Youth sports has gotten ridiculous.

It’s a huge cash cow for the organizations. Guilt parents into such a massive commitment.

I’d rather get a boat and spend the weekend with the family making memories vs staying in Hampton inns in rando towns in the weekends. But if my kids push for I’m sure I’ll cave.
- sammy87

Nah, here in the Boston area there are hundreds of teams at each level within 20 mins drive. We never have to stay in a hotel for a game. They sort the divisions by geography and skill, so most of our games are within 20 mins of home. We'd only need to go farther if we want to start doing tournaments, but that'll only be if when my kids are older (bantham or older) they want to try and get to an elite level.

Cost is $2k for the full 8-month season, which given it's about 40 games and close to 100 practices, is a great deal. It's about the cost of 4 weeks of summer camp. Plus, our program has free equipment for anybody who can't afford it. Most of the mites start off with used stuff while the parents are figuring out whether their kid wants to commit to it.

Now, my friends back in PA, yeah they have to really travel, but for us it's easy.

Nah, here in the Boston area there are hundreds of teams at each level within 20 mins drive. We never have to stay in a hotel for a game. They sort the divisions by geography and skill, so most of our games are within 20 mins of home. We'd only need to go farther if we want to start doing tournaments, but that'll only be if when my kids are older (bantham or older) they want to try and get to an elite level.

Cost is $2k for the full 8-month season, which given it's about 40 games and close to 100 practices, is a great deal. It's about the cost of 4 weeks of summer camp. Plus, our program has free equipment for anybody who can't afford it. Most of the mites start off with used stuff while the parents are figuring out whether their kid wants to commit to it.

Now, my friends back in PA, yeah they have to really travel, but for us it's easy.
- MickV

$500 a week? What kind of summer camp?

$500 a week? What kind of summer camp?
- MattStrat

Those are the cheap ones. Do you think you can pay somebody less than $100 / day to watch your kids for 8 hours in Boston?

Those are the cheap ones. Do you think you can pay somebody less than $100 / day to watch your kids for 8 hours in Boston?
- MickV

daycare now $10 per day in most of Canada.

Nah, here in the Boston area there are hundreds of teams at each level within 20 mins drive. We never have to stay in a hotel for a game. They sort the divisions by geography and skill, so most of our games are within 20 mins of home. We'd only need to go farther if we want to start doing tournaments, but that'll only be if when my kids are older (bantham or older) they want to try and get to an elite level.

Cost is $2k for the full 8-month season, which given it's about 40 games and close to 100 practices, is a great deal. It's about the cost of 4 weeks of summer camp. Plus, our program has free equipment for anybody who can't afford it. Most of the mites start off with used stuff while the parents are figuring out whether their kid wants to commit to it.

Now, my friends back in PA, yeah they have to really travel, but for us it's easy.
- MickV

that's actually pretty good!

My brothers daughter is in softball and every other weekend its a tourney somewhere. Plus all hte time commitment.

Yeah there are some crazy parents. I actually started reffing last year and enjoy it. My son is old enough now to start and we are going to do it together. It will be good for him to get that perspectiv.

quote=MickV]I've never had any problems with other parents on the teams I've coached ... but on some of the teams we've played against, wow. Some parents have totally lost the plot on raising their kids. Yelling at the refs, etc. It's crazy.

When a kid crosschecks one of my sons I don't even look at the ref. I want to see how my boys react in those situations.

My older son got leveled from behind near the crease in a game last year (keep in mind no checking at this age). He looked at the ref, no call, so he skated hard down to the d zone, defended, then when the puck went the other way and refs had turned he slashed that kid on the back of the leg where there's no padding. And that was that. They both dropped it and just played the rest of the game with no problems.

I live in mass as well and furthest drive is like 45 minutes so no hotel. We get 1 tournament a year where there is an overnight. It's way different from where I grew up in Oregon were closest team was 2.5 hours away.

quote=MickV]Nah, here in the Boston area there are hundreds of teams at each level within 20 mins drive. We never have to stay in a hotel for a game. They sort the divisions by geography and skill, so most of our games are within 20 mins of home. We'd only need to go farther if we want to start doing tournaments, but that'll only be if when my kids are older (bantham or older) they want to try and get to an elite level.

Cost is $2k for the full 8-month season, which given it's about 40 games and close to 100 practices, is a great deal. It's about the cost of 4 weeks of summer camp. Plus, our program has free equipment for anybody who can't afford it. Most of the mites start off with used stuff while the parents are figuring out whether their kid wants to commit to it.

Now, my friends back in PA, yeah they have to really travel, but for us it's easy.