It’s a competitive world out there. The travel sports team market is insane: more and more athletes are playing at a younger and younger age. Parents are paying more money and spending more time to be a part of the club. The promise of playing time and a future in the sport seemingly hang in the balance as you make a decision for your kids future and happiness in the sports world. But how do you make the best decision for them?
Prepare
In everything I write, in everything I say to coaches, parents, and athletes, I die on this hill: preparing your athlete to play a sport, both physically and mentally, is the single most important indicator to long term success. Physical preparation will ensure your athlete is actually good enough athletically to play on the team. It will make sure they stay injury resilient to stay on the field. And it will give them the confidence that is needed if they want to play at a high level. These three things compound over time: the better and more physically prepared you are now, the more coaches look at you, and the more opportunities you get. This gives you freedom of choice, which probably sounds great to you, as a parent, right now.
Playing Time
It’s better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond. This is true at any age. While I strongly discourage an athlete playing one sport 12 months out of the year, it is factually important that an athlete actually plays. This will help them work on their skills, conditioning, confidence, and athletic ability. It will help them learn the sport. Don’t just go for the promise that the coach makes; watch the team play and try to assess whether your child is on a similar skill level to the other children playing.
Pressure
Coaching is so important to your child’s long term desire to play a sport. It’s make or break. If they have the right coaches at a young age, they will feel good about playing, and play longer. If they have the wrong coach, they won’t want to touch the field again after 8 years old. Again, get a feel for the coaching style, and the pressure put on these athletes at a young age. Watch some games. Talk to parents who have been there. It will save you a world of hurt.
If your athlete has the goal of playing in college, there should be pressure playing at the high school level. However, be careful of coaches that act like they are in the World Cup on their U9 team. This isn’t fun and this isn’t productive. This is self-serving for the club and the coach.
The Facts
About 5% of high school athletes go on to play in college. 70% of kids drop out of sports before they even get to high school. Some athletes are meant to play at a high level for a long time. That’s their goal and it’s the best thing ever when they strive for it and make it. But so much goes into an athlete getting there, and wanting to continue even if they do make it in college. Set your child up for long term success by making the right decision on their club sports. Make it fun. Make it challenging in a good way. And give them the tools to succeed in an increasingly competitive world. If they are athletic and confident enough, every club will want them and you can have your choice of where they play.
If you have questions about physically preparing your child for sports, contact us here!
