The Pros and Cons of Travel Sports: What Every Parent Needs to Know

BASA U8 Team

Thinking about travel sports for your young athlete? Whether they’re just starting at the young age of seven or competing in high school, it’s a big commitment for the whole family. We’ll break down the biggest benefits and the toughest challenges of joining a travel team—so you can decide what’s best for your kid (and your sanity). Although times have changed, this modern grandparent can help you navigate your way.

Introduction

Not familiar with the term “travel sports'? Let me enlighten you to the world of athletic competition. Travel sports—also called "club," "select," or "competitive" sports—are organized youth teams that compete at a higher level than local recreational leagues. Unlike your neighborhood soccer or baseball team that plays a few games on Saturdays, travel teams usually involve Tryouts to make the team, Trained coaches (sometimes paid, sometimes volunteer), Frequent practices, often several times per week, Weekend tournaments—often out of town or even out of state, Higher costs due to travel, uniforms, tournament fees, and training.

As someone who is not an athlete, I was introduced to this phenomenon when our kids were about seven years old. We had just moved from a small town in Nebraska to the big city of Chicago. Our kids inherited athletic talent from my husband, who raced with the US Ski Team. The older two easily qualified for the travel soccer team at ages eight and nine. Soon, they felt overwhelmed by the discipline and commitment required. I was also balancing this new schedule. They quickly started trying different sports, such as football, and then returned to recreational soccer, which was less rigorous.

However, it was our youngest son who decided to try out for an elite soccer team at the age of seven. Younger than everyone who qualified, he excelled in this rigorous environment. He devoured the demanding schedule, practiced religiously after training, watched professional players, and even played soccer video games to improve his knowledge. He didn’t just survive the new team schedule; he thrived.

The Pros of Travel Sports

At the same time of achieving as an exceptional athlete, our son was diagnosed with Dyslexia. School was never going to be easy. But in sports, he could excel. And his confidence was fed with the exhilaration of scoring goals and winning tournaments. He found a passion, and as a family, we leaned in to supporting his talents, although at times it was a challenge.

Skill Development & Competitive Edge

Since our son lived and breathed soccer, he played all four seasons, including indoor in the cold winter months. The coach would push him to reach even the next level of competition. He would be positioned further back from the starting line to race against his peers, who had the advantage of positioning to increase his speed. The other players would purposely target him to increase his ball-handling skills. Did that challenge him and question his confidence? Yes, but it increased his resilience. They saw his potential and skillfully coached him to excel.

In the classroom, this became mental toughness. School was tough, but he didn’t back down from the challenge of reading. We’ve often talk about millennials as snowflakes, but his soccer training built a resilience that lasted a lifetime.

Physical Fitness & Discipline

Of course, the physical fitness year-round was a benefit, but it was the discipline that made the impact. “Early is on time, and on time is late” was a mantra from his coaches. He has taken that to heart even 25 years later. To this day, he arrives fifteen minutes early for anything.

“Come prepared to play,” was another foundational quote. He was used as an example of how to prepare when his coach highlighted that he had his cleats on, his shin guards placed neatly under his socks, and his shirt tucked in. He was ready. This translated to 'adulting' when he was preparing for an interview or his daily tasks. Be prepared.

“Make Your Bed” was part of Admiral McRaven’s commencement speech in 2014. If you want to change the world, he explained, start by making your bed. This discipline for our son spilled over onto the college soccer field, where his coach shared a similar mantra. It is the little things, over and over, that win games. Jay Martin, his college coach, is the winningest coach in NCAA history. But he is taught more than just soccer; he trains "first-class athletes and men.”

Social Growth & Team Bonding

A benefit of playing soccer at a young age is that you build lifelong friendships. Starting at the age of seven, the camaraderie of being part of elite teams creates a strong bond. It began as a shared interest and talent, but grew into lasting friendships. Add in the weekends away at tournaments and the life events that happen along the way. Although many of his friends aren’t playing professionally (but some have achieved that level), he formed bonds that last. As the next generation with kids arrives, that early bond becomes even more meaningful.

However, the teamwork aspect of a high-level sport creates a purpose that is greater than yourself. Ball hogging might be acceptable in a recreational league, but it would get you benched on a travel team. Showing off to score a goal when the smart choice is to go to the corner and let the clock run out—especially when you're already winning with seconds left—is unnecessary. No flamboyant dancing after a win, but a genuine congratulations to the other team, whether you win or lose no matter how difficult it might be to do so. Good sportsmanship.

College Exposure & Scholarship Opportunities

We always emphasized the importance of college, although the pros and cons of that debate would be for another blog. But our son was encouraged to use his soccer talents to get into the best college for him. We wanted him to be a college athlete, not an athlete in college. There is a difference. When choosing a school, he considered the academic program he wanted to pursue, separate from the sports program. Many athletes pick colleges that recruited them without matching their academic interests. Then they might decide to quit or, unfortunately, get injured, forcing them to stop playing. Or worse, not meet the grades required to play. Our son ultimately chose a D3 school, which prioritized his studies over the sport.

However, there were many showcase games and feature game films that highlighted his skills for recruitment purposes. Competing at a high level against other skilled teams drew recruiters to watch. Maybe not initially for your child, but they gained exposure while observing other players. This also led to coaches calling to discuss abilities and interests. If the child takes the lead in these discussions, it provides a valuable lesson in managing the interview process.

The Cons of Travel Sports

High Costs & Family Sacrifices

Some sports cost more than others, but all travel sports require high-level gear. For soccer, you start with uniforms, which include a bag. Typically, there's a white jersey for away games and a darker one for home games. Add shin guards and shoes. Our son was particular about shoes; they had to be all leather, and with the number of times he burst through them, he always had a backup. Then you need soft ground, hard ground, artificial turf, and indoor shoes. What do shoes cost? About $200 a pair, so they add up.

Since most tournaments are out of town, there are expenses for hotels, food, and transportation. Depending on the club, our son participated in many drivable locations, but as he excelled, the distance also increased. We needed a plane ride. Additionally, there are costs associated with the tournament itself, including expenses for the players, as well as a possible entrance fee for spectators.

We considered ourselves lucky when our son made the Columbus Crew Travel Team. All their gear, including uniforms, bags, pre-game attire, and even shoes, was covered financially. However, our son preferred a different pair of shoes. The travel expenses for the players, including transportation, hotels, and food, were covered. We only had to cover our own costs if we wanted to attend, which we did. Little did we know, they didn’t finalize team members until the week of the tournament, putting our reservations at risk. Fortunately, he was always selected.

Time Commitment & Burnout Risk

The commitment, not just from the player, but from the entire family, is worth noting. If there are other family members at home, juggling schedules can be mind-boggling. There was a year when I hired a driving babysitter, as my work and practice schedules didn’t mix with multiple kids and no driver's license. And once they reach high school, say goodbye to spring break vacations. Even Thanksgiving and Christmas tournaments put a time constraint on family time.

With our boys, soccer burnout came early for the older two. But playing a high-level sport didn’t. The types of sports varied, which, instead of making life easier, made it more complicated. Our only rule was to play one sport per season. No multiple sports allowed. Sometimes seasons overlapped, but they were usually brief.

Burnout isn’t just caused by losing interest, which might lead to switching sports. It can also result from overuse. In middle school, our son attended multiple soccer camps during his critical growth phase. This led to Osgood-Schlatter, an overuse injury. It typically improves with time, rest, or when they stop growing. Despite loving the game, he was forced to step back and rest.

School & Academic Balance

With all the weekend travel and regular games, school is often missed and assignments need to be made up. If your school isn’t understanding with the benefits of these trips, grades could be at risk. The student might get a lower grade for an assignment being late or a test being missed. Our son missed an entire week of school to play soccer in Europe with his travel team. We saw it as an opportunity; his school saw it as a vacation.

Although there is a balance between schoolwork and sports, much depends on how the parents manage it. When weekend travel led to late nights, we required our son to get up and go to school, even though the exhaustion from the weekend made him want to sleep in. And when he joined the Columbus Crew, he had weekday travel to practice that was over an hour one way. Late nights led to fatigue, but we required him to keep up with his schoolwork.

Pressure & Over-Competitiveness

The first question about pressure should reflect your values as a parent. Who wants the child on an elite sports team, you or your child? One of the funniest coach speeches came from our son’s first year trying out for the Olympic Development Program (ODP). He said, every coach's dream was to coach in an orphanage, meaning there are no parents.

Our rule was, if you commit to something, just finish out the season. There was no quitting because things got hard. It was their choice if they wanted to try out for something, but if they made it, they had to finish the season and decide then if they wanted to continue. This was true for injuries too. Even if you were sitting on the bench, you had to finish the season to support your teammates.

Limited Social Life Outside of Sports

Travel sports often mean sacrificing social events, too. Missing birthday parties, vacations, and even prom were all part of prioritizing a commitment our son made. He even lamented once after having his first girlfriend, saying, “Girls are work, I just don’t have time for them.”

One of our favorite family quotes is, “Be careful what you wish for, you will have to give up something along the way.” So they might wish to make an elite team until they realize the commitment. Although there were many things our boys gave up for playing sports, the lessons they learned along the way have shaped the men they are today.

Is Travel Sports the Right Fit for Your Family?

As parents, we've invested years of sacrifice in both time and money, and not once have we regretted it. Our children, blessed with talent and opportunity, have grown not just through success, but through every setback—including injuries that had us calling the orthopedic on speed dial. These experiences have imparted lessons no classroom can teach. However, please note that this is a family commitment. Are you all in?