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9 ELK RIVER PARKS & RECREATION <br />DIVERGENCE OF COMPETITION LEVELS <br />While many youth sports are becoming more competitive and this is driving <br />many of the expectations about associations, facilities, and investment, it is <br />important that communities retain a variety of off erings for youth. Rec leagues <br />provide a lower cost/lower time investment option that still comes with the many <br />benefi ts of youth sports participation, and may be especially important for kids <br />from lower income households or those without family connections to athletics. <br />For families making less than $50,000 per year, cost is the most common reason <br />given for why their kids do not play organized sports according to the Aspen <br />Institute. For the traveling and club teams, rec/in-house teams are important for <br />getting players into a sport and supporting player development. <br />The terminology varies from sport to sport but there are three main levels of <br />competition: <br />• In-House/Recreational <br />• Traveling <br />• Club <br />The parents of most children playing today played in local team sports often <br />competing against players from their own city or region, depending on the <br />sport. The expansion of traveling and club teams has been a signifi cant shift in <br />the youth sports landscape in the last generation. Elk River’s approach has been <br />to prioritize community-based programs, and recognize that there will be some <br />additional demand for facilities from outside organizations or associations. <br />For families <br />making less than <br />$50,000 per year, <br />cost is the most <br />common reason <br />given for why <br />their kids do not <br />play organized <br />sports. Rec/in- <br />house teams are <br />important for <br />getting players <br />into a sport and <br />supporting player <br />development