wussification?

[Big Red Rick]

Patches O'Houlihan

NOT ALLOWED.

[Squatchsker]

emotional scars don't count

They were all from Select team participation.

[Porkchopexpress]

Here is a problem I see. "Select" teams used to be just that "Select". Not anymore if your kid doesn't make the "Select" team parents are starting up their own "Select" team so their kid isn't cut. Then you enter that same team in with the true "Select" teams and you end up with kids playing against teams that are generally bigger, stronger, faster and just overall better and that is probably where alot of the injuries start happening. I remember playing baseball when I was 12yrs old against seniors to be in highschool in the fall leagues, late summer Nebraska Select highschool teams I played on travelled the region and played junior colleges (not fun getting drilled in the back by a 90mph fastball when you are 12) but my point is that there was huge risk for injury in those leagues because most of us weren't even close to being physically ready to play with them. In Lincoln for baseball it used to be the Rebel/Kawanis as your select teams then you had Little League/Babe Ruth and the difference in talent between those were huge. Now you have like 6 or 7 different "Select" teams but IMO it has just spread out the talent. Its okay to be cut you just have to work harder for the next chance.

Sitting from afar, that's how I see things now also. I remember growing up playing soccer in Omaha in the late 80's early 90's, and there being 2 select soccer teams per age group from two different "select" clubs. If you didn't make either of those "select" teams, you played West O rec soccer, or soccer with a church or the Y. About the time I got to high school, people realized that it was a dumb business model to limit the number of "select" teams, so all those additional teams were being added. They could charge triple what would be paid at the rec level (if not more), and it would feed the ego's of parents. Now, I don't even know if there's true rec level soccer in Omaha once you get past the age of 8 or 9, and if there is, there's no way it's as popular as it was when I was around that age.

I'm about to have my first kid, and I'm really questioning how to go about the whole youth sports thing. Obviously I'd like to see my kid(s) succeed, but not at the cost of them losing a lot of their childhood through the committments that come with "select" or "travel" teams expect nowadays.

[LutheranHusker]

Well said.

My son is 8 now, and he knows that unless he's very obviously the next coming of Suh or something, his mother and I are good for 1 practice a week and 1 game a week for as long as we're the ones doing the transporting. Once he gets into middle school if he does sports through the school it will be his responsibility to help organize a carpool, assuming he practices and plays more often than once a week.

I'm convinced that one side effect of this over-emphasis on youth sports and the time and financial commitment it involves is that it affects marriages negatively. Too much focus and time and resources spent on treating kids like professionals, and suddenly mom and dad don't know each other anymore and are just sick and tired.

I've seen it happen more than once, and while I don't pretend that it's the only factor or even always a main factor, I do think it often plays a role.

[ShuckIt]

Coaching legion baseball for a couple years and going through tryouts was easy. Even though we had 3 days of tryouts I could have watched these kids play catch for half an hour on the first day and told you who was going to make the team. At that time (late 90s) it was easy to see who played at the select level. Same goes for soccer even though we just had YMCA Spirit team we went 207-8 from K thru 8th grade and we were undefeated against all the "Select" teams in Lincoln and Omaha. The Bears were a dominating force through my younger years Funny enough all of my injuries occured while playing soccer.

[Red Dead Redemption]

Coaching legion baseball for a couple years and going through tryouts was easy. Even though we had 3 days of tryouts I could have watched these kids play catch for half an hour on the first day and told you who was going to make the team. At that time (late 90s) it was easy to see who played at the select level. Same goes for soccer even though we just had YMCA Spirit team we went 207-8 from K thru 8th grade and we were undefeated against all the "Select" teams in Lincoln and Omaha. The Bears were a dominating force through my younger years Funny enough all of my injuries occured while playing soccer.

which were from getting beat up by other kids that don't play soccer...

[ShuckIt]

which were from getting beat up by other kids that don't play soccer...

Actually my coach AKA my dad was the one who broke my arm.....I played with a cast for one game I'm guessing a lawsuit would be filed by other parents nowadays for something like that.

[Huskers57]

Actually my coach AKA my dad was the one who broke my arm.....I played with a cast for one game I'm guessing a lawsuit would be filed by other parents nowadays for something like that.

you can't have a hard cast but you can have a cast that has padding and/or soft cast, plus a note from the doctor clearing you to play.

[ShuckIt]

you can't have a hard cast but you can have a cast that has padding and/or soft cast, plus a note from the doctor clearing you to play.

I played with full hard cast I was in 4th grade. Concussions are going to happen as long as there are sports being played only way for them not to happen is not play the game. If parents are that worried about it keep your kids out of all sports no matter how much your kids want to play. Just tell them your kids you are helicopter parents and you don't want them to get any booboos.

[Huskers57]

I played with full hard cast I was in 4th grade. Concussions are going to happen as long as there are sports being played only way for them not to happen is not play the game. If parents are that worried about it keep your kids out of all sports no matter how much your kids want to play. Just tell them your kids you are helicopter parents and you don't want them to get any booboos.

that was in the old days...the new regulations require the 2 objectives I mentioned above.

[ShuckIt]

Probably can't wear metal cleats in Baseball anymore either?

[Husker Poyer]

Probably can't wear metal cleats in Baseball anymore either?

When I umped for the YMCA we did not allow them.

[Huskers57]

When I umped for the YMCA we did not allow them.

When I was growing up, the only time I was allowed to wear metal cleats was in High School, not prior to HS...

[Porkchopexpress]

When I was growing up, the only time I was allowed to wear metal cleats was in High School, not prior to HS...

And that's probably the earliest metal cleats are needed in baseball.

[Huskers57]

And that's probably the earliest metal cleats are needed in baseball.

agreed.

[LutheranHusker]

When I umped for the YMCA we did not allow them.

So, the YMCA let you umpire...

*makes mental note not to allow son to play baseball through the Y*

[HuZkurZ]

Probably can't wear metal cleats in Baseball anymore either?

Babe Ruth 13-15 is the first time they are allowed. You can't have metal spikes on golf courses...talk about wussification!

[RedPhoenix]

Babe Ruth 13-15 is the first time they are allowed. You can't have metal spikes on golf courses...talk about wussification!

If you need them on the golf course you're doing it wrong.

[HuZkurZ]

If you need them on the golf course you're doing it wrong.

I suppose Tiger and Phil are doing it wrong.

There are still quite a few professionals who use the traditional metal spikes, such as Mickelson.

[Red Dead Redemption]

I suppose Tiger and Phil are doing it wrong.

What they are doing wrong, is playing with dirty balls. They should try the Axe Detailer.