The Real Dirt on Sports Options for Kids
(What parents really need to know from parents and coaches who really know)
by Cabell Smith Melson

Even as a former athlete and coach myself, I have a hard time deciding which sports are the best suited for my kids, my family, my budget, my time constraints, my kids’ attention spans, etc.  Many of us have been burned with signing up a child for a sport with certain expectations, only to find out that the “real deal” is quite different. Didn’t know that you had to buy the team swim suit and volunteer at all meets….Didn’t know that certain equipment or practices or extra lessons was involved….Didn’t know that I had to sign my life away (or my child’s) in order to get him in the studio door….Here’s the low-down on several popular sports from some local candid “experts” – parents, coaches, and athletes tell all!

Field Hockey 
Expert: Karen Moschetto, Head of Fredericksburg Academy Middle School and FA Varsity Field Hockey Coach.

The Best thing: it is an awesome sport that fosters teamwork and camaraderie.
The Worst thing: it is often very hot during the fall season and can be overwhelming at times.

Average Cost:  About $100; need stick (which is about half of that cost), either cleats or good tennis shoes (preferably not running shoes as this could cause injury), shin guards, mouth guard. Hair ties or hair bands are a must for girls with long hair. Before spending lots of money on sticks that can cost well over $100, buy one at a place like Play It Again Sports. Get a gently used stick and try the sport out before making a big financial commitment to it.

Surprise expenses:  Goggles/Eye wear- these run about $50; currently these are not mandatory, but more and more leagues and associations are requiring them.

Time commitment: Expect to practice every day for about an hour and a half. Games are usually played during the week after school (1-2 per week once the season gets underway); MS games last about an hour.

Travel commitment: This one is tough because it depends on where you go to school. Public school teams don’t travel too much. Private schools may travel up to an hour away, which means getting home some nights after 7 p.m.

 "Heat index" (play on words): Field hockey is really “hot” right now. There are lots of opportunities to play locally in the Fredericksburg area through Parks and Rec, the Field House, and even travel teams.

Season commitment: Season for Middle School students runs typically from the beginning of school until the middle of October.

Lacrosse (Boys’)
“Lacrosse is an up and coming sport in the Fredericksburg area, though it has been big in Northern Virginia for many years.  It combines speed, agility, contact and discipline… It’s a great sport for kids that love contact but would rather not play football.  This said, many football players play Lacrosse…”  notes Todd Mitchell, father of William (Will) Mitchell, a rising freshman at Courtland High schools. Will plays defense man (long pole) in lacrosse, which he has played for six years. He also plays tight end in football.

Average Cost: $1000 per player per year

Surprise expenses: Travel, Lodging, Camps

Time commitment: 10 hours per week

Travel commitment: Yes, and expensive

Heat index and season commitment: see field hockey notes” Lacrosse  is “hot” right now!

 
Soccer
As explained by Karen Newton, mother of Lindsey Newton (#5), who plays for FASA United. She has played travel soccer since 2nd grade. Lindsey is rising freshman at Massaponax High School.

The Best thing: There are so many great things about soccer. I love to watch her play and she loves it! Seeing my child’s love of the game is awesome!

The Worst Thing: It is a huge time commitment! It takes tons of time.

Average Cost: Cost varies per travel team, but Lindsey’s team’s dues were $340 for a fall season. (This does not include tournament fees, hotel costs, gas prices, and food.)

Surprise expenses: except rising gas prices, there should be no surprise expenses! Travel teams have meetings to explain schedules, costs, expectations. If you have a forgetful child who has forgotten her cleats or shin guards, and you’re out of town, you might have a surprise expense.

Time commitment: Practices usually twice a week for an hour and a half. Usually a game or a tournament every weekend. Seasons vary by league, but Lindsey’s played about eight games and five tournaments last season. (Most travel teams make some tournaments mandatory and others are optional.)

Travel commitment: About half of our games are away. The furthest we’ve traveled without spending the night is two hours, but some travel team travel a lot farther and even fly to tournaments.

"Heat index": We’ve never had a game cancelled due to heat. We just take lots of water breaks. We play regardless of the weather conditions, except thunder storms.

Season commitment: Depends on the travel team. Lindsey usually plays in the fall and the spring and does camps and training sessions in the summer. She also plays indoor soccer at the Fieldhouse during in the winter. A lot of it depends on how involved the player and parent chooses to be: there are year-round options and you can always find more to do!

Karate – The Mind/Body Connection!
Explained by Sophie Ryder, mother of 4th grader Elise Ryder, who is working toward her black belt. Elise has been practicing martial arts for more than three years now.

The Best thing about Karate/The Worst Thing about Karate:
The best thing about karate is the tremendous sense of confidence it has instilled in my daughter.  Many people have their children attend karate classes for disciplinary reasons, but I have found that it is an ideal setting for a quiet and reserved child to “tap” into her assertive side!  I honestly cannot say there is a “worst” thing about karate, other than the cost.  We took the option of paying the full cost within the first year of classes.  You also have the option of spreading the costs over the course of three years.

Average Cost:  $4,000 – this covers all classes until the black belt test, which usually takes three to three and half years before the child is deemed ready to test.

Surprise expenses:  None!

Time commitment:  Classes are held every day Monday through Saturday.  We usually attend twice weekly although you could attend every day if you wanted to do so.

"Heat index":  It’s climate controlled, baby!

Season commitment:  The commitment for the black belt takes three to three and half years on average.  We have been attending for three years and three months and will probably continue once the black belt is achieved.  A student of the school may continue to attend classes after that point for $50 a month with unlimited classes.

Horseback Riding
As explained by Wendy Osborn, mother of 17-year old Anna Osborn who is a rising senior at Colonial Forge High School. Anna has been riding since she was seven yeas old.

“There are times when four feet are better than two!”  I say this because the first time my daughter rode a horse she told me afterwards it was the best day of her life.  This was at the age of seven, she went on to explain she had never felt better than when she sits on the horse.  At that moment, I was sold on horseback riding for my daughter’s self-esteem.  She has learned many life lessons through her experience.  Responsibility, accountability and perseverance are just a few.  She has made great friends over the years and learned to deal with horses that have good and bad days, just like people.   

The Best thing: Built confidence and gave Anna foci (especially through the teen years).
The Worst Thing: The smell! – Anna does not even notice it any longer, but I have never gotten used to it.

Average Cost: Beginner starting into it Anna’s farm offers Community Lessons(teaches you the fundamentals of riding) every spring & fall  $350.00 for a 10 session course – the horse is provided – this is how Anna started after riding at their summer camp program.  If you own a horse, it is $35.00 for a one hour lesson.  Anna takes lessons twice a week year round. We allow her to do no more than two shows a month.   Shows vary depending on how many classes you ride in but can start at $100 and go up from there.  We average $140.00/per show. At Anna’s facility, you can show one of their horses but you do have to have your own show attire: helmet, riding jacket, blouse, pants, and boots.  

Surprise expenses: There are no surprise expenses if you only ride in the community lessons. If you own a horse, there are always surprise expenses.  Besides the usual shoeing, boarding and standard vet bills there are always “other” expenses that pop up for the horse -  Surprise health issues, supplies, etc..

Time commitment:  Community lesson –  20 minutes prep time, one hour lesson, twenty minute post lesson (1:40 total).  Your own horse – must be exercised/ridden 3 -4 times a week minimum.  Showing - requires an average of 4 –10 hours (depending on how many events you compete in).    
Travel commitment: only if you choose to show. We stay in the state of Va., so most of Anna’s shows are within an hour of Fredericksburg.  The farthest we go is Lexington, VA.

"Heat index":  Hot in summer, cold in winter.  Barns, stables, and riding rings are not air conditioned or heated.  We are fortunate to be where we are, because they have an indoor ring. 

Season commitment: ten weeks for community lessons, but can be year-round.
(Anna shows year round).  The standard show season runs April – November.  There is also an optional short winter series.

Baseball
Heather Gary is the mother of Cameron (rising 4th grader) and Ryan (rising 2nd grader). Both boys play ball for Stafford Baseball League, Cam for the past five years, Ryan for two years. She and her husband Kevin are active parents and coaches for SBL.

The Best thing: Seeing kids’ progression and improvement from day one until final game.
The Worst Thing: lack of parental commitment and how quick parents are to judge coaches.

 Average Cost: $60 per season (includes jersey and cap) and up.

Surprise expenses: cleats, glove, pants (and helmet, bat bag and batting gloves, if you want your own). Also, camps and clinics are extra.

Time commitment: Practice: 1 -3 times a week; Games: 1-2 a week (usually). But, yes, you are absolutely making a time commitment

Travel commitment: for SBL, all games and practices are within the county.

"Heat index": it’s pretty darn hot!

Season commitment: 13 -14 games, SBL offers fall and spring seasons; its spring season in April and ends in June; F’burg has a summer league.

Swimming
Laura Pinkerton (LP) , Pool Manager for Fredericksburg Country Club, coaches the James Monroe Varsity Swim Team. She is definitely an expert in this wet sport! Cabell Melson (CM), parent of three Buccaneer swimmers, Anne Tillery (4th year, this year 9-10’s) and Fitch and Lucy (1st year, 6-under) added a few comments as well.

Swim lessons: Offered at outdoor public pools (Woodlands, Dixon Street, Curtis Park), private clubs, Swim Kids, Regency Park Sports, all YMCA’s, sports facilities and through Tsunami Swimming at Fredericksburg Academy. For a list, see our sports guide on page 15. Use lessons for learning swim basics, beginner stroke techniques.

Swim Teams:
Recreational Swim League (RSL) is by far the most populous option. Neighborhood, public and private pools have teams.
Year-round options include Tsunami, Rays and Regency Park Sports.
High School: Most area high schools have competitive swim teams as varsity sports. Commitments are similar to all varsity sports.

The Best thing: (LP): There is nothing like the smell of chlorine. One way to keep kids clean!
(CM): a great way to stay in shape and everyone (athlete and non-athlete) can do it and be part of a team.

The Worst thing: (CM): Those hot summer days (and nights)!

Average cost: Swim lessons usually moderately priced for a couple of week of lessons.
RSL: cost is usually around $100; Year-round team costs vary but are higher.

Surprise expenses: Swim suits (competition swim suits run from$35 - $75!) and good pair(s) of goggles.

Time commitment: (LP) What you want is what you get!   Most year-round teams allow you to put in as much time as you wish (more time= more instruction = faster times).
RSL: Practices are about an hour every morning during the season, Meets are once a week for 6 weeks (4-hour time commitment and parents must work!); CM notes that this may not sound like a lot but it turns a lot of people off; it is busy! (which I like because it keeps us on a time schedule, but some families don’t like to be so committed in the summertime).
Year round: require much time (age dependent); daily practices (can choose # of practices per week). Meets are usually on weekends, two per month.

Travel commitment: RSL: all meets are in Fburg area; Year-round: meets can be local or across state.

"Heat index": CM: It’s a lot cooler for the swimmers than it is for the spectators. Think summer temps in Virginia. It’s HOT

Season commitment: RAL runs from Memorial Day until 1st Saturday in August (Finals); Year-round is…well…year-round.

So…there you have it The REAL scoop on sports options for your kids Get in the game
(Or the match or the meet….!)

HOME | CALENDAR | RESOURCES | CURRENT ISSUE | ADVERTISING | CONTACT US

©2008 Nuture, Inc