Recreational fun vs. Competitive reality

Bouncing, kicking, hitting, shooting or catching a ball. Fun and games. Not only will you get great exercise, but you'll learn life values in playing these games that will be a tremendous help later in life. Winning, losing, failure and success learning how to deal with it all. Pushing yourself past your own expectations. Working with others to achieve success. All important life lessons. Playing sports brings it all out. Regardless of how talented you are, or if you win or lose. Participating is important. Let everyone play. Have fun...

The fact is that high school athletics and the Club/AAU circuit is leaning more and more toward the competitive reality of sports. The financial savings that come from a college athletic scholarship saves families thousands of dollars. This makes the motives of those involved (the student athlete) come to a higher level of stress and seriousness in that sport. Regardless of this being right or wrong, this is the reality of today's society. Many parents are very involved with their child's high school athletic programs, wanting / demanding good coaching, lots of attention and playing time for their child, and a winning program.

High schools are having a hard time justifying spending the dollars to have a good program. The cost of hiring full time coaches, and to travel to competitive locations for games, is prohibitive. Yet schools understand the advantages that comes with being recognize for having winning athletic programs. Then you get that parent that feel their child should play because, well they are on the team, and I spend a lot of time in the booster club, and I'm on the PTA, and well that's only fair. That's how it was years ago when I played, and that's how it is in the recreation league. So let my child play.

I think this is why Club/AAU teams are becoming more and more prevalent. Parents desire more opportunity for their kids and these Club/AAU teams aren't bound by some of the rules that high school teams are. Traveling to play in locations where the athletes can get exposure is important. Be careful when looking at these Club/AAU teams. Money is a motive of many of the programs, providing big promises just to get you child on the team. Yes it does cost to run these programs, and yes it's only fair that the people running them earn some income. But be sure you know what your getting for your dollar. Shop around. There are small organizations and big organizations and there are positives and negatives to both.

Bottom line. Know your kid. Know what's motivating them. Know what they really want. Try to take an honest evaluation of your child's talent. Are they playing to have fun, and socialize? The more you get into the higher level of playing a game. The more competitive it becomes and the more reality you'll face. Be sure you and your child are ready for the good and the bad. Athletes, play your heart out at your high school, and join a good Club/AAU team, only if you're taking sports seriously.

I wish everyone a very successful season this year. I hope you reach all your dreams and goals.