There was a moment at soccer practice some years ago when another dad asked me what my plans for my daughter were. I wasn’t exactly sure what he meant until he clarified. He was asking about her soccer career. I needed to think about what high school she’d go to, what camps she’d attend, and what club might be the best fit. I demurred rather than giving my real answer because it’s not always a popular one with sports parents. I didn’t then, and don’t now, have any plans for her career, soccer or otherwise. My wife and I are just chauffeurs and patrons for an athletic activity that she’s loved since she was a 4-year-old.
Not everyone feels this way, which is one reason kids’ sports represent a $19.2 billion industry, or at least they did in 2019. Though participation has been decreasing, there are still a lot of little ones out there playing on weekends, practicing during the week, and attending private coaching sessions in between. That’s a lot of money going to coaches, league fees, tournament fees, hotels, restaurants, and all of the other businesses in the orbit of youth sports.
For us, it started in daycare with a program called Happy Feet. On Saturdays, said daughter would gather with other little kids to play organized soccer, or some semblance thereof. There was no goalkeeper. There were no positions. The only strategy was chaos. It was fun for all involved because kids, particularly young ones, love chaos.
