When kids show potential and an interest in playing sports at a highly competitive level, parents should understand both the opportunities as well as the sacrifices involved with participating in youth travel teams.
Youth Sports Travel Teams Explained
A travel team is comprised of young athletes who show significant potential and dedication to a sport. As the name implies, they regularly compete at out-of-town locations. But, there is more to it than simply the distance traveled. These young athletes are considered to be on an elite level for their age group and acceptance on a team is by invitation only after try outs. Teams are run by private, for-profit organizations. Professional coaches determine player acceptance, placement and play time. Everyone on the team is expected to have a high level of commitment for improving their technical skills, game knowledge, and sportsmanship. And when it’s time to compete, players often travel long distances to participate in games, tournaments and showcase events. Accordingly, parents must be prepared for the considerable time and financial commitment required to support their child.
To help further clarify youth travel teams, consider the contrast to local recreational sports. Rec leagues are open to all kids in an age group regardless of experience or skill level and players join a team upon registration without try outs. Typically, everyone on the team will be given an opportunity to participate in all practices and all games, which are held at local courts or fields.
Youth travel teams operate at a higher level. With professional coaching, demanding practices, and frequent opportunities for competitive games, participation on a travel team can help kids earn a leadership role on their high school team and get recruited for college.
November 12, 2022
Updated by Motherly Life
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ADVANTAGES and DISADVANTAGES of YOUTH TRAVEL TEAMS
Advantages
Higher level of competition compared with local recreation leagues
Professional coaching and dedicated teammates
Exposure to college scouts
Development of commitment, dedication and determination
Kids gain intelligence about competing at a higher level in the sport, opening up opportunities for a leadership position on school teams
Team camaraderie can offer strong peer support and lead to life long friendships
Travel experience fosters emotional and social development, independence, and decision-making
Disadvantages
Considerable financial costs for registration fees, travel, camps, private lessons, practice gear and uniforms, shoes, and equipment
Separation from neighborhood friends and immediate family members who do not travel
Physical and psychological strain on kids can lead to burn out
Limits exposure to and involvement in other sports and activities
Intimidating, competitive environment for young kids, especially those who travel in car pools without their own parents or family
Participation in a travel team does not guarantee college opportunities or success as a professional athlete
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Quick summaries of hand picked articles help parents stay informed and find the right information to raise happy, successful kids.
National Youth Hockey Team Rankings
Motherly Life Notes
Source
Does a Focus on Team Rankings Diminish Player Development
This article showcases MYHockey Rankings, which tracks and publishes youth hockey statistics. The site contains information on 24,000 teams and ranks approximately 18,000 teams. Data is received from coaches and parents and the rankings are based on an algorithm developed by the site’s founder.
MYHockey Rankings publishes weekly win-loss records, schedules, and other stats viewed primarily by coaches, players and parents. Coaches use the rankings as a way to identify other peer level teams for competition.
Contrarians of the rankings hold an opinion that youth rankings shift the goal to improving stats rather than focus on player development. One example highlights organizations that recruit elite players who live a great distance away. With a roster full of advanced players the team must travel countless miles to find other teams at the same competitive level.
How Does Your 9-Year-Old’s Hockey Team Rank Nationally?
RESOURCES
Selected Sites for Team Rankings by Sport
Baseball
Basketball
Hockey
Project Play
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Source
Building Healthy Communities Through Sport
Project Play is the signature initiative of the Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society Program. The primary focus is to develop, apply and share knowledge that builds healthy communities through sports. The organization has one clear goal: sport for all, play for life.
The program inspires governments and organizations to take action to get kids into games and sports. Project Play offers resources for schools to improve the health and education of students.