Last Saturday, I found myself perched on a folding chair at my 6-year-old’s softball game, pondering the future of youth sports. In our city, much like many others, the competition is set to intensify as she grows older, and it’s already begun. Last fall, she participated in a CYC soccer league that claimed to be “non-competitive.” Ironically, she spent most of her time on the bench, being the least skilled player on the team. At just five years old, kids are already being whisked away to camps, clinics, and private lessons, with select leagues looming in the near future.
I’m not arguing that rigorous youth sports are inherently bad; I simply don’t want to engage in that world. After all, where does all that time and money lead? A tiny fraction of kids play college sports, and even fewer make it to the professional level. Genetics is not on my side when it comes to producing athletic prodigies.
As I reflected, I thought about how we all seem to end up in the same place—an adult recreational league. What if we could bypass the typical youth sports journey and head straight to that destination? I envision a B team concept—where the focus is on play rather than performance.
Imagine not spending weekends traveling for pointless tournaments, or waiting late into the night for a high school football bus to arrive. No endless clinics or exhausting practice sessions, and no parents screaming at referees. Just simple t-shirts instead of flashy uniforms, and the emphasis on having fun.
I’m looking at the long game: the goal is to develop enough coordination to join friends for a game of volleyball at the local YMCA in 20 years, or to bowl without embarrassment during a night out. Kids would still form friendships and learn teamwork, but parents would maintain their sanity by avoiding the chaos of competitive sports.
I loved playing sports as a child. Despite my awkward build and lack of athletic prowess, I started softball, basketball, and volleyball early on, genuinely enjoying them—until high school. Practices were often grueling, with a coach who seemed on the verge of a breakdown, yelling at us to run until we were exhausted. I quickly opted out, choosing instead to shoot hoops in our cul-de-sac or gather friends for badminton games in the backyard.
The only sport I stuck with through high school was softball, primarily because my coach shared a similar laid-back attitude toward winning. He understood that losing wasn’t the end of the world, a perspective not shared by some of my teammates and their parents who sought the glory of an A team.
You might be thinking that you cherish the memories of intensive practices and competitions, and that’s perfectly fine. Your family fits right in with the A team. But what I needed was a B team. Recent reports indicate a steady decline in youth sports participation, primarily due to the overwhelming time commitment. Kids are burning out before they even reach middle school.
Enter the B team: a casual gathering of kids and parents who prioritize fun over skill. It would be organized enough to have a schedule and reliable participants, complete with snacks, but without the pressure of performance. There would be no harsh critiques after a loss or even keeping score because, ultimately, it doesn’t matter.
While I appreciate competition’s value, I believe kids will encounter many opportunities for competitive growth as they transition into adulthood. I sometimes even orchestrate small competitions at home to teach my children about life lessons. However, I believe that the true essence of success lies in teamwork, not in relentless competition—something I learned during my time as a reliable leadoff hitter in our company softball games.
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In summary, a B team concept could revolutionize youth sports by allowing kids to enjoy the game without the pressure of competition. By fostering friendships and teamwork, we can create a more enjoyable experience for both children and parents while keeping the focus on fun.