As I sat on the sidelines of my six-year-old’s softball game last weekend, I couldn’t help but wonder about the direction of youth sports these days. In cities like ours, the competition is only going to intensify as she grows older. It’s already begun. Last fall, she played in a so-called “non-competitive” soccer league, which I found amusing since she spent most of the time on the bench, being the least skilled player on the team. At just five years old, kids are already being sent to camps and clinics, and parents are shelling out for private coaching. Soon, select leagues will start cropping up, and the pressure will ramp up.
Now, I’m not saying that intense youth sports are inherently negative — I just don’t want to be a part of that world. The reality is that the time and money invested often lead to minimal returns. A tiny fraction of kids will go on to play college sports, and even fewer will make it to the professional level. Trust me, my kids aren’t destined to be athletic superstars.
As I pondered this, I realized we all end up in the same place eventually—the adult recreational leagues. So, why not skip the exhausting journey and fast-track it? What if we could have a B team? A pathway that leads straight to beer league glory!
Imagine no more weekends spent traveling for tournaments that don’t matter, no late-night waits for buses after high school games, and definitely no endless hours of practice. Forget about fancy uniforms; we can just print t-shirts and call it a day. It’s all about showing up, playing, and having fun.
I’m thinking long-term here. We want our kids to develop enough coordination to avoid injuries in their 20s when their friends invite them to sub in on a recreational volleyball team. We want them to be able to break 100 while bowling with friends or swim well enough to enjoy the water without the threat of drowning. Plus, let’s not forget basic dance moves to break out at parties. Kids can still make friends and learn teamwork, while parents maintain their sanity without spending an inordinate amount of time at practices.
Growing up, I loved sports. Despite not being the most athletic, I started playing softball at five, followed by basketball and volleyball. It was enjoyable until high school, where the atmosphere turned intense. Practices became grueling, and the pressure to perform was overwhelming. I remember a coach who would scream at us for mistakes, and the camp shirts proclaimed “Sweat ‘Til We Bleed.” No thanks! I lasted a week before opting for a casual game of one-on-one in the cul-de-sac. I preferred playing badminton in the backyard with friends to hours of structured practice.
The only reason I continued with softball into high school was that my coach shared a laid-back philosophy about winning. He understood that in the grand scheme of life, the outcomes of games meant very little. While some teammates and their parents were frustrated by this attitude, it highlighted the need for a B team.
Now, you might reminisce fondly about your own days of rigorous drills, and that’s perfectly fine. If that’s your experience, then the A team is for you. But for many kids like mine, a B team is essential. According to the Wall Street Journal, participation in youth sports is declining, largely because “it takes too much time.” Kids are getting burned out before they even reach middle school.
Enter the B Team: a space where kids can play without the pressure of performance. A simple court with a ball and a group of kids (and parents) who just want to enjoy the game. It bridges the gap between organized sports and casual pick-up games. There would be a set time and place for fun, snacks included, but no one would be benched for making mistakes. No pep talks after losses. In fact, we might not even keep score. Because at the end of the day, it just doesn’t matter.
I value competition, but I believe kids will have ample opportunities to learn about it as they grow. Sometimes, I create little competitive scenarios at home, like placing two cookies on a tray to teach life lessons. However, I believe my success in life stems more from the teamwork I learned rather than fierce competition. And let’s be honest, I was quite the lead-off batter for our company softball team.
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In summary, a B team for kids’ sports could provide a fun, pressure-free environment where kids can learn the joys of teamwork and play without the stress of competition. Let’s create a space where sports are about enjoyment and camaraderie rather than cutthroat competition.