11-11-2026, 09:12 PM
Youth sports are good, actuallyy
11-11-2026, 11:39 PM
i've heard mostly good things about Little League, and good and bad things about travel/club leagues.
Cal delenda est
11-12-2026, 12:48 AM
Participation/socializing, talent development opportunity, and fitness are great. Private equity and other rent-seekers trying to sell a dream to parents make youth sports not great. It's a whole industry once you get into high school sports, travel teams, and college recruiting...
Participation/socializing, talent development opportunity, and fitness are great. Private equity and other rent-seekers trying to sell a dream to parents make youth sports not great. It's a whole industry once you get into high school sports, travel teams, and college recruiting...
11-12-2026, 05:51 AM
(11-12-2026, 12:48 AM)fullmetal Wrote: Participation/socializing, talent development opportunity, and fitness are great. Private equity and other rent-seekers trying to sell a dream to parents make youth sports not great. It's a whole industry once you get into high school sports, travel teams, and college recruiting...
so i've heard.
Cal delenda est
(11-12-2026, 12:48 AM)fullmetal Wrote: Participation/socializing, talent development opportunity, and fitness are great. Private equity and other rent-seekers trying to sell a dream to parents make youth sports not great. It's a whole industry once you get into high school sports, travel teams, and college recruiting...
so i've heard.
Cal delenda est
11-12-2026, 07:08 AM
It got two of my kids into Princeton (good).
There were quite a few deluded parents who thought their kids would get recruited and did not (bad).
Years ago, I described the process to my dad, who thought it was a gigantic waste of time and proved it by playing golf both days every weekend though he had six kids... :D.
There were quite a few deluded parents who thought their kids would get recruited and did not (bad).
Years ago, I described the process to my dad, who thought it was a gigantic waste of time and proved it by playing golf both days every weekend though he had six kids... :D.
Audaces fortuna iuvat
It got two of my kids into Princeton (good).
There were quite a few deluded parents who thought their kids would get recruited and did not (bad).
Years ago, I described the process to my dad, who thought it was a gigantic waste of time and proved it by playing golf both days every weekend though he had six kids... :D.
There were quite a few deluded parents who thought their kids would get recruited and did not (bad).
Years ago, I described the process to my dad, who thought it was a gigantic waste of time and proved it by playing golf both days every weekend though he had six kids... :D.
Audaces fortuna iuvat
11-12-2026, 12:28 PM
It's up to the parents to understand what their kids are getting out of youth sports and to decide what a good ROI will be. This also means parents need to understand clearly whether their kids have a shot at college, national team, etc. regardless of what the coach is telling them. Unfortunately, a lot of parents don't have the background to make those judgments, and profit-focused leagues/coaches will sell them dreams and never be held accountable.
It's up to the parents to understand what their kids are getting out of youth sports and to decide what a good ROI will be. This also means parents need to understand clearly whether their kids have a shot at college, national team, etc. regardless of what the coach is telling them. Unfortunately, a lot of parents don't have the background to make those judgments, and profit-focused leagues/coaches will sell them dreams and never be held accountable.
11-12-2026, 12:36 PM
I coached for 20 years. 6 were HS or HS age. I found parents very realistic.
11-12-2026, 06:07 PM
(11-12-2026, 12:48 AM)fullmetal Wrote: Participation/socializing, talent development opportunity, and fitness are great. Private equity and other rent-seekers trying to sell a dream to parents make youth sports not great. It's a whole industry once you get into high school sports, travel teams, and college recruiting...
Yup, I wish more sports were like AYSO soccer, and fewer were like club/travel, but not having your kid participate just because some of the ideals are corrupted seems like it is cutting one's nose to spite one's face.
BC
(11-12-2026, 12:48 AM)fullmetal Wrote: Participation/socializing, talent development opportunity, and fitness are great. Private equity and other rent-seekers trying to sell a dream to parents make youth sports not great. It's a whole industry once you get into high school sports, travel teams, and college recruiting...
Yup, I wish more sports were like AYSO soccer, and fewer were like club/travel, but not having your kid participate just because some of the ideals are corrupted seems like it is cutting one's nose to spite one's face.
BC
11-12-2026, 07:57 PM
I wonder how much of it is that the system is producing so many talented ex-players (who don't make the cut after college) who can't get an immediate foothold in the high school/college coaching ranks, so big money gets spent creating youth travel leagues centered around the ability of these young coaches. Or old coaches who enjoy the work/life experience, or old coaches who aren't that great and can't get hired anywhere else...
I wonder how much of it is that the system is producing so many talented ex-players (who don't make the cut after college) who can't get an immediate foothold in the high school/college coaching ranks, so big money gets spent creating youth travel leagues centered around the ability of these young coaches. Or old coaches who enjoy the work/life experience, or old coaches who aren't that great and can't get hired anywhere else...
Yesterday, 09:24 AM
To borrow and mangle a quote from Winston C,
maybe youth sports are the worst activities for youth, except for all others, and except for no activities at all.
maybe youth sports are the worst activities for youth, except for all others, and except for no activities at all.
Yesterday, 10:46 AM
(Yesterday, 09:24 AM)SkiBum80 Wrote: To borrow and mangle a quote from Winston C,
maybe youth sports are the worst activities for youth, except for all others, and except for no activities at all.
I've historically thought claims of athletics as builders of character are overblown, so I'm going to say this as delicately as possible. There were four kids on my son's club team who were sprinting in the wrong direction. Within the club, the other eight kids on the team were accomplished, both academically and athletically. The club director paid close personal attention to the four at-risk kids (she had two sons of her own, one of whom played at Stanford), and she told me she'd keep them on the straight and narrow. Between the presence of the eight accomplished kids and the club's directors and coaches, those kids at risk ended up succeeding. They attended high-end universities and today are:
- Wall Street trader
- Chief revenue officer at large tech startup
- Professional volleyball player
- Head of recruiting, public company
Lots of benefits to club sports.
Audaces fortuna iuvat
(Yesterday, 09:24 AM)SkiBum80 Wrote: To borrow and mangle a quote from Winston C,
maybe youth sports are the worst activities for youth, except for all others, and except for no activities at all.
I've historically thought claims of athletics as builders of character are overblown, so I'm going to say this as delicately as possible. There were four kids on my son's club team who were sprinting in the wrong direction. Within the club, the other eight kids on the team were accomplished, both academically and athletically. The club director paid close personal attention to the four at-risk kids (she had two sons of her own, one of whom played at Stanford), and she told me she'd keep them on the straight and narrow. Between the presence of the eight accomplished kids and the club's directors and coaches, those kids at risk ended up succeeding. They attended high-end universities and today are:
- Wall Street trader
- Chief revenue officer at large tech startup
- Professional volleyball player
- Head of recruiting, public company
Lots of benefits to club sports.
Audaces fortuna iuvat
Yesterday, 11:29 AM
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...lub-sports
New South Park last night on club sports. I thought it was pretty good, though the weakest episode of the current season (which has been very good IMHO, a giant contrast to modern era Simpsons which is just dreck).
New South Park last night on club sports. I thought it was pretty good, though the weakest episode of the current season (which has been very good IMHO, a giant contrast to modern era Simpsons which is just dreck).
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...lub-sports
New South Park last night on club sports. I thought it was pretty good, though the weakest episode of the current season (which has been very good IMHO, a giant contrast to modern era Simpsons which is just dreck).
New South Park last night on club sports. I thought it was pretty good, though the weakest episode of the current season (which has been very good IMHO, a giant contrast to modern era Simpsons which is just dreck).
Yesterday, 04:29 PM
(11-12-2026, 12:36 PM)BobK Wrote: I coached for 20 years. 6 were HS or HS age. I found parents very realistic.
Different era. My daughter's swim team had several parents who fully expected their kids to make the Olympic trials someday. And they were six to ten year olds. . . .One is at a D1 school, and not that great of one, the rest aren't swimming any more.
Free Phogge!!!! And no, crimson doesn't refer to the Tide.
(11-12-2026, 12:36 PM)BobK Wrote: I coached for 20 years. 6 were HS or HS age. I found parents very realistic.
Different era. My daughter's swim team had several parents who fully expected their kids to make the Olympic trials someday. And they were six to ten year olds. . . .One is at a D1 school, and not that great of one, the rest aren't swimming any more.
Free Phogge!!!! And no, crimson doesn't refer to the Tide.
Yesterday, 11:36 PM
(Yesterday, 10:46 AM)Mick Wrote:(Yesterday, 09:24 AM)SkiBum80 Wrote: To borrow and mangle a quote from Winston C,
maybe youth sports are the worst activities for youth, except for all others, and except for no activities at all.
I've historically thought claims of athletics as builders of character are overblown, so I'm going to say this as delicately as possible. There were four kids on my son's club team who were sprinting in the wrong direction. Within the club, the other eight kids on the team were accomplished, both academically and athletically. The club director paid close personal attention to the four at-risk kids (she had two sons of her own, one of whom played at Stanford), and she told me she'd keep them on the straight and narrow. Between the presence of the eight accomplished kids and the club's directors and coaches, those kids at risk ended up succeeding. They attended high-end universities and today are:
- Wall Street trader
- Chief revenue officer at large tech startup
- Professional volleyball player
- Head of recruiting, public company
Lots of benefits to club sports.
I fully believe that youth sports can provide structure and that coaches can become role models and parental figures in cases where the kids feel lost at home. But the benefits don't scale, and not every coach has an athlete-first mindset. It would be nice though. Stories like the above give me hope for the future. A coach like that deserves all the flowers in the world.
(Yesterday, 10:46 AM)Mick Wrote:(Yesterday, 09:24 AM)SkiBum80 Wrote: To borrow and mangle a quote from Winston C,
maybe youth sports are the worst activities for youth, except for all others, and except for no activities at all.
I've historically thought claims of athletics as builders of character are overblown, so I'm going to say this as delicately as possible. There were four kids on my son's club team who were sprinting in the wrong direction. Within the club, the other eight kids on the team were accomplished, both academically and athletically. The club director paid close personal attention to the four at-risk kids (she had two sons of her own, one of whom played at Stanford), and she told me she'd keep them on the straight and narrow. Between the presence of the eight accomplished kids and the club's directors and coaches, those kids at risk ended up succeeding. They attended high-end universities and today are:
- Wall Street trader
- Chief revenue officer at large tech startup
- Professional volleyball player
- Head of recruiting, public company
Lots of benefits to club sports.
I fully believe that youth sports can provide structure and that coaches can become role models and parental figures in cases where the kids feel lost at home. But the benefits don't scale, and not every coach has an athlete-first mindset. It would be nice though. Stories like the above give me hope for the future. A coach like that deserves all the flowers in the world.
10 hours ago
(Yesterday, 11:36 PM)fullmetal Wrote:(Yesterday, 10:46 AM)Mick Wrote:(Yesterday, 09:24 AM)SkiBum80 Wrote: To borrow and mangle a quote from Winston C,
maybe youth sports are the worst activities for youth, except for all others, and except for no activities at all.
I've historically thought claims of athletics as builders of character are overblown, so I'm going to say this as delicately as possible. There were four kids on my son's club team who were sprinting in the wrong direction. Within the club, the other eight kids on the team were accomplished, both academically and athletically. The club director paid close personal attention to the four at-risk kids (she had two sons of her own, one of whom played at Stanford), and she told me she'd keep them on the straight and narrow. Between the presence of the eight accomplished kids and the club's directors and coaches, those kids at risk ended up succeeding. They attended high-end universities and today are:
- Wall Street trader
- Chief revenue officer at large tech startup
- Professional volleyball player
- Head of recruiting, public company
Lots of benefits to club sports.
I fully believe that youth sports can provide structure and that coaches can become role models and parental figures in cases where the kids feel lost at home. But the benefits don't scale, and not every coach has an athlete-first mindset. It would be nice though. Stories like the above give me hope for the future. A coach like that deserves all the flowers in the world.
Agree. Sad that some coaches are awful human beings. One coach seemed to pick a kid to mentally beat up, one year it was the best player in school history, she left, playing in Spain her senior year. The next year it was my daughter. She quit the sport, even having D1 opportunities. She hasn't looked back. . . .
Free Phogge!!!! And no, crimson doesn't refer to the Tide.
(Yesterday, 11:36 PM)fullmetal Wrote:(Yesterday, 10:46 AM)Mick Wrote:(Yesterday, 09:24 AM)SkiBum80 Wrote: To borrow and mangle a quote from Winston C,
maybe youth sports are the worst activities for youth, except for all others, and except for no activities at all.
I've historically thought claims of athletics as builders of character are overblown, so I'm going to say this as delicately as possible. There were four kids on my son's club team who were sprinting in the wrong direction. Within the club, the other eight kids on the team were accomplished, both academically and athletically. The club director paid close personal attention to the four at-risk kids (she had two sons of her own, one of whom played at Stanford), and she told me she'd keep them on the straight and narrow. Between the presence of the eight accomplished kids and the club's directors and coaches, those kids at risk ended up succeeding. They attended high-end universities and today are:
- Wall Street trader
- Chief revenue officer at large tech startup
- Professional volleyball player
- Head of recruiting, public company
Lots of benefits to club sports.
I fully believe that youth sports can provide structure and that coaches can become role models and parental figures in cases where the kids feel lost at home. But the benefits don't scale, and not every coach has an athlete-first mindset. It would be nice though. Stories like the above give me hope for the future. A coach like that deserves all the flowers in the world.
Agree. Sad that some coaches are awful human beings. One coach seemed to pick a kid to mentally beat up, one year it was the best player in school history, she left, playing in Spain her senior year. The next year it was my daughter. She quit the sport, even having D1 opportunities. She hasn't looked back. . . .
Free Phogge!!!! And no, crimson doesn't refer to the Tide.
3 hours ago
(10 hours ago)cardcrimson Wrote:(Yesterday, 11:36 PM)fullmetal Wrote:(Yesterday, 10:46 AM)Mick Wrote:(Yesterday, 09:24 AM)SkiBum80 Wrote: To borrow and mangle a quote from Winston C,
maybe youth sports are the worst activities for youth, except for all others, and except for no activities at all.
I've historically thought claims of athletics as builders of character are overblown, so I'm going to say this as delicately as possible. There were four kids on my son's club team who were sprinting in the wrong direction. Within the club, the other eight kids on the team were accomplished, both academically and athletically. The club director paid close personal attention to the four at-risk kids (she had two sons of her own, one of whom played at Stanford), and she told me she'd keep them on the straight and narrow. Between the presence of the eight accomplished kids and the club's directors and coaches, those kids at risk ended up succeeding. They attended high-end universities and today are:
- Wall Street trader
- Chief revenue officer at large tech startup
- Professional volleyball player
- Head of recruiting, public company
Lots of benefits to club sports.
I fully believe that youth sports can provide structure and that coaches can become role models and parental figures in cases where the kids feel lost at home. But the benefits don't scale, and not every coach has an athlete-first mindset. It would be nice though. Stories like the above give me hope for the future. A coach like that deserves all the flowers in the world.
Agree. Sad that some coaches are awful human beings. One coach seemed to pick a kid to mentally beat up, one year it was the best player in school history, she left, playing in Spain her senior year. The next year it was my daughter. She quit the sport, even having D1 opportunities. She hasn't looked back. . . .
I feel for you, I genuinely do. A lot of youth coaches seem to fall into that category. I feel for your daughter, CC.
Audaces fortuna iuvat
(10 hours ago)cardcrimson Wrote:(Yesterday, 11:36 PM)fullmetal Wrote:(Yesterday, 10:46 AM)Mick Wrote:(Yesterday, 09:24 AM)SkiBum80 Wrote: To borrow and mangle a quote from Winston C,
maybe youth sports are the worst activities for youth, except for all others, and except for no activities at all.
I've historically thought claims of athletics as builders of character are overblown, so I'm going to say this as delicately as possible. There were four kids on my son's club team who were sprinting in the wrong direction. Within the club, the other eight kids on the team were accomplished, both academically and athletically. The club director paid close personal attention to the four at-risk kids (she had two sons of her own, one of whom played at Stanford), and she told me she'd keep them on the straight and narrow. Between the presence of the eight accomplished kids and the club's directors and coaches, those kids at risk ended up succeeding. They attended high-end universities and today are:
- Wall Street trader
- Chief revenue officer at large tech startup
- Professional volleyball player
- Head of recruiting, public company
Lots of benefits to club sports.
I fully believe that youth sports can provide structure and that coaches can become role models and parental figures in cases where the kids feel lost at home. But the benefits don't scale, and not every coach has an athlete-first mindset. It would be nice though. Stories like the above give me hope for the future. A coach like that deserves all the flowers in the world.
Agree. Sad that some coaches are awful human beings. One coach seemed to pick a kid to mentally beat up, one year it was the best player in school history, she left, playing in Spain her senior year. The next year it was my daughter. She quit the sport, even having D1 opportunities. She hasn't looked back. . . .
I feel for you, I genuinely do. A lot of youth coaches seem to fall into that category. I feel for your daughter, CC.
Audaces fortuna iuvat
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