How Much is Too Much (Time, Effort, and Money) in Youth Sports?
Ask any parent what they are doing this weekend and a majority will say that they are taking their child to soccer, basketball, football, or whatever sport is in season.
Youth sports have become a major part of many children’s lives and it’s easy to see why. Sports offer numerous benefits, such as teamwork, discipline, and physical fitness. It keeps kids active and off their phones, and video games, and gets kids the fresh air that we know is important.
But it’s important to also understand that there is a fine line between commitment to a team and too much of a good thing.
Commitment Shouldn’t Come at the Cost of Your Mental Health
It’s not uncommon for parents to spend thousands of dollars and dozens of hours traveling to games, paying for programs, participating in sports summer camps, clinics, and extra coaching.
Often this starts in grade school and continues into high school when things become even more intense for students, parents, and coaches.
Mental fitness coach Linda Martindale works with many young athletes and emphasizes the importance of striking a balance between commitment and overexertion to ensure that children reap the rewards of sports without succumbing to stress and burnout.
She explains that while we want to teach our children the value of commitment in sports, it’s equally important to ensure it doesn’t overwhelm young athletes or create unnecessary stress.
Children involved in multiple sports often face demanding schedules that include practices and games. This level of commitment can be overwhelming, especially when combined with schoolwork and other activities.
Martindale points out, “While dedication to a sports team is important, it’s crucial for both children and parents to recognize when the commitment is becoming excessive. Burnout not only affects physical health but can also have a significant impact on mental well-being.
Finding the Right Balance Between School, Sports, and Expectations
Martindale is on a mission to help parents and kids understand how they can best deal with the pressures and often disappointments students feel when they participate in sports. Each season, Martindale cuts approximately 45 kids in her high school basketball program because, simply, they are not good enough players.
She feels strongly that open communication between the coach and the student is the key to helping understand why the student was cut and that while it’s understandable and expected to feel disappointed, that they should not take it personally.
As a mom of four student-athletes, she knows the pressures of school sports from the POV of the kid, parent, and coach. One of the lessons Martindale shares is that “The most important thing you can teach your young athlete is how to coach their inner coach!”
Regular Check-ins With Kids Help to Prevent Issues Later
It is also important to ask questions and understand the commitment required prior to having your child sign up for multiple sports teams; even if “all of the other kids are doing it.”
Kirsten Jones, author of Raising Empowered Athletes, says that it’s important to ask your kids if they want to play multiple sports and how they feel about their schedule; each child is different, and constant communication is important.
Set Boundaries & Limits
Setting boundaries and establishing clear limits on the number of hours of sports-related activities is a great way to allow your children to develop in a healthy way.
Check-in Periodically
Periodically review your child’s schedule and assess their stress levels. If they seem overwhelmed, consider reducing their sports commitments or incorporating more downtime.
Martindale suggests, “Regular check-ins provide an opportunity to gauge how your child is handling their schedule and make adjustments as needed to prevent burnout.”
Focusing on the Present
She goes on to explain that “at the same time we need to teach kids to focus and be present in their existing activities so they can ‘perform well’ otherwise they will be surpassed by more talented and/or better kids.”
As a mother of four athletes, Martindale understands the importance of a time management system and encourages parents to create a large wall calendar that kids can easily understand.
Managing Time Effectively
She recommends teaching children how to manage their time effectively to help teach responsibility and also how to balance all of their commitments.
Preventing Burnout Ensures a Positive Experience
Striking the right balance between sports commitments and other activities is essential for preventing burnout and ensuring a positive experience for children.
Martindale urges teaching children to manage their commitments responsibly while maintaining a variety of interests, so families can support their overall well-being and foster a love for sports that lasts a lifetime.
That is because, ultimately, guiding children to enjoy their sports involvement without overdoing it will help them thrive both on and off the field, leading to a healthier, more fulfilling childhood.
Putting Money Into the Equation: is it Worth it?
Despite how your child feels about the sport ( a hobby or a passion ), expenses are attached to it. It’s often difficult to understand as a parent when it’s worth it.
How much of the commitment is too committed? If your child wants to stop, should they stop? Is the Money you are spending on this sport worth it?
It’s essential to know your child’s takeaway from this investment. Do they want to pursue it as a career or a hobby? For a career choice, it’s important to maintain performance consistency while ensuring your child isn’t feeling burnt out.
It’s a game of multiple ups and downs. And there might be days of failure, but it’s far from over. For a career path in sports, expenses are inevitable. But it always helps to keep your expectations realistic.
Facing a Hard Truth – Sports Isn’t Always Fair
Martindale notes that honesty is the best policy, including when it comes to sports. She tells parents and even her own children that “It’s a dog-eat-dog world and pretending that isn’t so in sports is not giving kids their best chance in sports or in life.”
Parents and coaches have a responsibility to teach kids to be resilient and to be able to take criticism and coaching with a sense of patience and understanding. Kids need to learn how to lock in and reset after mistakes. “That’s the true recipe for success,” explains Martindale.
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