Parent Question

I asked on a recent AMA, but I thought I'd pose the question to a wider audience as well. My question is as a mom to 2 kids in different levels of sports: can kids be successful without "keeping up with the Joneses" of the soccer world? There is such a push (and parental pressure) to start everything earlier: competitive leagues, clinics, private trainings, etc. If kids want to be "really good" at their sports, but don't like all the high-pressure, parents yelling on the sidelines, and practices multiple times a week for 7 and 8 year olds. Do we have any hope or should we just give up? Lol. It can feel very defeating like we'll never catch up to those kids already on club teams or who are "ready" for more pressure at an early age. I was a sports-obsessed kid myself and it wasn't anything like today. For example, you could play on most high school teams with little experience. Basically there was always room for growth and trying new sports at every age. Now, I feel like if kids aren't in to win it and on a travel team by 7.. they have no chance to play in HS or college.. or even enjoy the sport! There's also the cliquey-ness of travel sports parents. They form teams at 7 or 8 years old and the n no one else can break into that group or team, even if they are actually better players! TheI've seen this with both soccer and softball. It's frustrating as a parent to watch.. and also being a former, pretty decent athlete.. I hate to see my kids not enjoy it like I did. Thanks!