- November 1, 2024
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It’s no secret among my friends and family that I’m…let’s say frugal. But, when there’s a need to invest, I try to lay aside my “cheap instincts” for the greater deal.
The more I think about travel sports, the more I have to fight away those instincts and try to see the big picture. Some of the benefits of playing travel sports are obvious: travel, more exposure, more game experience, maintaining game shape and ultimately reaching the next levels.
Very few — if any — professional athletes complain that they practiced or played too much of their sport before becoming a pro. Getting in those extra practice reps and/or games often separate great athletes from the rest.
When I talk to student-athletes, I often give out statistics of the number of peers playing their sport versus the number of professional spots. Then I ask what they are willing to do to get a spot. A realistic answer should include more practice time than what is given by the coach.
As athletes better-develop their craft while traveling from city to city to play, they will become known, and coaches and onlookers at the games will begin to talk about them. These days, a good high school athlete is well-known before he participates in any school sport because everyone knows him through AAU and other travel leagues.
For some athletes, sports allow them to travel and see the rest of their state, country and even the world. As they partake in cultures other than where they grew up, student-athletes tend to gain a better understanding and appreciation of other people.
But, while I agree with the many benefits, I also understand that travel sports can be costly.
I recent spoke with a single-parent mom who drives her daughter around to play travel basketball.
Before our talk, I pictured travel ball as simple as a team journeying from city to city, playing myriads of games and then returning home.
This parent expressed to me how much time she took off from work to get her daughter to the games. She also mentioned hotel fees, food, uniform and tournament costs. Upon hearing all of that, I was taken aback.
Travel ball doesn’t come cheap. So, before I would buy into it, I would have to know there’s a commitment from my children to want to be great at their sport. Travel ball is not for those “trying out” a sport; It’s for those who trying to be great at a sport.
