Travel sports getting out of control

Story by: Megan Schillinger, grade 9

Home one weekend and gone the next, teenagers in travel sports are constantly on the move. Travel sports, such as soccer and hockey, require a lot of dedication.

The prevalence of travel sports has spun out of control.

“Last season I went to Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, Tennessee, and Georgia,” Louree Johnston, a member of the Hoosier Futbol Club, said.

Although Johnston said that sometimes traveling is worth it, in other situations it is not. Getting home late on Sunday nights often affects her study time.

On the other hand, Emmy Green, cheerleader for the Indiana Elite squad, said that she enjoys traveling.

“The only flaw of traveling so much is not having as much family time as I would want to,” Green said.

Travel sports can affect the education of the players who get home late on school nights.

“Many of my teammates talk about how they are not going to go to school the next day after a long tournament,” Brock Frazer, hockey player for Culver Military Academy, said.

Also, Frazer admits to often leaving homework unfinished because he does not have the time or energy to do it. As a result, he sometimes does poorly on tests.

The cost of travel sports also takes a toll on parents with children in the programs.

“I have four children in travel soccer programs, and with the economy being so poor, I am worried about money,” Laurie Schillinger said. “Travel soccer is expensive!”

Kids can become involved in some travel sports as young as nine years old. These young athletes often travel as much as teenagers.

“I don’t think it is acceptable for a nine year old to leave the state for sports,” Schillinger said.

Overall, travel sports are opportunities for both younger and older children, but can be damaging to family and school life.