Summer sports: Are high school athletes too busy?
July 28, 2008 @ 9:41 a.m. by Joannaby joanna
I was wondering what to put on the blog today, and my husband came up with this idea (I’m off today because I’m covering the Shrine Bowl Saturday night in Emporia).
This is just a question, not a knock on anyone who makes decisions either way. After my husband brought it up, I started to think about someone like Garrett Gould. Here’s a kid who has been pretty much going nonstop all summer long. He’s been all across the country.
He’s been playing baseball since March. He’s working out. Now I know the kid is having a blast. It has got to be so exciting to be a part of all these camps and tournaments and to see your stock rising. Perry Ellis is another kid that’s been so busy, going here and there to invited camps. Bryce Brown went on a university tour, went to the Football University and is working out.
Then there are the average kids — I mean, the kids without the big-time name recognition — and if they’re in basketball, they’re probably playing MAYB and/or AAU, they’re probably working out with their coaches and they’re probably lifting, etc. Plus working jobs. Volleyball players are doing the same things — many have played club ball since winter time and are working out with their high school coaches and their club coaches.
Plus, I’m sure there is at least one family vacation, a weekend or whatever, a job. Isn’t that an awful lot? Are they at the pool chillin’? Are they sleeping in? Are they going to the drive-in?
I don’t know. As a parent I definitely like to keep my kids busy. I want them involved in sports or another extracurricular, I want them working when they are old enough and I want them to just be a kid. Is there a line here?
When I was growing up — I wasn’t a full-time athlete, merely a season-only athlete — but my parents had the rule that we had to take about two weeks in the summer and go on vacation as a family. It hurt my brother the most because he was a pretty good baseball player. There’s times now when he says he regrets that he didn’t have the chance to play as much as other kids.
So what are your thoughts? Are high school athletes too busy? Is there a line? Do parents have to be careful? Is this a good thing? Is this a bad thing?
July 25th, 2008 at 10:57 am
I think it comes down to if the kids want to be that busy. If they have a passion for the sport, then more than likely it is just a way of life — that they want.
My son (one of those kids without the big name recognition) does the school football conditioning, works out with a trainer four afternoons a week and does 7 on 7 one night a week, he loves the game, has the passion and wants to be the best he can be, so he works really hard at it and wouldn’t have any other way. He also finds time for his family, girlfriend and hanging out with his buddies.
As a mom, I do worry about him doing too much, but I also know it is what he wants. I think it becomes a problem if a parent is pushing a kid to do something he/she doesn’t want to do.
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July 25th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Joanna…
Great topic! Love this one and I certainly have an opinion about this and my view might even bring up another blog topic of should athletes be specializing in sports at all? I mean lets get real with the percentage of athletes who really get a scholarship in college for their respective sport. Do they have to give up their childhood (teenhood) to get it? I may be wrong but it almost seems like coaches act like they are “only children”….I mean they act like their sport is the only sport the kid should focus on. Back when my daughter played sports(she was a 3 sport athlete) but she had friends that signed a contract with their club coach that said they would not play sports for their school???? Now what is that all about? Then you have the football coach arguing in the summertime with baseball coaches on when their season actually starts? Some weightlifting coaches even punish baseball kids for missing their strength and conditioning in June/July? Hello its baseball season. I have a 15 year old son…..who just got done with baseball July 24th, basketball camp started this week for his school and his football coach has DEMANDED 80% attendance to weightlifting all summer that is at 6am. Is my son too busy? Yes he is. My 18 year old can barely work a job because he has to take off all the time for baseball tournaments….and all this for what?
My advice to kids is BE A KID as long as possible…college sports is a business….Not as fun….Have fun in high school years.
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July 25th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
I think it comes down to your child. WHat they have a passion for or enjoy. I have a child who just wants to do everything, but hates it when the pressure is put on to focus on one thing. Hates it so much, that they will quit that sport/activity that is forcing the issue rather than cave to their demands. (so far they have all backed off and it has not affected playing time or position)
I think it is good that kids are busy, but they need to have a say in what that is and they also need down time. I would also rather they go to conditioning, camps, tournaments ect, then play video games and watch tv all day.
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July 25th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
If there is a passion by the kid and they have a shot at a college scholarship, then they’re probably ok keeping up these demanding schedules. I agree with above that kids need time to be kids — they will only be that way for a short time in their lives. I think every kid deserves the opportunity to look back fondly on their childhood and teen years with great memories, and not with regrets that they never had any chance to have fun and build friendships. When we consider how few kids will get a sports scholarship, and even fewer will ever play a sport professionally, it reinforces the idea that sports should be about the experiences and the memories — the good times.
This becomes even more sad if it is parents driving their kids to keep up these schedules, and not at the kid’s desire. Peer pressure plays a part too. When kids participate in tournaments, camps, etc. not because they truly want to but because they fear disappointing someone else — that’s sad.
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July 25th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Right on Shocker……I agree totally!!!! I don’t really think teens generally know whats best for them either and they do have a hard time disappointing coaches and saying I don’t have time to do this for you…..thus the parents have to be smart enough to step and do whats best for the kid.
You would think these parents that are keeping their kids so busy would be going broke soon traveling and paying tournament fees, etc.
Kids…I hope you are reading….please choose wisely what you focus on…and have a ball doing it!!!!
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July 25th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
lovebball dont play ! I with yall on that “if” its the parent thats a problem but thats where we part company. if you dont want to to what it takes the time “dont” is my answer. A kid can do 3 sports of focus on one at a high level its going to take a ton of time no doubt. personaly i think playing more than 2 is insane and id only suggest focusing on 1 9th grade and up “IF” the kid has real “talent” and “desire” to be high level player if not, i would recomend playing 2 to most kids.
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July 25th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
oh and good thing im not running the football program i would “demand” 90% attendence.
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July 25th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
OH and the “baseball” season in school is march/april/and may/ which is why football “waits” till June .
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July 25th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
I wish schools would drop baseball and softball and let the real coaches have the kids all year long.
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July 25th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
my kids are always busy in 1 sport or another and though they enjoy it and it is what they want to do i sometimes wonder if i will regret it later in lifen when they are grown and gone.any vacation we take always includes someones camp or competition of some kind and our whole vacation is planned around it.
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July 25th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
I would want the vast majority of my skill position players on offense, and my linebackers and secondary playing basketball if at all possible. Anymore, football is becoming “basketball on grass” with all of the spread offenses being run, and good high school basketball programs play tough man to man, and I can’t think of a better prep for pass coverage than man to man basketball D.
Wrestling is cool too for me, as long as my football players don’t have to cut weight whatsoever.
I like baseball, but it’s horrible for football development, and track is fine with me as well.
One thing that all of these “1 sporters” don’t understand is that competition is competition, and to me, competition in any sport is great for the preperation for developing WINNERS.
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July 25th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
As long as a kids heart is into what they are doing strive to be the best. Their are enough recreational leagues around for those who aren’t as competitive.
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July 25th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
TFL, love the analogy. I even read it out loud to my husband.
I’m a huge proponent of three-sport athletes, or at least two-sport athletes. I don’t know what all coaches think about this — might be an interesting survey, ya think? — but there are coaches who I know that push their kids to play multiple sports.
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July 26th, 2008 at 12:57 am
TFL all valid points but i just dont agree i believe that 1st month after football (for the year round football player ) the body needs rest and recovery . IM not against basketball but the wear and tear on a kids legs for a kid thats been workin hard running etc since March can be a problem. To each his own if a kid has the passion to play basketball then go for it . My other comment would be if its so good then why dont college football coachs have all there kids playing basketball ? The Mental part is the hardest part of training for one sport all year round so like i have said before its not for everyone and theres always a game of basketball at the Y if you want to play on your own sechedule.
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July 26th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Intereseting subject.I don’t think there is a Right or Wrong answer. My son was 3 sport athlete til his Jr. year when he choose to narrow it to the sport he is being recruited to play in college.He works a 32 hr. job,attends weight training 4 times a week with team, 2 extra days with speed trainer,attends several Camps,Combines and Events ,spends most evenings with friends,we have had 2 family vacations.All with a sister that plays Softball and sister who Cheers and mom expects them to support eachother and he still finds a way to sleep til 10 .What a life,lol.They will only be young once ,so they need to enjoy it all .Someday they will be adults and really be busy. As long as it is what the kid enjoys, wants and parents make sure it is still fun it is actually a good thing. Kids missing one sport for another is a whole different Blog…Titled
“What drives coaches crazy”
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July 26th, 2008 at 10:16 am
what ever happened to kids just being kids, it sems as though a lot of parents live through thier kids for whatever reasons. You never see just playing pickup games in the parks or just going fishing, im hearing of all theses kids getting injured at theses camps and missing the season, and you have kids playing aau ball whose grades are horrible.
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July 26th, 2008 at 11:36 am
I seen alot of kids getting hurt playing pickup basketball alot,nothing wrong with fishing if that what kids like to do but these kids like what they do for most I see.I agree with you that if it’s not what kids like they shouldn’t be pushed.Also as for the grades I also agree with you,if kid has bad grades they should be spending extra time on getting grades up.As a parent thats something we need to control.
More then being scouted for Football ,I am more Proud that my son is being recruited by Princeton,Penn and Yale.Sure they are recruiting him for Football but without top grades Ivy League schools wouldn’t recruit.As for living through kids, I think some are just making sure kids don’t make mistakes we did.I don’t call that living through kids, I call it being a parent.
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July 26th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Chuck, love the idea. I have to remember that.
I remember being so busy in college, working multiple jobs, studying, having a social life. It was great. But I was so glad to get out of college and just have one job and one thing to worry about. Of course, then I got married and had kids.
As long as the kids are doing it because they want to and still having some down time, I don’t see much wrong with it.
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July 26th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Joanna your right,with your little one just starting.But I’m sure you can get people here to give advice,,HAHA.
I remember something my dad told me several years ago and I tell kids all the time,these sports are supposed to be fun.If your not having fun you shouldn’t be playing.
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July 26th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
I agree, if a kid wants it then that is what he should do. We have spent alot of time and money traveling to all these summer basketball tournaments. Just got done in Vegas. But if you wanna play really tough comp. (at least in basketball) then you have to leave Kansas to do it. I don’t think it helps my son very much (if at all) for his team to play in tournaments around the area and win games by from 30-70 pts IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES at some of these MAYB tournaments. My son carries a 4.0 grade average so far (knock on wood) so he does his school work. I realize it will be different starting high school this year. He himself has pretty much decided he is not going to play high school football after having played it since 2nd grade. I really wanted him to actually but he just wants to concentrate on basketball so I let him make up his mind on his own.
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July 26th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
As far as going from football into basketball, the rest time between the two can vary widely simply based on whether a team advances into the playoffs.
An understanding basketball coach would make some adjustments and not every football player who plays basketball necessarily played a lot during the season.
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July 27th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
i agree that if a kid wants to play sports year around then we should let them. the only problem i have with that is how to know if thats what they really want to do or if they say that because they think that is what we want to hear.i have some awesome memories of my boys and there sports and i would not trade it for anything,i just hope they feel the same.
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July 28th, 2008 at 9:14 am
So if FBfan thinks football season starts in June…..how do baseball players get baseball scholarships if they have to switch to football in June?
I’m going to start another debate here…..but what if I said….3 sport athletes are a must in 4A and smaller schools. You can do all the specializing you want in 5A/6A schools because there is so much competition, but in 4A and smaller…we need the 6′5 200 lb kid doing 3 sports. Or we need the Ethan Ungles types….who play football, basketball and track. I would venture to say…a kid like that would say he has better memories of high school than a kid that focused on one sport for 4 years and didn’t get a scholarship in his respective sport anyway. You all know the chances of scholarships is like 1% right?
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July 28th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Who is switching football to June ,Weights and conditioning is in June now so you lost me on that. 1% of what By 9th/10grade you can have a good idea if a kid has the talent to earn a scholarship .I can go around Wichita today and pick kids that have a 60/70/80 % chance of earning one. “Memories” are only made in High School by playing “sports” ? I just dont get that way of thinking. Im curious who is “WE” when you say we need a kid to play 3 sports, the decission should be up to the kid and his family.
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July 28th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
in reply to loveballs- if there is only a 1% chance of a kid getting a scholarship then i guess wichita kansas and surrounding area is ahead of the rest of the country and i seriously doubt that.kids are individuals and they should do what makes them happy and not there parents or coaches.
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July 29th, 2008 at 10:29 am
We have 4 kids who play multiple sports. The oldest just graduated from high school and played 3 sports until her sophmore year when she decided to do only 2 sports. She got scholarship offers in both sports and will attending college on a softball scholarship. That being said… all the traveling and tournaments were because it was what she wanted to do. She has been very busy since she was in elementary school with sports, but still found time to work a job and hang out with friends. She did miss a lot of fun times on the weekends with her friends because she choose to play tournaments. Our oldest son is going to be in 8th grade and plays football, basketball and baseball. He typically has at least a game or practice every day in addition to football conditioning… and plays in tournaments most every weekend. Once again - he has the passion to do this and is very driven to improve himself. Thank goodness our two youngest are too young to be playing at a very competitive level, but I am sure it will be coming in the next year or two.
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July 30th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
The busier the kid, the less he gets in trouble. Argument has ended.
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August 4th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
I’m with Cueballks, keeping them busy sure doesnt hurt anything. What in the world else are they going to be doing? just hanging out, watching tv, playing video games? There is no way anyone can make a decent argument that it is BAD for them to play sports. If they just don’t like the sport that is different. But I don’t know ANY 14 year old kids that are playing because they don’t like to.
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