SPORTS: COMMITMENT TO ONE?

Sports for kids are so different now than they were when I was growing up.

I remember that when I was in fourth grade, I started playing softball.  My dad coached and I loved it.  We had practices and/or games one or two afternoons/evenings per week.  We didn't play on the weekends if I remember correctly.  The games were played at the local elementary school (the one I attended) against other teams with kids from the same school.  It was a fun experience and the teams were made up of 4th, 5th, and 6th graders.  In junior high school, there was a similar team structure.  Once I got to high school, I tried out for the softball team, made the team, and had a great time.  I certainly was not a superstar, but it was fun and we were well-coached.  We traveled by school bus to other towns to play, and my parents came to the home games.

Fast forward several years (we won't say exactly how many!).  My daughter is 9-years-old and plays softball in our town.  Wow!  How things have changed.  The primary league here starts in kindergarten (the U6 league).  We weren't even aware of it then, so she didn't play that year.  She did play in first and second grades.

As a third-grader, this is her last year on the U8 team.  Things have really progressed time-wise this year.  She has softball 3 times per week.  She has a practice for an hour a week, a skills clinic for 1.5 hours a week, and a game on Sunday afternoons for 2 hours (and for which she is supposed to come a half hour early for practice).  Did I mention that she is 9?

If she is interested in pitching, she can stay an extra 30 minutes after the skills clinic and come to a pitching clinic on Friday nights.  Luckily, she is not interested in pitching.  Whew!

Initially, I was so excited that she wanted to play softball---it is often fun to see your child participate in something you once did.   She has really enjoyed it, too, so it has been a very positive experience for her.  Unfortunately, that might actually be the problem.

She likes to play and have fun, but I am not sure she wants to commit to softball as "her thing."  From what I hear, if she wants to ever play softball in high school, she really has to start committing to softball.  That means playing the next two springs in the U10 league, which has pretty competitive rules and travels around to other towns.  She would also have to play in the summer league, which involves 3 nights per week, with travel to towns in two different counties.

At some point, but no later than middle school (6th grade), she would have to join the Softball Academy which is in the neighboring city.  She would play year-round and commit to playing many times per week, with games throughout the weekend.

So, while I love watching her play softball this year, I ask myself---what happened to sports that kids could play for fun, while learning the game, and also be able to have time for other sports, free play, and family?  My daughter might play softball the next two years and have fun, but I can't imagine she will choose it, play year-round, play on multiple teams at the same time, etc.

What happens when she gets to high school?  Will all the sports be played by kids who have been focusing year-round on a sport for the past 3-5 years?  How can this be good for our kids, let alone for our families?

For now, I guess I will just focus on this season.  She is having fun, she is 9 years old, and she still has some free time.  Who knows what the future will bring.