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Message: [QUOTE="upstater, post: 1299676, member: 153"] Because the parent needs something to do. This winter season of soccer emphasized that point to me. Because fewer kids play soccer in winter months, my child's travel club team went up against some of the premier teams in the area in the same league (they don't compete against each other spring/summer). The premier teams have professional coaches, top notch facilities, several practices a week. It's a big ticket $$ for those teams. My kid went to one of their camps last summer and was told by 10 year olds in absolute terms that they intend to become professionals. Then when you go to see the games, the parents' involvement in the whole charade becomes pretty evident. Then again, a friend who was not rah-rah about soccer nor high-stakes sports went along grudgingly with his son joining a premier team. His son was actually a top ranked kid from the area (by USA soccer) but he experienced burnout at age 14 and took the year off. I asked my friend how he felt about it: "Devastated." After putting all that time, effort and $$$ in, 4 days a week, year round, tens of thousands, and your kid takes a year off. And you weren't the one pushing it in the first place. [/QUOTE]