07/17/2022
Appreciate this chart as a sobering reminder of how incredibly difficult it is to get to a collegiate level and stay there.
I have been outspoken, as well as many other well educated and informed coaches on youth athletic development, on the fact that our current youth sports model is broken, especially when we take a hard look at the current travel sports model and some of the BS these organizations are selling parents.
Are there some great coaches out there? Yes.
Are there some well run organizations? Yes.
Is there a place for youth travel sports? Absolutely.
The problem lies in the fact that more than 1/2 of the current players in those organizations probably shouldn't be there, since they don't have the fundamentals or skill level they should be spending more time working on, then playing too many games every weekend.
Travel sports were initially designed for the best of the best, but then because all about organizations praying on families and delusions (that your kid is much better then they are right now and you need them) that this is the perfect route for your kid.
Here is a great quote by Coach Lee Taft:
"Don't listen to me, or the other adults who are praying you pay attention to how badly broken the youth model is right now. Simply ask the over 70% of kids who quit before 8th grade, and the HS kids who just are burnt-out after playing 6-months of travel now have to endure 4-months of school ball (which should be the most fun and enjoyable time of all).
Ask them- they will tell you!"