Jason

I spent this weekend at the EYBL and Made Hoops events in Las Vegas. As I walked from court to court, one thing kept standing out to me. Parents. Youth sports has become very comfortable criticizing them. Sometimes it’s deserved. We’ve all seen parents who lose perspective. But that wasn’t the story I saw. I saw moms and dads riding the rail for hours, cheering every possession, carrying bags, buying meals, paying for hotels, flights, gas, tournament fees, and everything else that comes with chasing a dream. I saw parents encouraging their child after tough games, celebrating small victories, and doing everything they could to help them navigate a recruiting process that is confusing even for people who work in college athletics. Here’s the reality: There is no handbook for raising a student-athlete. Most parents are simply doing the best they can with the information they have. Often, while being purposefully mislead for them to spend more money. They’ll make mistakes. So do coaches. So do athletic directors. So do officials. So do recruiters. This weekend reminded me that the overwhelming majority aren’t trying to make youth sports harder. They’re sacrificing time, money, weekends, and comfort because they believe in someone they love more than themselves. The loud minority gets the attention. The quiet majority deserves the appreciation. Sometimes we should spend a little less time criticizing parents and a little more time recognizing just how much they’re giving up so their kids have a chance.