I love sports. Particularly soccer. I played recreational soccer from kindergarten through college, even after getting married. Growing up in the Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain Olympic/World Cup-winning, bra-waving era, all I ever wanted to do in my free time was play soccer.
When the kiddos came around, I immediately signed them up for rec soccer. Convinced they would be soccer lovers as well, I bought all the things — shin guards, socks, cleats, balls, a net, you name it. What I quickly learned was that just because YOU like a sport, it doesn’t mean your kids will. At 2 and 4 years old, the games were a comical sight. They kicked the ball just fine, but once the initial excitement wore off, they’d lose interest and sit down or pick flowers in the field.
Fumble
It was at that moment that I realized maybe they weren’t ready for youth sports? Maybe I had pushed my love of the game onto them too soon? We decided to wait a few years to try again when they each showed interest. But then the question became, do we join a recreational or competitive/travel league?
At this Stage of the Game
There are SO many options in Jax for all kinds of youth sports associations: YMCA teams, JFC (and its various levels), i9, Tommy Hulihan, Pop Warner, Boys and Girls Clubs, Soccer Shots, Coastal Kicks, travel baseball (which is a league all its own!)… how in the world do you choose?
After much research on Jacksonville Mom, various team websites, and reaching out to my village, we decided to start them both back in recreational leagues and see how it went. Sports are not inexpensive and the time commitment even for rec is no joke. We wanted to make sure they loved their sports before we invested too much into it this time.
On the Right Track
Fast forward to now, and I’ve determined that the most important part is making sure your child wants to play that sport and assessing the level at which they want to play. My youngest is perfectly happy in her new rec soccer league. She is learning the basics, she gets to play often, and most importantly, she is having a ball.
READ: The Death of Youth Rec Sports
My son decided to try a new sport (football) and began showing a lot of promise in his first few rec seasons. It got to the point where we felt that he had conquered the basics, and he was extremely enthusiastic about the sport. He reads books about it at school, watches old games on TV, and memorizes professional (and college) player stats. If kids are this dedicated to a sport and clearly want to grow within it, a more competitive league option may suit them. We switched him to a competitive team, and he has absolutely thrived. While there is more pressure in this new league, he has extensive training, the program is super organized, and he has coaches who push him and encourage him to be better. Which he loves! He is driven to succeed and do his best, which is mind-blowing at such a young age, but football is his life! …for now. And if that continues, we will continue to pursue the next level of competition.
Tie Breaker
My daughter probably wouldn’t respond the same way if her coaches took that approach. She, like her mama, just likes to go out there and have fun. It’s not serious. No one is getting scholarships in kindergarten. That’s why she does so well in rec sports. If her outlook on it changes and she wants more out of the game, we can bump her up to the next level of competition. But for now, she’s right where she’s supposed to be.
READ: What We Have Learned Playing Competitive Sports
Huddle Up
There are pros and cons to both variations of sports for kids. If they are getting acquainted with a sport for the first time, a recreational team is a great start. In many cases, coaches are volunteers and everyone regardless of skill level will have a chance to play. However, some programs aren’t as structured, and you can tell some kids just don’t want to be there. Competitive/travel teams are typically more organized, the coaches are often screened and paid, and the mom tribe followings (especially for local baseball, I’ve noticed) are unmatched. But those leagues also come with extensive costs to play and travel, a more rigorous practice schedule, and the potential for high pressure on your little players.
End Zone
I don’t think there is truly a right or wrong general blanket answer for where to get the ball rolling with your kids in sports. It vastly depends on each individual kiddo. The ball is in their court, and you just have to give it your best shot as a parent to navigate that.
