It is a problem. However. We got to visit a lot of churches as a result

We make time for the activities that are most important in our lives.

You can look at a person's calendar and determine their priorities. This applies to adults as well as children.

My wife and I go to the early service but skip Sunday School so that we can go ride horses before it gets too hot. Started skipping during Covid and never returned.

If we travel we go to mass where we are at. There is usually a Saturday service and a few Sunday services so there isn't much excuse. You prioritize what is important to you and your kids learn by example.

We go to church in the morning and then enjoy soccer games on Sunday evening. We enjoy it, because it allows us to spend the whole day together rather than chasing cows or just bumming around watching TV.

I handle our local Little League baseball/softball scheduling as well and there are no activities on Wednesday as well to allow for church schools.

Travel ball isn't keeping kids that would normally be in church away. Those parents made that decision long before they paid to be on the team.

I am shocked how many are willing to clutter up their Sunday vs just doing something Saturday morning.

Youth sports on Sundays was not something I remember growing up in Texas. But people nowadays go in much lower numbers. Personally, I wouldn't commit to an event in another state if I wasn't willing to participate fully. If your kid is a starter and misses significant playing time it will hurt the team and cause disruption to the normal game plan.

I'm a 7th Day Adventist so this isn't an issue for me or the Jews!

(Just kidding; I'm neither & agree these sports activities on Sunday are a gigantic pain!)

Travel hockey in Alabama?

Silly Protestants-

Saturday mass counts

No

MookieBlaylock said:

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Silly Protestants-

Saturday mass counts

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100%

sam callahan said:

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today's youth sports culture is ruining a lot of things - faith, family, education, budgets, character...

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It's crazy. I genuinely feel for my friends who have multiple kids constantly traveling and playing/practicing sports. It wasn't like that when we were growing up in the 80's and 90's.

It's a HUGE racket.

MookieBlaylock said:

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Silly Protestants-

Saturday mass counts

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I think the point was the danger of youth sports taking precedence over the importance of community worship - whether it's on Saturday or Sunday wasn't part of the premise.

All our coaches know Wednesday evening and Sunday mornings are off limits for practices and games. They have to schedule around religious activities not the other way around.

MJ20/20 said:

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Travel hockey in Alabama?

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Yes. It exists I every southern state. Believe it or not.

Texas, TN, and FL have the most.

JB93 said:

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MookieBlaylock said:

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Silly Protestants-

Saturday mass counts

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I think the point was the danger of youth sports taking precedence over the importance of community worship - whether it's on Saturday or Sunday wasn't part of the premise.

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Yes - that was the main point.

But I would affirm that whenever possible people should be in church on Sunday (Lords day). There is benefit to having Saturday mass or service especially for those who have to work Sunday.

Its a symptom of a larger societal unmooring from Christianity. General thoughts:
-There's way more money in baseball now than a generation ago, with more proven tracks to get access to the MLB opportunities.
-Sunday has been thought of as Saturday 2.0 for a long time now.
-America is generally protestant and Protestantism is having a huge left leaning lurch which makes it easier for people to duck out. Even if its a conservative protestant church, what even is the point of Sunday gathering? Its easy to miss a week or two when there is no focus on communion or the cycle of repentance throughout the week.
-Conservative protestantism is very isolated church wise. Church autonomy means you really don't have a connection to the congregants outside of your town. If you go to **Random Bible Church** in houston, there isn't a sister church in communion doing the exact same things wherever you're headed. Its easy to say you'll just listen to a Christian podcast or stream the service because church is an intellectual only pursuit.


Not wrapped up in youth sports yet (actively resisting) but my wife and I love going to church in other places. Just look up the orthodox church in the area, go, and then meet people at coffee hour you'd never cross paths with otherwise.

5K races used to always be on Saturday mornings

no more

I always admired Tom Landry. He went to church every Sunday, even on game days and on road trips. Always found a church with an early service that he could attend.

There are few things better for a child than the prospect of countless meaningless "tournament rings" and the possibility of a JUCO scholarship you spent $100k for.

I think that most kids/families would be better of if they didn't participate in youth sports that travel....and instead put that same money into a 529 account for that kid. Hardly any of these kids play in college.

And to the original question, yes, these leagues aren't good for kid's faith formation IMO.

MookieBlaylock said:

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Silly Protestants-

Saturday mass counts

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Saturday Evening Mass Counts starting 4PM Mass and after.

Those are called Vigil masses. (Just like Christmas Eve Masses)

Also, Catholic Churches have multiple masses on Sunday morning, some at 730 or earlier.

I played hoops for a Catholic High School, and we had Sunday afternoon and evening games and that was a half century ago.

That and Wednesday nights. Religion was undermined in a generation.

Fake binary

1. Undermining Faith

Or

2. Weakened religious commitment

Pretty much the same thing. Your premise defines the conclusion

Where's door 3? And 4?