Hudson Roth has played competitive soccer for years and wonders if people have lost sight of what youth sports should be about.
I’m heading into my sophomore year of high school playing competitive soccer 8 hours a week. While I still love the game and have been playing since I was very young, I’ve noticed a pattern that’s hard to ignore: more and more kids are quitting sports. Many of these kids started playing early, like most of us do — in recreation leagues, weekend tournaments and eventually club teams. But by the time they hit middle school, many are already burned out. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 70 percent of kids drop out of organized sports by the age of 13.
While some are burned out from playing 6 days a week, others feel constant pressure to be the best, to win and to specialize in one sport before they even hit puberty. And then there’s the cost. Some sports — especially for club teams — can cost thousands of dollars a year.
For many families, that’s just not possible. And even for those who can afford it, it raises a hard question: should playing a sport you love cost that much? What’s frustrating is that we know sports can be really good for kids. They teach teamwork, discipline and resilience. But when it stops being fun, kids stop showing up.
Let kids play with their friends. Let them try different sports. Give them time off. If we focused more on effort, progress and fun — and less on winning — I think more kids would stick with it. I think we’ve lost sight of what youth sports should be about. Not rankings or college scholarships, but growth and joy. Because if 13-year-olds are already quitting something they used to love, maybe the problem isn’t them. Maybe it’s us. With a Perspective, I’m Hudson Roth.