the craziness of youth sports these days

[Doctorfever]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

If team sports are so good at building character, why (in my experience) are jocks the biggest ######bags at school? They may have a strong sense of loyalty and teamwork with one another, but that seems to come at the cost of being extremely status-conscious and looking down on those who aren’t in their elite group. I don’t recall dudes who were into cross-country running and wrestling sneering at everyone else and bullying dweebs the way hockey and football players did.

It’s the leadership, or lack of leadership within that specific group. This is something that the group of people I coach alongside work very hard on.

Kids need to be held accountable for their actions, no matter what age they are. Just because you can score goals that doesn’t make you entitled to something, or to be able to act a certain way.

Depending on the group of kids, and their leadership (they idolize or follow people within their group from a young age) it can be easy or difficult to get them to act respectable both within the sport and outside the sport.

Also, bad coaching and mentorship can be seen from a mile away. The kids can’t always take the blame when they are taught or mentored to be jerks.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

If team sports are so good at building character, why (in my experience) are jocks the biggest ######bags at school? They may have a strong sense of loyalty and teamwork with one another, but that seems to come at the cost of being extremely status-conscious and looking down on those who aren’t in their elite group. I don’t recall dudes who were into cross-country running and wrestling sneering at everyone else and bullying dweebs the way hockey and football players did.

This is a 1990s stereotype level take, but the underlying thing you're noticing is called "confidence". I don't mean that in a dismissive way, but people who have a strong social circle, built upon being a part of a team which in turn gives people confidence in themselves, their belonging in a group, and abilities, allows them to be confident in themselves (pack mentality y'all). Which ya, alot of time can seem like being dbags, but in reality, its moreso that others don't have those relationships and social confidence to be the inner dbags they are themselves at heart too. Hockey/football players are no better or worse than wrestlers or computer nerds at heart.

[GirlySports]

Does it have to be sports though? Can the same leadership traits be learned via the girl guides or music or other non-sport avenues?

The whole team and leadership aspect in sports teaching chracter seems overrated and possibly toxic. And I'm a sports fan!

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

If team sports are so good at building character, why (in my experience) are jocks the biggest ######bags at school? They may have a strong sense of loyalty and teamwork with one another, but that seems to come at the cost of being extremely status-conscious and looking down on those who aren’t in their elite group. I don’t recall dudes who were into cross-country running and wrestling sneering at everyone else and bullying dweebs the way hockey and football players did.

Did you grow up in an Archie comic?

[BurningYears]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

I work in a shop that sponsors all types of riders and my boss was a nationally ranked rider. We are talking $5000 to 18000 for a quility bike in trail/enduro bike. 4500 and up is just what the average joe needs to pay for a rec bike. to start.3800 to 20,000,000 for a road bike/gravel/ cyclocross race quality bike.

Quility bikes aren't cheap and this year the average cost for a new bike across the whole price spectrum is 550 to 800 bucks even of nothing changes spec wise.

Company's have cut shops orders up to 70%, pre-orders for some products are over 450 days needed in advance now. The distributors are no longer offering terms for orders and no more free shipping on certain mins like there use to be.

You use to be able to find a decent fully for around 3500 but no more.

You could find a decent ok touring bike for around 1800 bucks but that same bike and level of components are now closer to 2600

Trust me it's not the shops doing it. Everything from start to finish in the process went up. We are just the last guys getting screwed in the line .

That better be one heck of a bike for 20mil

[Roughneck]

Originally Posted by BurningYears

That better be one heck of a bike for 20mil

178 grams lighter than the $3800 one. I’d say it’s worth it.

[surferguy]

Does anybody have their kid in little league? I’m looking to sign my boy up for this year. Im specifically looking at rookie ball with CWLL.

That said I “think” it states that ball is on saturdays, Monday through Thursday. Does anybody know if it is actually 5 nights a week. Is that correct? Is it normal for a 6/7 year old in kid sports? It seems like a lot.

Any insight is appreciated

Edit: Update - just got confirmation - it’s any of those days… usually 2 games and a practice/week.