Youth sports hits a nerve.
It’s a subject that many are passionate about, because it centers around two American loves: sports and families. That’s why I was not surprised by the overwhelming response that I received for my series on the pay-to-play youth sports model in this country.
That model has enabled young athletes to pursue athletics like they are mini-professionals, but it has also come at an increasingly high financial and time cost for families. It’s also created an opportunity gap between those who can afford to pay tens of thousands of dollars annually for a single travel sport and those who cannot.
From more than 100 emails I received since my series was published on Aug. 23, here are the snippets that stuck with me the most, along with my corresponding perspective.
‘Disgusted’ with youth sports industry
Email from Boulder resident Anna Segur:
The pay to play industry has been very frustrating for me to view as a community member and as a parent.
I worked several years ago with the local soccer club when they received a health equity grant to make soccer more accessible to the community. I conducted research to identify the barriers to participation for low-income, English language learners, and pretty much it is everything that competitive sports is about.
After doing this research, I am even more disgusted with the current state of affairs of U.S. youth sports. And I think we see the results in pro soccer. The U.S. is not identifying and training the best players, they are identifying and training the ones whose families have the most money. I see kids that are put in competitive soccer in elementary school, and then by high school, the coaches have told me that because these kids have had this specialized training, and others haven’t, it’s largely impossible for kids who weren’t in competitive soccer to even make the high school team because they don’t have the ball control.
School sports are supposed to be equitable and allow broad participation but have seen cuts across the board due to budget restrictions. My son’s have had no school sports in elementary school, in middle school the intramural season for soccer is TWO WEEKS LONG — yes you read that right. And then as I said, high school tryouts are likely going to weed out anyone who hasn’t played competitively. Basically, this is just a recipe to disenfranchise and exclude low-income players and often players of color.
A friend I know who works for the local soccer club as the Spanish language liaison told me that she has heard parents come up to the club and say how much do I have to donate for my kids to be on the first team. Meanwhile, we have other families that are struggling just to meet basic needs like rent and food. The wealth disparity and how competitive sports enables opportunity hoarding is just disgusting. I saw the soccer club, in an insatiable drive to grow and achieve economies of scale, incorporate all the local recreational soccer programs in the area. They claimed it would create more access but all it did was eliminate local options for many communities.
… In the community, the way this shows up is that kids who can’t play competitively have no opportunity to engage in structured recreation. And the result is a rising level of childhood obesity, particularly among low-income children and children of color.
My take: As Segur points out, the rise of club/travel sports organizations often corresponds to the shrinking of local recreational and/or non-travel competitive options for certain sports. When those latter options get sucked up by the youth sports industrial complex, communities are left with a vacuum for talent cultivation for families who cannot afford to pay thousands of dollars a year for their child to play. Research shows that these negative impacts are most often felt by kids of color and those in lower-income areas. And when opportunities disappear for those kids, the ripple effect extends far beyond sports — it seeps into childhood health and development, too.
‘We got accepted into Harvard’
Email from Denver resident Jenny Brundin:
Sadly, it seems from your articles the parental FOMO/anxiety over children’s athletic/academic future is still alive and well. I so wish all those parents with unrealistic expectations for their children would join an adult sports league and get out all their frustrations/anxiety.
… Just wanted to say your series struck a chord and made me think about so many things:
— Like with academics (“we got accepted into Harvard”), I was struck by how often parents say “we” when talking about their child’s participation in sports. Parents can no longer seem to separate themselves from the lives of their children. I worry this will hamper children’s own decision-making abilities, their own ability to explore and determine what they like to do or don’t like to do.
— I was also struck by the language about wanting a child to be the best they can be. As a sports reporter I understand how you have this perspective. That always struck me as a very American concept. Why does a kid have to be “the best they can be”? Isn’t joy, friendships and fun along the way enough? (I loved your description of your own child’s unfettered joy playing wiffle ball and the “childlike wonder” (in Part IV of the series).) I truly believe the kids will be alright when parents learn to stand back and let the youth make some of their own decisions in life, which allows them to trust themselves. I realize I may sound naive but having spent so much time with children and youth (as a retired education reporter), that is how I feel.
My take: The “we got accepted into Harvard” sentiment is alive and well in youth sports. Look at Instagram, and it’s obvious there are a lot of parents living vicariously through their kids’ athletic achievements. The scariest part might be that those parents don’t even realize they are doing so. What is “best for the kid” is really also what strokes the parents’ ego, too. It’s why there is so much team-jumping in competitive youth baseball, where the grass always seems to be greener and parents want their son to be on a team with name recognition. I agree with Jenny that kids need to be making their own decisions. what they want out of sports, and the most popular responses were “having fun” and “playing with friends” — not wining trophies or pursuing a scholarship.
‘Too many parents just don’t know what to do’
Email from Lower Makefield Township, Pa., resident Shane Fitzgerald
I currently run a 17U Legion Baseball (not dead yet!) program in Pennsylvania that is largely made up of travel players who are looking for more games on weekdays and still enjoying the community baseball experience. And frankly, because of the saturation you wrote about, my Legion teams are competitive with most of the Perfect Game teams, other than the really high level ones playing the exclusive national tournaments.
Every year, I talk with parents and lay out the issues that you so eloquently noted in your reporting. I never speak badly of travel ball, but I do point out that you’ve got to be doing it for the experience and not the expectation that you’re getting financial return on your investment. Parents appreciate that honesty, and I’ve lost good players with it. But it’s a huge struggle, and too many parents just don’t know what to do.
My take: Travel baseball can certainly be a great thing for elite players who need more competition than what is in their area, and it also can sometimes be a conduit to get recruited if a player is truly good enough. But I believe there is still hope for community-based teams like Shane describes. The saturation he mentions, and that I wrote about in Part II of the series, is apparent across every sport. Whether it be baseball, basketball, soccer or just about any other sport with a gazillion travel programs/teams in Colorado, there just simply are not enough elite players in any sport to support that amount of travel ball. Beyond the top levels in each age group, it is a money play by clubs to field as many teams as they can. But as long as parents keep writing checks, can you really blame the clubs?
Club crossover into high school sports
Email from anonymous in Highlands Ranch who did not want name used for fear of blowblack from high school
Something that we have experienced with our daughters is the pressure to play club sports just to continue playing in high school. With our school, many of the coaches are club coaches as well, or an assistant coach runs a club, and itap clearly intentional. We have a daughter who is a sophomore, and the class system of club is influencing the level of placement and minutes. Itap very frustrating as a parent. Our oldest is in college, but she experienced the same issues. I think I’m a pretty fair evaluator of my daughter’s ability. I spent many years as a high school basketball and football coach; I understand a lot of what coaches deal with. I can also see the elevation of players based solely on club level and experience.
My take: Over the last few decades, high school coaches have realized that using a club feeder system to funnel top players into their high school program can be a recipe for tremendous, sustained success in winning, state championships and creating an open-enrollment pipeline of talent into the school. It’s being done in pretty much every sport except football. And with no CHSAA rules against it, I don’t see an end in sight to the trend of the dual club/high school coach.
Dwindling three-sport athlete
Email from Monument resident Bill Beagle
In his 2013 book “Orr: My Story,” Hall of Famer Bobby Orr wrote, “Parents today might be surprised to discover what kids can do when left to their own devices.” He also points out that he didn’t play hockey 12 months a year but turned to baseball in the summer months. I find the trend to specialize in one sport sad and wonder if we aren’t seeing fewer “three-sport stars” now. I can appreciate your struggle in striking a balance to keep it fun for your kids. I’m sure that Bella, Jax and Bo will have great memories to pass on to their kids. Keep hurling that wiffle ball Dad!
My take: First off, I will keep hurling that wiffle ball, all the way down the line to my future grandchildren. It is our favorite family sport to all play together on our property in Parker. Secondly, while I do think that many elite high school athletes (and many of the household names in the biggest pro sports leagues) play/played multiple sports, my anecdotal research suggests the three-sport athlete is becoming rarer. They can still be found in abundance in small schools and towns. But at Colorado’s biggest schools, with athletes who play club/travel in at least one sport, it’s becoming increasingly hard for an athlete to juggle. The biggest factor is the time commitment that travel sports require; even in a cold-weather state like Colorado, the seasonal approach to sports has been blurred. By the time most of the best Denver-area athletes reach high school, it seems like they are focusing on one or two sports.
Geographic disadvantages of pay to play
Email from Colorado Springs resident Terrance White, a youth club basketball coach
We are not in Denver, we operate out of Colorado Springs. The problem we face out here is those same club fees apply but the gross income is significantly less than Denver. At the same time (we face) the disadvantages of wanting to play the same competition, but not having the same income as Denver. I work in Denver and make nearly $45/ hour; the same company in El Paso maxes out at $29/hour. To operate a competitive team we as coaches and the organization have to come out of our pockets to make it happen. I had to come off over $3,000 to get kids to tournaments here and out-of-state. The tournaments in the Springs don’t offer nearly the opportunities that are in Denver and out-of-state. But itap either do it and lose money yourself, or let good kids miss out on opportunities.
My take: This is a common criticism of the pay-to-play model: It is centered around big cities, while smaller cities and rural areas are left playing catch-up. Colorado Springs is not a small city, but as an offshoot of the Denver metro area, White’s point stands: There are bigger gaps between the finances that families have available and the costs for their kids’ opportunities. And they have to travel greater distances to get the same quality of competition that the big-city kids have in their own backyards.
‘Out of whack’ developmental priorities
Email from Westminster resident Andre Dion
In reading your series on youth sports, the one reaction that I felt over and over was, “Oh my.” And, not unexpectedly, “how sad,” as the stories illustrated, how completely out of whack I believe youth sports have become regarding developmental priorities.
I don’t intend this to be a scolding, though it admittedly sounds like just that. I am just stating what my parental priorities were/are, and how I fail to understand the current culture which encourages, not just a love of the games, but an obsession which diminishes other aspects of youth development.
I find it hard to understand fostering “sweat equity” and “grinding” in 4-to-10 year-old children, who should be playing just for the joy of it. While the author says he wants that too, the rest of the article indicates otherwise.
…. When I write that current youth sports has veered from interest to obsession, I point to the money and time involved in providing this opportunity. Parents are free to raise their children in whatever manner works for them (all), but I have to wonder where the rest of their lives are.
I understand that the story was about youth sports, so of course that was the focus, but I did find it significant that there was no mention of how sports fit into the overall development of the child. Where was school? Where was reading? Where were other activities? Where were the thousand things kids explore while developing interests? The story indicated to me that sports were not a part of the kid’s life, they were his/her life. Period. And due to the hours and financial outlay, they were a huge part of Mom and/or Dad’s life, too.
… People have the right to spend their money where they wish, and raise their children as they wish, but I would deeply wish that they maintain some sense of balance and priorities with all the things that contribute to the development of a well-rounded person who learns the gamut of positive lessons provided by sports, and applies them to every aspect of their lives.
My take: Dion’s email was indeed a bit of a scolding, but let’s face it, he’s right. The youth sports industrial complex has become a way of life for many American families; it shapes their collective identities, for both parents and kids, and it dominates their schedule. That doesn’t mean these sports-obsessed families still don’t value school, reading, and other interests important to youth development. Certainly, in my household, if my kids aren’t doing well in school and applying themselves to their full capabilities there, sports are off the table. I think that is also the case for the families of my kids’ teammates. But the fact remains that many families see sports as a central pillar of an American upbringing, on par with school and, in some ways, surpassing it. You can make the argument so much good comes from that focus. But it’s also a mindset that can easily lead to misplaced priorities.
‘Don’t be left behind’ is an audible chant
Email from anonymous in Littleton who did not want name used for fear of blowback from clubs
My husband and I have three kids. All elite level (just ask our clubs, they’ll tell you that). My oldest is indeed pitching in college, except for the Tommy John surgery he just had for overuse of his arm, dating back to his reign that began at the age of 8. Don’t get me wrong, he deeply loves baseball, and we are the most loyal, avid involved fans and parents as you will find. But, I can’t help but think he wouldn’t have needed this major surgery if we pulled back on what we put these young athletes through. My middle child, a daughter, plays softball and basketball. Probably the most gifted naturally of our three kids, but she is the closest to full-on burnout. Our youngest (15) has us reanalyzing this whole landscape, much like your featured parent of the wrestling article. But, are we doing anything differently with No. 3? Yes, I guess in some respects. We learned the importance of advocacy to preserve his arm (to honor pitch counts regardless of coaches’ thoughts about innings being all that matters). But, we still shell out the ridiculous money, and turn our lives over to the 13 months a year that these sports require. I know we will miss it, but I actually have started to wonder what other great things our kids might have been exposed to, might have learned about themselves, if they were given a second to breathe. If they were not made to feel (outright told if I’m honest) that they would never touch the field/court in high school — never play in college — if they didn’t keep up and join all the club teams. “Don’t be left behind” is an audible chant, not just a subliminal message.
My take: This reader reaction hit me the hardest. “Don’t be left behind” is indeed the youth sports industrial complex’s driving emotional appeal. Those families with multiple children who play sports in this pay-to-play era often evolve in their approach to it, as this reader did and as the wrestling dad she referenced in Part I of my series also did. As that wrestling dad Joe Amorosa noted, “You get to the point where you just keep revving the RPMs, because itap never enough.” It’s pretty scary how easy and quickly you can get there.
Mixed feelings over pay to play
Email from Denver resident Ramsay Huntley
Thanks Kyle for this series. Really appreciate you writing about this and as the parent of a kid who didn’t make his high school team this time around, it definitely leaves us to wonder if playing in club could have helped push him over the line. Mixed feelings for sure.
My take: Glad I’m not the only one with mixed feelings about this around here. The cognitive dissonance comes from parents’ innate desire to want the best for their child and to provide the best possible opportunity for their kid to succeed in their sport, juxtaposed against an overpriced pay to play system where it can be extremely hard to understand value in real time.
Money doesn’t guarantee a roster spot
Email from Denver resident Edward Frank Kelly
What’s sad about this whole situation is parents spending money for their child who will never make the varsity at their high school.
My take: Here, Edward brings us the mic drop. Just look at how many travel teams there are in your town, and then count how many varsity starting spots there are at your local high school — one quarterback, five in basketball, nine in baseball, etc. Forget about a return on investment via a college scholarship — many parents are spending thousands annually and their kid won’t even be an impact player in high school. In my opinion, this is why a family’s motivation for participating in pay to play cannot be solely based in achievement on the field. Developing character and discipline, family time on trips and at tournaments, and learning how to be a part of a team must be important intangibles for opening the wallet, too. Those are the things that will stick for life, which is what youth sports should still be all about.
