They're getting big!

[Gabby]

I just got this shot from a soccer friend of mine. It was the "cover shot" for the fall team album.

Can you believe that this is the same Tommy that was a pre-schooler when we started our journey together at SA?

[pocket]

Oh wow! Tommy's growing up! When you don't see pictures that often you really note the changes. A parent sees the kids every day so change is gradual.

[Mouse9]

That's a great shot! How did they do this year? He is a third grader and that really is at the edge of getting big. At least at school it is quite a big step.

[Gabby]

That's a great shot! How did they do this year? He is a third grader and that really is at the edge of getting big. At least at school it is quite a big step.

Tommy's a fifth grader! :) (Charlie's in third)

Tommy is playing on a brand new travel team. They're experiencing an "expansion" year. They didn't win a game this season (0-15), but could have easily won 5-6 of those games. The good news is that they have a coach/system that really emphasizes skills over record. The boys were sad that they didn't win, but they love playing with one another and truly believe that they're "this close" to winning more often. They are getting better.

The bad part (for me and MrG) is that he's chosen soccer over baseball. He's a very good athelete and could play either one at this level, but he can't do both. It's sad that kids have to choose, but the "year round" philosophy of sports makes it a choice between overscheduling to do both (not to mention the money!) or picking one over the other. I think he'll do rec league baseball in the summer.

[tahitisweetie]

WOW!!! Great shot.

[Virgo6]

What a wonderful shot and such a handsome young man. Two of my children played soccer from the time they were in first grade until jr. high and I remember those cold rainy days sitting on the fields. Sometimes they would even play in the snow. But we have some great memories.

[Mouse9]

Wow. Time surely does fly. I must say it is hard to know how old a boy is in photo with no comparison or person next to him.

(Don't tell Tommy I thought he was younger, please!)

When Tommy gets into middle school and high school he will certainly have a head start having all the skills taught him so completely. (Though I am sure winning at least few games would've been nice.)

Our sports here costs about $65 for each sport you take part in. So, kids can be in golf or track in the fall, wrestling or basketball (but not both) in the winter, golf or baseball in the spring. Some sports overlap but they still have a choice and some kind of sport each season.

[Slitter]

The bad part (for me and MrG) is that he's chosen soccer over baseball. He's a very good athelete and could play either one at this level, but he can't do both. It's sad that kids have to choose, but the "year round" philosophy of sports makes it a choice between overscheduling to do both (not to mention the money!) or picking one over the other. I think he'll do rec league baseball in the summer.

Things must have changed (big surprise). You have to pay extra for your kids to be able to play school sports?

What's the year round philosophy? I've never heard of that either. If I remember right, soccer was a fall sport and baseball was a spring sport. I don't know what the philosophy is but I don't think I like it if it limits the things a kid can do. Was it his school baseball team that got to parade in Tiger stadium or the rec league?

Great pic. Gosh, we all have been friends now for a long time, haven't we?

[Gabby]

It's the world of "travel sports" that's killing children's sports (and yes, I realize how hypocritical it is to participate in it and curse it!)

Tommy plays soccer from August to June. The coaches are paid. The parents pay for everything from uniforms (which cost $325!) to the referee fees. I'm the team treasurer and my annual budget is just under $25,000 and we're a "cheap team!" :eek: Travel baseball is even more. They play from March to November here, with plenty of indoor practice in the winter. Tommy's baseball is "just" little league, so it's much less expensive, but we have to fundraise.

Some school districts charge for pay-to-play. It's about $150 per family per year.

[Fuel]

He is big. Really nice shot, he'll appreciate it when he is older and has his own kids.

Wow, $25000 budget for sports. And that is cheap?

[Gabby]

That's not per kid! :eek:

We have 13 players. Travel Hockey is probably 3 times as much.

[Mouse9]

That does seem like quite a lot of money. I think I like it our way. We do seem to get nickled and dimed a bit, but, not to the cost of $325. (Just snacks, traveling, etc. I really like seeing a great wrestling match. I even watch the olympic wrestling, when it is the right year for it. But, don't mix real wrestling up with the pro wrestling. I've never been to one of their "contests" and don't plan on going...even if a past survivor was going to be there.)

Some kids can also get scholarships from the school if they can't afford to pay the $65. Uniforms, knee pads, headgear, and even shoes can be provided by the coaches, either by others donating stuff their boys outgrew, or the coach having a small fund to help, if needed.

Transportation can be provided by either the team or another parent. Snacks can be brought by each kid, even if it is only peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. One of my sons coach really believed in the power of peanut butter. My son rather have hot (junk) food from the snack bars, but he isn't always allowed that luxury since he chooses to not hand in some of his school work making his grades, always, borderline. (Borderline meaning "Will he get to wrestle? or will he stay home?)

We are pretty sure he will be on the varsity team because no one else is in his weight bracket (112). Since he is now starting his fourth year of wrestling, he thinks he hot stuff. I know he can beat any wrestler that is just starting out, but, will he beat someone who is just small and has as much or more experience? That is the question. He hasn't weight trained as much as his father and I wanted this summer and even this school year to prepare for the season.

There is such a fine line between knowing when to push your kids or not. We had to push our son to learn the ABC's. I am sure he wouldn't know how to read, even now, if his sister didn't show off that she knew them and he didn't. (She is almost a year younger and has always been eager to learn.) She wanted to go out for wrestling, but we said no. Give him an area that he can call his own. He also is very musical, which she isn't. So, he has his areas of expertise and she has hers.

[Slitter]

Good grief! That's a lot of money.

I remember back in the early 80's when schools really had to cut back on all the "extras" and they invented the dread term "core curriculum". I guess this is where that path finally, perhaps inevitably, led.

Of course, we wore uniforms owned by the school. We were responsible for them but we didn't own them and teams of future years wore them as well. That'd be a big savings right there. One fundraiser would suffice for several years. Couldn't they do something like that? It just seems a lot more practical.

[colby42]

Lots in this thread to comment on!!

As a high school coach (I coach football, basketball, and softball) I believe sports are really important for young people and I never want to see cost drive kids away. We have a lot of programs set up to help kids who have trouble affording things and our high school as of yet has not had to charge a user fee. Parents do get nickeled and dimed with fundraisers though. It's not just uniforms, equipment had gotten very expensive. (A softball bat can easily run $300, a football player probably wears close to $400 in equipment.) Plus, as lawsuits become more common it adds to the cost (All football equipment is "Reconditioned" every year to make sure it is still safe--a very expensive process. for example)

As far as sports specialization is concerned I am very against it. We encourage all our athletes to participate in multiple sports. Unless it is the very rare kid who can compete for a scholorship, then encourage them to do all they can in high school. There is also a lot of research that to early specialization is really bad for kids. (Over stressing one area of the body)

Oh well just some thoughts!!

[Gabby]

As far as sports specialization is concerned I am very against it. We encourage all our athletes to participate in multiple sports. Unless it is the very rare kid who can compete for a scholorship, then encourage them to do all they can in high school. There is also a lot of research that to early specialization is really bad for kids. (Over stressing one area of the body)

I agree with you, but the reality is that if you don't specialize, then you won't be able to play on those teams. The coaches insist that you must sign a year-long contract. It's a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation.

Until the state/national youth sports associations demand that seasons be restricted to 4 months per year (or something along that line), kids are being forced to play all year or choose to play rec-level where there's no consistency in coaching/safety/playing level.

:(

[Mouse9]

or choose to play rec-level where there's no consistency in coaching/safety/playing level.

:(

I also agree with this statment. We put our daughter into the "Y" volleyball, hoping it would be a way to improve her skills. It did minimally. Most of the girls, coach included, were only in it for the social aspect. They did teach some skills, but winning wasn't a priority. A couple of the girls really wanted to learn more but it never got to that level. It stayed at the beginner level. The coach was a mother of a couple of girls that went to school with her. So she knew the basics but was only in it to have something for her own daughters to do. (good insurance for your daughters to make a team if you coach one of the teams.)

[mel]

Amazing. Truly. I can't believe how much all of our kids have grown. Rowan is 13 now and is exactly my height.

Crazy... :)