Sport is a cornerstone of child development. Sports teach children to adopt healthy habits, work with others and develop self-confidence. Yet for children in low-income households, the joy of rounding the field goals, scoring that touchdown, or making that shot is disappearing. out of reach. The trend toward privatization of sport prevents many children from participating.
Something has to change.
Travel (or private) sports teams are made up of elite young athletes. They travel to games, tournaments and clinics. These teams are distinct from school-affiliated or recreational leagues. Rather, they are part of club or private programs. These teams focus on developing higher level skills and showcasing athletes in front of scouts.
In my experience, young travel athletes are typically between the ages of 8 and 18, with most starting around age 10.
Travel teams operate independently and rely primarily on funding from athletes’ families. Although fundraising efforts and sponsorships can ease the burden, parents are responsible to cover equipment, registration fees, travel and other associated costs
I have been on travel softball teams since I was 11 and my dad started coaching one. I spent a lot of time accompanying him to practices and games before deciding to join a team.
Being part of and around travel teams has helped me in many ways: from developing relationships that have lasted over a decade to learning skills like commitment and organization. I was also able to travel and discover new sites. However, it was not so much the travel team that benefited me. These were the people I was with.
I cannot sit here and ignore the barriers these teams create for children growing up in low-income households. I am grateful to have the privilege of being able to play and continue to be around travel teams. Still, I can’t help but wonder how much talent is lost simply because kids can’t play on these teams.
Throughout my playing years, I’ve had teammates who took private planes to tournaments, stayed in high-end hotels, and drove luxury cars. I remember one teammate in particular staying at the Renaissance during a tournament in Providence, while the rest of us stayed at the Days Inn. On the other hand, I’ve had teammates who couldn’t afford new cleats or a new racket. They would use second-hand devices from other people willing to ditch their old equipment. I’ve also seen teammates travel with other people’s families to away tournaments because their families couldn’t afford to take time off work.
My father continues to coach and my younger cousin now plays. I see that children from wealthy households are increasingly a typical demographic. A New York Times opinion piece recently reported that “34.1 percent of children from the poorest families were on sports teams or coached outside of school, compared to 67.7 percent from the richest families.” Children from low-income households are being pushed aside.
Although it varies, the average seasonal rate to play on a youth travel softball team was about $1,258 in 2017, said Bill Lennon, founder of Preparatory workwhich helps youth sports organizations collect dues. This figure does not include additional equipment or travel costs. For example, the new model of bat that I used during my last season, in 2019, now sells for almost $500. This is simply not feasible for children growing up in low-income households. A investigation A study of 4,000 Kansas City children by the Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society program found that “children from low-income homes were three times less likely to play on travel teams than those from low-income homes high income”. This figure reflects a lack of opportunities, which is unacceptable.
I love sports and understand their importance for children. Making them too expensive excludes many children. We need to level the playing field because every child deserves a chance to participate, not just those with the extra funds to do so.
The privatization of youth sports has made it increasingly difficult for disadvantaged children to enjoy the benefits that sport has to offer, from life skills to simply having fun with friends. With the increased focus on private sports leagues, generations of talented kids are missing out on the opportunity to play because they can’t afford it.
We must ensure that sports remain accessible to all children, regardless of their economic status.
Maddie Wright, of Southington, is a senior at Central Connecticut State University.