Have Kids, Will Travel

These days, parents taking their kids all over to compete in organized sports events is the norm. Young people, especially very young people, don't like traveling to play in organized sports events. It's such a big deal to parents though. They think that playing better competition helps their child become more competitive. It probably can, but at what cost? A young person doesn't look forward to going on the road to paly the games, usually a tournament, so often more than one game. The parents though get so into the games. They get uplifted not only by the games if their kids do well, they think they are living the normal life. Many get so affirmed by living the "norm." In my opinion, it's largely a dysfunctional scene. Again, the kids go because they think it must be a good thing since their parents think it is so important and such a big deal. They may then begin to think something is wrong with them since they really don't want to be there, but their parents think they should. This could throw the young person out of kilter on many fronts because they could stop listening to their authentic self and would start on the path to being a false self. And it puts a child under undue pressure because the child sees the parents spending so much money on such events and it could cause them to think they have to perform well or it will be a waste of money. The child fears that and thus get stressed out and possibly get anxiety of some form. And again the child, even an older child goes along because they want their parent's love and they think they have to do so to keep receiving it.
Taking kids all over to participate in organized youth sports events is all about the parents, even though they talk themselves into thinking they are doing it for the good of their child.
Again, let kids play pick up games on their own, that's where they have fun and get better at the game as a side benefit.