Travel sports teams are an option for young athletes who have shown an affinity for playing well in a particular sport. This can be a substantial learning experience for a player who will be on a team with others who have also shown the ability to play a sport at a high level for the age group. Travel teams can help youngsters develop their talent, but it also requires a significant commitment on the part of the athlete and his family.
Recognition
Travel teams in sports, particularly soccer, are an option for players who have played in "house" leagues and performed at a high level. Instead of competing against young people in the community where the youngster lives, he joins a team that includes other high-level players and they form a team that plays against the better players from other communities. Games may be in neighboring towns or further away, requiring overnight stays. While some games may be at home, these teams are on the road a lot, and that's the reason they are called travel teams.
Selection
Players typically are asked to try out for the travel team. On a baseball travel team, a player may have been selected to the in-house all-star team. That may qualify her to make the travel team. Other players may not have been recognized on an all-star team but will still want to try out for the travel team. They may display enough talent to merit a spot.
Cost
A significant cost usually attaches to playing travel sports. An in-house league may have150 players to defray the costs of maintaining fields and buying equipment. A 15-player travel baseball team may have similar expenses, and that means that the parents have to incur the costs if there are no outside sponsors. Playing on a travel team may cost $800 to $1,000 per season, depending on the community and the sport.
Disadvantages
Travel teams can be much more competitive than in-house leagues. This can have a negative impact on youngsters who may feel pressured by coaches, parents and teammates to play exceptionally well every game. Most youngsters are not prepared to deal with that kind of pressure every day. Parents might not like the way a coach is using or not using their youngsters, and this can create additional friction for the player. Players who are on travel teams may think of themselves as "better" than classmates or friends, and that can create friction too.
