It’s not about development, it’s about dollars. Most know it too, but are trapped by politics and FOMO.
“The youth travel ball model is broken.
It isn’t about player development. It’s about dollars.
Dollars that are generated by politics and FOMO.
You want to improve athlete development? Study and learn how true development works.
Hint: it’s not in that (additional) tournament next weekend.”
-Ray Zingler on Twitter
You want proof the model is broken?
I was talking with one of my kids about ‘Summer Ball’ coming up and he replied, “Coming up? We started Summer Ball in January” I couldn’t help but laugh a little bit.
Thick of winter and they’ve done started “Summer Ball”.
I could write a book on why the model is broken and one day I probably will, but for now, I’ll stick to a character/word sanctioned post.
Do you think kids playing 5 games a day is good? No seriously, do you think it helps with development?
My hunch is that the majority of folks would say no, however if you let your kid play that many anyway, you’re actually voting yes.
And I have empathy for you because I understand despite it “being too much” or “ridiculous” you feel trapped because “that’s just the way it is these days.”
I understand it puts kids and parents in a tough spot because it feels like it’s too much, but “everrryyyybody is doing it.”
I get it.
But guess what. Just because something is the societal/cultural norm doesn’t mean it’s right.
Don’t forget we’re living in a world where it’s accepted for adults to tell children they can choose whether or not they want to be boys or girls.
You think we’re going to have integrity in a travel ball circuit driven by copious amounts of dollars?
Dollars that if saved and used more judiciously could purchase bachelor degrees from prestigious universities and, umm, ya know, actual development.
Quality over quantity, we know that adage is true in nearly every facet of life, but when it comes to our kids sports…
Lock that concept in the closet, take some advil, put a band on that burnout, and head to Florida. There is no way Coach Jimmy would have scheduled that 11th tournament if we didn’t “need it”.
Your kid’s mental and physical health bought the rims on his Raptor. Just remember that as you get the $25 Tournament T-Shirt for free (2x the amount of the shirt was baked into your dues months ago.)
If you truly care about kids and their development, stop feeding the monster because it’s convenient.
Challenge the status quo.
Their (Real) development depends on it.
