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<p>Nodding my head in agreement as I read this post, that’s pretty much the level of involvement I had (am having).</p>
<p>On club sports teams…my D’15 is an athlete and plays two sports in school (vball and lax), one also in club (vball). Within the “world” of vball clubs, there are levels (regional, national etc) and there are both for-profit and non-profit clubs. We chose regional and non-profit, because my D LOVES to play. She doesn’t particularly care if she is being seen by college coaches or traveling all over the country, she loves playing with girls on her level. Her coaches are volunteers, and very good. The cost is affordable for me, and the tournament travel is limited to maybe a 3 hour drive.</p>
<p>Now I know parents with girls on national teams who play literally year round, and spend dozens of thousands of dollars on national team fees and travel, and even outside lessons and personal trainers. It appears to me that the parents are driving that, not the athlete, but I don’t know the families well enough to say for sure.</p>
<p>But providing an opportunity for athletes to play a sport they love is, IMO, different from forcing a child to live and breathe a sport. It’s gotten so out of hand I know 9th graders who, having been on travel/club teams since 4th grade, are burned out when they start high school and refuse to play. That’s a shame.</p>
<p>On helicoptering in college… I know a coach at our local D3 LAC who gets phone calls, visits and emails from parents about their kids’ (lack of) playing time. In college.</p>