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What really matters in youth sports?

In today’s age of travel ball and select teams that include players as young as four years old, I’m starting to wonder that question.

I have no idea why, but it seems that youth sports are facing a great divide – those who would like to play for fun and those who are super competitive and aiming to develop skills for the next level. Unfortunately, I fear this dynamic is leaving out the kids who play for fun and we’ve seen it with declining participation numbers across the board.

I’ve heard plenty of local natives tell me how Austin used to have hundreds of youth baseball players, an overwhelming amount of football players, and most every kid wanted to play one sport or another.

Just recently, I ran into an elderly gentleman who was from that era; he told me his best sports memory was playing a youth championship game in Marcusen Park. He couldn’t even remember if his team won or lost, but he remembered how much it meant to him as a kid to play in the same field that many great players had set foot on. He also told me how kids in Austin used to play football in the streets well after sunset or until the cops told them to go home.

Then the man mentioned another problem with youth sports – phones. He joked that kids today can’t play street football because it’s hard to play with a phone in their hands.

He was spot on. 

Somewhere along the line, the kids who would play sports strictly for fun at a young age have either felt left out, or they’ve launched themselves into the digital world, which they have no desire to escape from. 

The unfortunate result is they’re missing out on a tremendous opportunity to play a fun game and make friends, while also building up work ethic and gaining a sense of accountability.

I’ve always felt that young kids should enjoy playing the sport they love in an unstructured environment, where they have to learn to play by the rules and get along without adult interference. Picture the movie “The Sandlot” for what I’m thinking of. If you haven’t seen it, I highly suggest you watch it, especially if you have kids who are interested in sports.

While those types of backyard games have nearly disappeared, it wouldn’t hurt for parents and coaches to let go a little bit and tell their kids or players to get out and play on their own every once in a while.

Summer is right around the corner, and there is no time like the present to start a new trend, even if it’s just an old trend reborn.