Are School Sports Pushing Kids to Specialize?

The pressures schools sports are putting on our athletes are increasing, but since I'm a travel baseball dad, first lets discuss the elephant in the room about travel/club sports. Every thing I mention below also applies to club/travel sports. I have also known very demanding club/travel sports coaches that are pushing athletes to specialize. My advice to you is to find a travel team that works with and promotes multiple sports. There are plenty of these coaches out there. 

Something needs to be said. I am at risk at sounding like a get-off-my-lawn type, but I am not the only one that feels this way. The demands by school sports teams and coaches are unreasonable to a point that it is pushing kids away from the sports they love. These "non-mandatory" camps, practices, workouts, etc. are propped up with words like "commitment" and "work ethic", as if the kids wanting to play their seasonal sport do not have the same level of work ethic. 

A couple days after school was released, many schools around the country started camps, workouts, and practices for football, basketball, soccer, cheer, and more. Some will go all Summer long and some have picked their Varsity team based off these workouts. There are a few problems I have with this:

1. Let kids enjoy the Summer. They were just cooped up in school for 9 months and now you want them  to come back to the place they clearly need a break from. 
2. Let the kids play what is in season. When I was younger when school was out, it was out. Fall sports resumed in August, a few weeks before school started. Summer was enjoyed by all. 
3. It isn't helping their skill level. Contrary to what coaches believe, it is burning them out and causing more injuries.  
4. In much of the Midwest and Northeast, baseball season has just started. The majority of the high school season is a rainy cold mess in northern states. There is a common misconception that travel baseball coaches are the problem. From my experience, they embrace the multi-sport athlete.
5. Parents need a break too! The rigors of driving kids and coordinating schedules can take its toll on parents and kids alike.
6. Very good athletes are being forced into specializing because of the "off- season" demands

What do we do as parents? I leave it up to my kids and don't tell them no, but empower them to make the decision if they want to go or not. Parents shouldn't fall into the "fear of missing out" group and being pressured by others.  Let your kids decide what they want to do and also let them know there is no pressure by you. My theory for any Summer workout is you can go to or miss whatever you want, because well...

It is Summer Time!