Kids Quit The Team For More Family Time

[retrohousewife]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...ids+and+sports

Organized team sports now start in preschool. Soccer, lacrosse, basketball and T-ball programs begin at age 4 or even 3. Playing "seasons" run year-round, pressuring pre-teens to specialize in a single sport. Children as young as 8 are being shuttled hundreds of miles to national basketball and football tournaments. Annual costs to parents for elite sports teams often extend well into four figures.

Of course, many families enjoy traveling with elite youth-sports teams and watching their children compete. They make family vacations out of the trips and enjoy socializing with other families on the teams.

Other families say dropping competitive teams has enabled their kids to take part in overseas service trips, debate and other clubs, or simply to get more sleep.

Some parents willingly join "the youth sports arms race" because they hope their children will earn college scholarships or pro careers, says Douglas Abrams, a University of Missouri law professor and a youth hockey coach for 42 years. In reality, these prospects are "infinitesimal," he says.

Only about 3% to 6% of high school basketball, football, baseball and soccer players make it to a college team, the National Collegiate Athletic Association says. Only about 2% of high-school athletes are awarded college athletic scholarships. Far more money is available for academic scholarships. And only about 1% to 9% of college athletes make it to the pros, the NCAA says.


How much sports is too much sports for your child? How much family time are you willing to sacrifice for your child to be competitive in sports?