It seems that some families in the current generation are getting serious about youth sports at an early age.  It is no longer playing for fun but preparing for college.  For almost any youth sport that holds competion on the club level, kids (families) are recruited to concentrate on 1 sport.  All of this to supposedly earn their child a college scholarship.
204974
The environment SHOULD be recreational for kids under 12. This gives them time to enjoy playing for the sake of playing before the competitiveness kicks in. Over 12 there is an emphisis on skills and desire to win. It is sad to see parents pushing kids as young as 5 and 6 to be ultra competitive. Parents should stop trying to make their kids do things that they can no longer do themselves. GAME ON...ENJOY IT WHILE YOU CAN.
623945
college sports in general are way better than por sports........ college players play the game because they love to play unlike the whiney babies in pro sports that cant live on 9 million a year and think they need 12 million!!
201283
I'm a pro player. 29 years old and been in the league for 9 years. When you turn 30, it is a belief that they player loses some coordination and becomes expendable. Also, the contracts that we sign are back loaded. When they get to the end of the deal, their salary cap number becomes so high, they have to sever ties and rely on a younger player with less experience to fill the void. It is a rough business to make a living in. It is especially tough on families. I've moved twice and it is nerve racking. Then, on the flipside, some NFL teams love the older players and they find a home for another 3 to 6 years. Its a growing trend but that is the NFL.
578918
other countires don't have the enjoyment of multiple sports like us. their main sport is soccer and they may have been born to have a passion for it like their ancestors. however in the US, many kids could have been born to have a passion for other sports that we enjoy here in america.
499304
Their league, their rules, and they're not the only league with an age limit. The NFL prevents players less than 3 years removed from high school from entering the draft.\n\nFor every Lebron James, Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant, there's countless number of Korleone Young's, Ellis Richardson's and Taj McDavid's who either very quickly didn't succeed in the NBA because of their lack of ability, or they weren't drafted at all and lose their chance to play pro ball or get a free college education on an athletic scholarship.\n\nAlso, a player isn't required to attend college, but must be 1 year romoved from high school before entering the draft. They can go to college, play in the development league, attend a year at a prep school, or play overseas.\n\nI think playing even one year at a higher level will improve the quality of players entering the draft. Too many players have entered the draft out of high school who weren't ready and didn't make it. A player who may look good coming out of high school could prove to not have the potential scouts thought he had after he plays a year at the college level.\n\nAn age limit will only help make the game better by raising the quality of players that enter the league, it will definately improve the level of play in college hoops. It will help weed out players who don't have what it takes to succeed in the pros, and allow the one who may have it to improve their skills and give them a better chance at succeeding. I don't have any problem with the age limit.
649979
The tournament is still young. There still might be an upset.\n\nThe strong teams, however, are damn good. So an upset might be hard to acomplish. Be patient my friend. The tournament has just begun....
40651
To young people - sports means money\nHow does it affect sports? It really doesnt, in my opinion. just ads a little bit of motivation
346511
Academy's receive lots of applications every month from young players that want to play football.!!!\nThe best thing that you can do is try to get a recommendation from a player or a person that is involved with a club, that way you are at least guaranteed of a trail, these days it helps to know somebody otherwise you wait forever.!!!\nKeep on sending letters to the different clubs,phoning them, go to the clubs themselves and try to speak to the coaches,etc.!!!\nA hands on approach is your best bet.!!!\nGood Luck.!!!
477566
You don't say if you have a son or a daughter but I would have thought that, depending on how skillfull they are that you would be better off keepin to grass roots football for now and if they show exceptional talent then try for one of the Academys. I did with my lad when he was 5 and he has progressed through the ranks and made it into an academy now at the age of 13. Don't rush them along and remember this,"to play with a smile and enjoy the game is better than to play with a scowl and hate it" Good luck though.
654295
Well the majority of people are 18 when they graduate high school so they are technically adults.  It would always be beneficial for parents to get involved and help thir kids make the right decision.  It is hard to judge what would be best for a young adult, whether it be, financially, location, experience, education.
493753
The college ones are bigger (bigger players...LOL!) and have more padding, but usually smaller and more flexible/stronger materials. High schools cannot afford to purchase the kind of padding and materials that most colleges can. College unis would be about the same as most Pro Football teams.
266412
Youth Ultimate is thriving in pockets around the country.  Youth championships started in 98, dominated by high schools on the east coast.  Check out the UPA website for the sanctioned scoop.  As for getting things going at your school, you're a senior!  Get some friends and play!  You're not doing any homework next year anyway.  :-)\n\nIt takes a faculty sponsor to get it into the PE curriculum, typically, and usually not a PE teacher.  If your school has alternative sports credits for PE, you might work a deal playing regularly outside school for credit.  You never know unless you ask.\n\nThere is a small but growing number of Ultimate players becoming certified coaches, looking for kids to coach.  Ask Kyle Weisbrod, youth coordinator for the UPA, for ideas on how to hook up with someone.\n\nBut don't let your non-playing friends keep you from playing... There is Ultimate going on in most metro areas, and they are usually eager to teach new players.\n\nGood luck!
553177
i dont think there is one at all some kids go to the service first and then go to college   i remeber a QB from Florida St Wienke i belive was 28 and still playing in college..there also was a story last year about a 43year old kicker at  college
578680
When I was a kid playing tennis at our local park with my friends, I remember dreaming of the pro tour. We were all pretty decent players, but I remember going to my first big junior tournament. I ended up losing both the matches I played to kids in my age group. I then realized how much work was ahead of me. I spent the next few years going to junior clinics and private lessons. It was a great experience and I really improved. I never realized the dream of being on the pro tour that I had as a 12 year-old kid, but that's because I had to decide between devoting my life to tennis (spending hours per day on court and in lessons) or pursuing my education.\n\n    That being said, some kids are born with the special combination of hand-eye coordination and athletic ability that enables them to be a professional tennis player even if they pick up their first racquet at 16 years old. So, if your son started at 5, I wouldn't worry too much about that. Heck, even if he isn't dominating high school varsity players while still in middle school he can still make it to the pro tour. The secret is by being good enough to play D1 tennis. If he plays at the NCAA D1 level, he'll then have the chance to succeed, play in challenger tournaments, and gain an ATP ranking.\n\n    However, if his dream is of being the next Federer, then he really should be dominating every tournament he enters on both the city-wide level, but also the USTA regional tournaments. He should be one of the top players in the state. If this isn't the case, he can still make it, but it's going to take lots of effort. Jim Courier is a good example of a former pro who wasn't blessed with a lot of physical ability, but through 'blood, sweat, and tears' was able to turn the ability that he did have into a style of play that led him to success on the pro tour.\n\n    If you want more information on tournaments--because they're really the key to becoming a pro player--then I recommend the USTA website. I'll include several links in the sources for you (a link to the USTA junior tournament page, to the USTA future champions page, and to the USTA sections page--where you'll be able to go to your region's website and find more information on regional and local tournaments).\n\n    Anyway, I hope that everything works out, and that I was able to help.
127210
Because they love futbol, kids start playing it young and they never quit.   Its a sport that they play in the street, in empty lots, on fields and all you need is a ball.
601423
Girls that do sports growing up tend to be a whole lot of really good things:\n\nFitter\nMore coordinated\nSocialized\nHappier!\nMotivated\nAmbitious\n\nHappily, there are great opportunities now in youth sports for girls.  Not long ago, those were hard to find.\n\nI would encourage any parent to get their daughters involved, just so that they can discover what they like.  The rewards can be fantastic.
129665
Just do what you think is the best for your team.  If the parents are really concerned, they can get there teen off from the team.