Beat the odds

I recently read a article about youth sports, specifically travel teams, that has me scratching my head. It's true.  As parents we should never say never.  I remember saying that my kids would never start playing travel sports so young.  Too much pressure.  Too many commitments.  Too many weekends that are busy.  Always on the go.

Eating my words.

Payton is 7. He tried out for and started playing on a travel baseball team at the ripe old age of 6.  I can make up a million reasons or excuses, however you want to look at it, about why we let him try out for the team and join the team.  It come down to one final answer.  He loves sports.  He loves basketball, baseball, soccer, golf, football, tennis....heck, he would probably love lacrosse if you let him try it out for five minutes.

He has been playing a sport since he was old enough to sign up at age 3.

Since moving to Winston, he has played on two different rec league teams.  One rec league in basketball and one little league for baseball.  He had a great time playing both.  I actually insisted that he continue to play little league in addition to travel ball because I think it's the right thing to do.  I don't want him to only play travel ball because I think it takes away from the point of little league.  My honest reason for agreeing to let him play travel ball is that he gets to play with a group of like minded, similar talent level children. He is able to throw the ball as hard as he can and know that the kid on the other end is most likely going to catch the ball.  In little league, I gasp when he throws it because I worry he is going to knock out the kid on first who isn't the best at catching.  Do I think the kid on 1st should get to play....absolutely.  Do I also think we should give our kids a chance to grow and learn...of course.

This is similar to school - if your kid is the smartest in his class, is he being challenged or is he being restricted as the class focuses on those who are struggling? I would argue the smartest kid in the class is often not reaching his/her full potential.  I would also make that argument on some "everyone gets a medal" sports teams.  Do I think that our world has a need for those teams...absolutely!!  I was that kid.

I sucked at softball - except for 4th grade.  I was good in 4th grade and got to play 2nd base.  I had a few good hits.  I loved it.  Every other year I was awful - I was terrified when I got up to bat because I was scared to death I was going to strike out.  I continued playing rec or optimist ball until 8th grade. I made the 1st cut for my middle school softball team but didn't make the team - I survived.  I played optimist ball and was still one of the worst on the team and they put me at catcher.  I hated it.  I was terrified but I know I learned something from the experience.  Somehow, it made me realize that we can't all be the best at everything - we each have our own "thing."  I also learned that if I had been put on the "great" team in 5th grade instead of the "you all suck" team, I would have probably been a better player.  I rarely had a coach who was able to work on our fundamentals - we played, we lost, we got ice cream.  I wonder if I had been on the "great" team with my "great" friends and the "great" coach who focused on skills, if I would have been better.

I'll let you decide.  Surely I would have had slightly better odds.

Either way - none of those girls on the "great" team had college softball scholarship so I guess it all ended up about the same.

I was a cheerleader.  I enjoyed it.  I ran track in the spring....while all my "great" friends played softball.

I don't know how all of this applies to Payton playing travel ball or how this will play out in our lives.  I don't know if Payton will play baseball or basketball or the tuba when he is 10 but I do know that right now he is playing baseball and he loves it.  He loves practice, he loves games, he loves playing for two teams.  He loves watching baseball.  He talks about it non-stop. As a parent, I don't feel that I am ruining him by letting him play travel ball, I feel that I am supporting him.  Sure, my house is dirty and we eat on the go more often than I would like but we are happy and healthy and having a blast along the way.  He is making memories and friendships that seem like they will last a lifetime.

We can afford it.  We can manage the schedule.  We can do it without sacrificing church.  We can do it all while helping him learn the fundamentals of baseball, learn how to play on a team, learn how to win or loose......all while having fun.  Yes, at least once a week I question why we are going to another practice.....but, when he plays in a tournament and makes a big catch or hits a home run and smiles SO BIG, pumps his fist, gives me a high five....it's worth it.  We aren't pressuring him to be the best, we are simply supporting him doing what he loves to do and we are enjoying watching him play as well.

Maybe travel ball is ruining youth sports - I can see that argument because it is taking athletes away from little league teams that have been around forever.  I can see that we put too much pressure on our kids.  I can also see that there has to be some positive to travel ball as well.  My hope is that somehow we can break the mold, or make the mold, and be the family who finds that perfect balance.    When I see that it causes more harm than good, we will re-evaluate.

This past Sunday we went to church before going to his afternoon games.  We went to a new member information class.  The adults in the class asked Payton what he wanted to be when he grows up.  He answered immediately - an NBA player.  They chuckled and I chuckled.  I told them if he didn't make it in the NBA his plan is to play in the MLB.  They laughed again.

Later that evening, I replayed that in my head.  I thought I should discuss their laughing with him. I attempted to tell him that sometimes adults probably would laugh when kids say they want to play in the NBA because it is a big dream.  I tried
to explain that I was proud of him - that if he wants to play in the NBA to tell anyone who asks and if they laugh, just shake it off.  I doubt he will play in the NBA - his genetic makeup is against him - but, I certainly won't tell him that.  I will encourage him.

His response to me actually reminded me that I just need to continue doing exactly what I'm doing - supporting his dreams, cheering him on, encouraging him when he falls or looses.

When I told him not to let it bother him when a grown up laughed at his NBA response, he said, "Beat the odds. Timothy Richard Tebow, born August 14th, 1987. Professional football player."

Wise beyond his years.  Beat the odds little guy.  Have fun while you're doing it! Mommy will be your biggest fan along the way!