multiple camps and clinic to help them master the sports so they can become the best. Often more times than others parents want it more than the kids do which end up hurting the kid and driving them crazy. But I am all for letting kids chose there own paths.
ReplyDeleteI believe that parents can be over the top whether their child is a young boy/girl or a young adult. I never witnessed crazier parents than watching my brother grow up playing hockey. Parents got more fired up at the games with each other than the players who were actually on the ice. There has to be a point where enough is enough, and I totally agree that kids need a break to avoid burnout. As we witnessed within the first couple weeks of Elena Della Donne who "faked" loving basketball till she was 20 years old. She was so beyond burnout and completely lost love for the game. Whether or not this was due to her parents may always be in question.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Wainwright that young kids can find their passion, but I think its hard to determine whether the kids are actually passionate about the sport or if its their parents instilling it on them...
As a parent of two active, but very different, sons, I can see this issue from a couple of perspectives. My oldest son has been a hockey fanatic from the time he could hold a stick. He chose to focus solely on hockey from a very young age and wound up on traveling, elite level teams that have taken us around the country and cost us a small fortune. Although my wife and I have encouraged him to try other sports, he contends he doesn't want to do anything else.
ReplyDeleteMy younger son plays whatever sport is in season - football, hockey, or baseball. He seems to enjoy them all equally. He hasn't had the elite, travel experience, but has had a broad experience and made many friends through sport.
With each son my wife and I have attempted to be supportive and ask questions to help the boys clarify their choices, but we haven't made their choices for them, as indicated by their different chosen paths.
From your comments I have gathered that many of you feel that travel teams is a good thing for most kids. My fear is that we are starting them way to early and because of society we are making them become one sport athletes. Some of you agree with this concept, but how do most of you feel about having an athlete be one sport specific? What if this athlete is very talented and could be a potential all conference or all state player in multiple sports?
ReplyDeleteI have no problem with students participating in traveling teams at a young age as long as it is monitored closely. At a young age I believe its good to expose kids to traveling teams but I see things taken way too far sometimes. Some students, parents, and coaches think winning is the only thing. If the traveling teams are monitored closely and the students are not forced into the situation by parents, I think traveling teams are a good thing.
ReplyDeleteI have no problem with traveling teams or only participating in one sport if that is what is what the child wants to do and is avalible to them. If a child is really passionate about a specific sport, it would be wrong to say they have to play other sports as well. Like stated above there should be extra care taken to prevent overuse injuries and burnout.
ReplyDeleteTravel sports is a great experience for any child who wants to play I participated in a lot of travel basketball. The tournaments were great times to hang out with friends in hotels, go swimming, and eat out...similar to a vacation only we got to play basketball during the days. The whole team enjoyed the experiences weather they played all the time or just some of the time. The only problem is when a player is being forced to play outside their will, but if the kids are having fun travel teams is a great experience to build commodore and expand their horizons.
ReplyDeleteI am not a fan of travel teams and elite clubs teams for 3-5 graders. Young kids need to experience different sports. Their bodies need to develop different skills that you can get from playing different sports. I think focusing on one sport year round causes overuse injuries and burnout. As kids get older they can choose to focus their attention on one sport. But I know when I recruit kids I would much rather have a kid who was a three-sport athlete in high school than one kid who spent his whole year just training for football. I think there is a lot of merit to be put in different situations and different environments and find out how you compete in those.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the great comments! I am in agreement with Doug! I feel as though the travel and elite club teams should be left to the high school athelte. Not the 3rd-5th graders who's mind and body are still growing and are very influential. I just can't believe that they have "A", "B", and "C" teams at this level and they are even cutting... I refuse to think that this is helpful to a childs future.
ReplyDeleteI believe that it is very important to develop skills in many different sports-it makes you a more well rounded person and athlete. If it so happens that somone shows great talent in the majority of the sports he/she plays, then its time to make a decision-and that decision should be based on what sport, if any, your heart lies.
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