Fitness Sports The Pros and Cons of Youth Travel Teams By Catherine Holecko facebook Catherine Holecko is an experienced freelance writer and editor, who specializes in pregnancy, parenting, health and fitness. Learn about our editorial process Catherine Holecko Updated on August 06, 2020 Print Tetra Images - Erik Isakson / Getty Images A travel team is a youth sports team that plays at an elite level. These teams travel, often long distances and out of state, to games, competitions, and/or tournaments (hence the name). Usually, these teams are part of a private or club sports program, not a recreational league or one affiliated with a school. There is almost always a try-out or audition process to join the team. And there is no guarantee of playing time (unlike in recreational leagues where all kids will usually get a chance to play regardless of ability). Travel teams are also sometimes called elite teams, select teams, club teams, or tournament teams. Pros Reduces boredom Develop new skills Improved access to expert coaches Enhances family bonding Cons Expensive Time-consuming Increased risk for injury Potential for burnout Pros Young athletes can reach a point where they are bored with rec league play. A travel team may be the best way for them to learn new skills, meet expert coaches, progress in their sport, and have fun in the process. Kids need to be challenged so they can grow. On a competitive travel team, players gain great experience in team play and sportsmanship. They also need to learn more about taking care of their body to keep it strong and healthy through conditioning, nutrition, and good sleep habits. And, of course, traveling can be a great way for both families and teams to bond through shared experiences, like meals or just swimming in the hotel pool. Kids are exposed to new cities and sometimes get a chance to play tourist. Cons Joining a travel team is definitely demanding, and not just for your kid. There are significant costs (thousands of dollars per season is common). There is a big time commitment: practices; games; travel; and parent volunteer hours all add up. It’s also likely that kids will need to miss school for team commitments. And with more practice and play time, the risk of injury and burnout goes up, too. Make the Travel-Team Decision It’s wonderful that your child wants to play at a higher level, but you need to be sure they understand what all you’re signing up for if they make the team. When children are interested in a particular elite team, it's important to find out in advance what their expectations are. Have a frank family conversation about these sacrifices and whether you are willing to make them. Be sure to consider these questions. It's really helpful to talk with other parents a few years ahead of you on the path—those who have experience with the same club or league you're looking at. Find out: What is the financial commitment? It's not just what you'll spend on equipment and fees, which can be significant, but extras such as travel costs and required apparel purchases (like a team jacket or bag). And remember that there will be fundraising responsibilities, too.What is the time commitment? Lots of practice time is great for your player's development, but it definitely affects what other extracurricular activities they are able to do. And it cuts into homework time as well. Parents also will also have to give their own free time to volunteer.Does your child have the discipline, maturity, and attention span required to succeed? Even a child with exceptional innate talent still needs to be a good team player.Do you know the coach or coaches? Can you observe some practices or games before you commit? In many instances, the coaching staff can make or break a child’s experience with a team or sport. Look for positive, fair-minded coaching. Toughness is OK (even necessary for some kids and teams), but hostility isn’t.How dedicated is your child? Doe they want to try out for the travel team just because friends are doing it, or because it seems like the next step? Or are they truly passionate about the sport?How will they respond if they don't get selected for a team, or if they get selected but then don't see a lot of playing time? Do they understand that they'll have to compete for it? Travel team play isn't right for every child, but it can be a lot of fun if you make the right match between child, sport, and team. The goal should always be for kids to have fun, be active, and keep learning, no matter what sport or team they choose. Is Competition a Good Thing or a Bad Thing? Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get expert tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. The Sleep Foundation. The Importance of Sleep for Young Athletes Who Travel. Updated July 28, 2020. Kids Play USA Foundation. Overview and Cost of Youth Sports. Moen F, Hrozanova M, Stiles TC, Stenseng F. Burnout and Perceived Performance Among Junior Athletes-Associations with Affective and Cognitive Components of Stress. Sports (Basel). 2019;7(7). doi:10.3390/sports7070171 Merkel DL. Youth sport: positive and negative impact on young athletes. Open Access J Sports Med. 2013;4:151-60. doi:10.2147/OAJSM.S33556 Vveinhardt J, Fominiene VB, Andriukaitiene R. Encounter with Bullying in Sport and Its Consequences for Youth: Amateur Athletes' Approach. 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