04/15/2026
A mother at a school soccer match gasped when she heard an 11-year-old might leave club:
"She's too good for rec."
That's not the child's voice. That's a parent whose identity is tied to their kid's tier.
TIME published a piece last week calling for rec sports to make a comeback. More funding. More state programs. Nicer jerseys. The diagnosis is that participation is declining because access is broken.
I don't think access is the problem. The problem is a culture where parents feel shame about rec. Where "what level is your kid at?" replaced "does your kid love this?"
The youth sports participation crisis isn't about access. It's about what we've taught ourselves to value.