Which Youth Sport Is Toughest to Commit to in Idaho?

Playing sports as a child is a big part of growing up. It teaches hard work, discipline, commitment, and, depending on the sport, teamwork. It can help develop good habits, passion, desire, and how to work for what you want. Many of us grew up playing sports and know the amount of time, commitment, and travel it takes to excel at a sport and how much our parents had to sacrifice, and now the shoe is on the other foot and it is time for many of us to now pack up the car, get our kids ready, and give up weekends for youth sports. When it comes to youth sports in Idaho, which takes up the most time and requires the most commitment to get to games, practice, and cheer on your child? 

Youth Soccer in Idaho

Playing soccer can take a lot of commitment. Practices are long and tiring, the games can be in cold weather, rain, or early mornings, and travel and tournaments can be tough. Due to the heat of summer and cold winters, soccer doesn't have as long a season as some of the other sports, and doesn't play as many seasons. For those who live in the Boise area, who might play indoors in winter, the sport will be played more, but the travelling isn't as bad as other sports. It takes commitment, but for parents, it isn't as bad as others on this list. 

Youth Football in Idaho

Football is the shortest season of any sport, mainly because of the physical nature it takes on a person's body. Travel can be tough for games, and the games can be long, but with it being a shorter season, it doesn't take as long for parents to get their nights and weekends back. There are typically more practices and longer practices, due to the complexity of the game, but overall, football isn't as taxing as other youth sports on parents. 

Youth Basketball in Idaho

Typically, basketball season takes place during the fall, winter, and into the spring, and this time of year can be tough with holidays, road conditions, and how early it gets dark. Basketball tournaments can take up a decent amount of time, as well as practices, and can eat up someone's schedule and involve plenty of travel to gyms across the Gem State. While it can be tough to navigate a basketball schedule in Idaho, it still isn't the worst youth sport for parents to commit to. 

Youth Baseball in Idaho

Something about youth baseball brings out the worst in parents. For anyone who has gone to a youth baseball game in Idaho, the parents are different than any of the other youth sports, it seems. Baseball is a big deal in Idaho and requires a lot of practice. That includes long practices, many days of practice, and typically multiple games a week and tournaments throughout a season. The travel can be anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, and the sport is typically played in spring, summer, and fall, lasting throughout much of the year. Baseball takes the most commitment and time for parents and can be draining, yet many do it every year. 

Youth Cheer in Idaho

If youth baseball isn't the sport that takes the most commitment and time, then cheer has to be the leader. Not only does cheer require the most practice, but the travel often includes leaving the state and has no true season, as it can take place all year long. Anyone who has had a child in cheer or has done it themselves knows the amount of support, commitment, and funds it takes to pursue. While it may not typically be thought of as one of the major sports in youth sports, cheer likely tops the list of the biggest commitment and the toughest sport to support as a parent. 

Get our free mobile app

Despite how much these sports, and others not listed, require of parents, we continue to do it to support our children. It may not always be the most convenient, it may take time, it may take money, but if your child enjoys it and wants to pursue it, then it is all worth it. Which youth sport do you think takes the most time and commitment as a parent, and the one you hope your child will not want to do?