Summer Sport-Cations

Growing up in a wonderful blue collar town outside New Haven, expectations for a family summer vacation was usually limited to camping (which as a kid was awesome) and visiting grandparents (Not as thrilling or dirty).  What was never expected was a weekend spent playing competitive sports against kids from across the country, staying in a hotel that had a pool, parent red cup club or going out to Applebees with 20 other families.

As I sit here in the lobby at a newly renovated Trenton, NJ Courtyard by Marriott (Which are pretty nice now), I am watching the parade of travel softball, baseball and a wedding parties mingle over coffee and listening to last nights antics of ballroom and hallway shenanigans (That's right I wrote shenanigans).  This morning, I witnessed a teenage softball player scoff down a leftover slice of pizza and tell the table next to her of the grooms grandparents how her travel team has practiced all winter to play in a tournament "EVERY WEEKEND" this summer throughout the country.   The grooms grandmother asked a great questions as only a grandmother is allowed to do..."So when do you have time for fun"?  The other grandmother then follows with a lob pitch of "Helen the poor girl doesn't even have time for a real breakfast".  Classic.

For those in the business of operating youth tournaments this was music to my ears and a culture that doesn't seem to have a bottom.  From a parents perspective, I too am in town with my teenage son attending a QB/WR camp and we are living that life as well.  We are right along side those other parents investing in our Sport-Cation and forming bonds with those parents who have accepted this culture by befriending the other dads that know the reality and don't consider this a step closer to playing for Florida State.  Rather we will be thrilled if they can graduate High School without a criminal record.

Until then I will continue to embrace this culture both professional and personally and if possible take my kids on a real camping experience like the one of my childhood.... however it will probably have to be at the Bonnaroo Music Festival!  

Rob Thompson, owner/operator of over 80 grassroots youth tournaments in the US.  rthompson@nasportsgroup.com