I'm sorry that this will piss off half the parents reading this: Your 11 year old probably doesn’t need a $8,000-a-year travel team. Meanwhile, mom and dad haven’t had a weekend alone in 8 months because every Friday afternoon the SUV is packed for another tournament 4 hours away. They need to just play sports (if they want). There’s a difference. $3,000 team fee. $2,500 hotels. $1,500 eating out. $500 uniforms. $500 entrance fees Every weekend gone, and somehow we convince ourselves this makes us better parents. Then we wonder why marriages struggle. Put the kid in rec ball and let them play with their buddies. Take your wife to dinner. Take a family vacation that doesn’t involve a Marriott next to a sports complex. If your kid is truly THAT good, you’ll eventually know. But I think a lot of parents are sacrificing their marriage, money and entire family calendar chasing a scholarship that probably isn’t coming. I agree that most kids need sports. I’m just not convinced they need travel sports. That's me - the one who forgot their $5 hat for picture day on a team that cost $20 for the season.