“How many games will we play? Are we in a league as well as tournaments?” These are questions I hear all the time when kids are trying out for various programs and parents are looking for a new team for their child. 

They’re searching for an organization that will provide maximum playing time. And, as they get older, maximum “exposure” for their college bound athlete. On the surface, that’s not a red flag at all. I get it. 

But… what I wish more parents would ask is this: “How many practices a week do we have?”

 There is purpose in practice, and it’s often overlooked by parents who don’t necessarily understand the process, or who have been in organizations previously where practices have been lazy, not thought out, or even non-existent. 

Playing games is fun. It can be glamorous, too, especially if your son routinely puts on a show. Games often become social hour for parents, as well, which is all part of the lure of youth sports. But if you take a step back, you’ll see the bigger picture. 

Practice provides the obvious things – like learning and executing plays, repetitive motions that help build muscle memory, and physical conditioning. It also provides some not so obvious benefits, like learning how to mentally prepare yourself for competition, and learning how to show up for your teammates every day, even when you don’t feel like it. Practices also provide much needed team bonding experiences. 

 Good coaches and strong organizations make practice a priority and put a lot of work into planning each session to maximize the time. That can be a legitimate game changer. So when you’re searching for a new team, make sure you ask about all the things, not just what tournaments they’re in and where they will travel. Make practice a priority.