Am I terrible for being thankful my son didn’t get into soccer? I look at those families that have kids playing the game and am just flummoxed by the time commitment.
Now, I get the importance of learning to function on a team. Along with the value of personal growth in support of the team. Both are quite important. Soccer teaches great things.
However, when I see so many of the week’s hours absorbed by practices, then two or more games over a weekend, I think that maybe it’s too all consuming.
Perhaps it’s simply the hubris of league managers who demand full focus on THEM. Maybe these folks can’t plan; challenged by the time management piece. Or they just love the sport so much that they can’t conceive of life existing off the field. Perhaps my view from the outside is skewed by the frustrations of the parents, without seeing the larger picture. I’m unsure.
I value a rich and balanced life. That seems to be what we have. I guess that should be enough for me.