This summer my kid tried out a new sport (at an informal, walk-on type of camp) and liked it. We were told the beginning team was less of a financial commitment than the more elite teams, and no try-outs were required. The team would practice in a town close to us; the camp was about a 45-minute drive away.
Email from me to coach: My child enjoyed the camp and wants to join the team. Could you give me the contact info for the parent rep so I can make the arrangements?
Email from coach to me, several hours later: That’s great! Please call me at …
Me (thinking): sigh … I have to pick up the phone?
The next day, dial. Exchange pleasantries.
Coach: OK, I’ll email you back with the parent rep’s email address!
Me (thinking): You’ve got to be kidding me.
I dutifully email the parent rep.
Me: My child enjoyed the camp and wants to join the team. Could you send me the paperwork (my address is below) and let me know where to send my payment?
Parent rep reply: That’s great! Please call me at …
Me: *headdesk*
When I called the parent rep, I learned that the team doesn’t have enough players to be eligible for competitions. BUT, I can enroll the kid in a “class” which would:
- cost the same
- meet in the faraway venue at 8 a.m. on Saturday mornings
- require us to join a club, which in turn would require paying dues and performing mandatory “volunteer” hours
- allow the kid to learn some of the skills of the sport or risk “falling more and more behind” (seriously, she said it)
My husband thinks this is a no-brainer. No team. Enroll in a local, group lesson in a similar sport instead, saving money and sparing a good deal of inconvenience. Next spring, let the kid try out for the team and hope for the best. I’m inclined to agree, since the squeeze I got from the parent rep was uncomfortable (not to mention the air of bait-and-switch around this entire experience; e.g., the summer camp was originally billed as free, and then suddenly turned out to cost $10/hour).
But the kid really likes the sport, and I get the sense that holding your nose and dealing with this kind of stuff is common in youth sports. We could postpone the hysteria, but only temporarily (and would they penalize the child later for the parent’s crime of not enrolling earlier?). I am torn.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
If there’s ANY OTHER WAY for her to participate in this sport? Then don’t do this. Don’t reward them for the bait and switch. There are many other ways to participate; I’m certain you’ll be able to find them. Walk away from these people…really quickly.
Oh I really think I am with your husband on this one. But I definitely don’t have the whole context, which you and your husband do. I also don’t know the sport, and that makes a difference sometimes. However, IME, I find that if we start at a place of BS, it only rolls downhill from there. I have determined, also with an 8 yo, then that it’s best to start someplace I prefer, and at least I know the baseline is good.
Oh gawd. I agree – local group lesson.
Yes, some of the youth sports BS is par for the course, no matter which path you take. I choose the one of least resistance that is closest to home.
I think your husband’s take sounds sensible– and the camp sounds shady (and not in a good way.)
It’s sounds like they’re trying to mess with your head, saying your son would fall further and further behind. That behavior shouldn’t be rewarded.
Faraway places is already a bad sign, unless your child is already crazy-committed to the sport. Do you think the group (parents) will become easier to work with, once you’re part of it? Or will it just continue on the same, not so great path? Hmmmm.
I’m in the no team camp.
I am curious as to why you’re so veiled about the sport, though.
What? Who penalizes for late entry? If they have slots, they have slots. If not, tough luck.
Feh.
The woman sounds like a pushy parents type from a TV show. It’s a little creepy.
Oye!
I spent an ungodly amount for soccer camp and all the gear this summer. Then it turns out to play fall Saturday morning soccer you have to try out, be placed on a team, and not have any idea which night or where in town practice will be.
As if our whole life revolves around soccer practice.
There was no way we could take a chance that it would interfere with dance or gymnastics because those are way too expensive to miss.
Good luck on your decision.
Local, local, local.
Also, anyone that is concerned you child will ‘fall behind’ is full of it.
Good luck. I hope you find something close to home (and cheap!) that works!
My die-hard soccer-playing 8 year-old wanted to join the select team this year, his first year of “eligibility.” $1,500 is just too much for me to justify. So I told him that, since he’s a third, we obviously don’t love him enough to fork over the cash or time.
But we will likely do it next year (at the end of third grade) because he really is that good and that dedicated. Here’s hoping he gets a scholarship.
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