7 Reasons I Am a Terrible Travel Sports Parent

For the first time in six years, neither of my kids is on a travel, or select, sports team.

My son is in high school and participating with the high school sports teams. While travel team-esque, it is different.

Meanwhile, my daughter found out that there were not enough players for there to be a girls travel hockey team in her age group for the upcoming season. She’ll be playing in the house or recreational league. It’s not a big deal to me or her–she’s only eleven after all.

But our sports situation this fall made me realize just what a terrible travel sports parent I have been over the years.

Here’s why I am a terrible travel sports parent:

1. I do not think my child is the best player on the team and tell other parents, the coach, the other team, or post about it on social media.
2. I do not want my child’s travel team to play in a tournament–and pay for a tournament–every weekend.
3. I’m not obsessed with trophies, medals, and personalized shirts and sweatshirts from tournaments.
4. I do not complain to the coaches after every game about my child’s playing time or position.
5. I do not complain to the coaches or other parents about other players on the team. Excuse me, other children on the team. (Geesh, I’m soooo glad I’m not THAT PARENT.)
6. I have no strong feelings about matching sweatsuits, bags, or other travel team swag.
7. I’m done with fundraising so my tender pumpkin can have a higher quality experience, aka enter more tournaments or get fancier team swag.

See? I’m a terrible travel sports parent. I really should have ratcheted it up when my kids were on travel teams!

What about you? Any terrible youth sports parent behavior in your past? I did once call a referee a “stupid head” and another parent on my team turned around and shamed me by reminding me that we all signed a code of conduct at the beginning of the year.

Whatever. He was a stupid head.

Wait. Maybe there’s hope for me to be a terrible travel sports parent after all!