your child? What does your child actually want to do?
"Communication is critical, but it's also paying attention to the signs, listening to coaches and parents who have interaction with out children, getting a sense from them about how our kids enjoy the sport," Ginsburg said. "Do they enjoy it? Are they excited and energetic? Are we seeing them complaining about going to practice?"
What is the age-appropriate level for my child? How competitive are the various levels of play — recreation programs, travel teams, tournaments and club programs? What are the time commitments for each? Several coaches suggested playing at a level where you can learn but contribute.
What is a coach's philosophy? Is the coach certified? Have they had a background check? What are their experiences and background?
How stable is this program? What is a program's philosophy? How many players are on each team? Are there multiple teams within each program? Do kids get equal playing time? The set-up of a program will entirely determine a child's experience for a season.
"Stability of the organization and coaching are two of the most important factors," Lavelle said. "If it's a well-managed league or program, that should first or foremost be a priority."
Are the officials trained and certified? Do they go to training every year? Will the games, tournaments and events have at least two officials at every game?
Are safety precautions in place?
How many games/practices in one day, or one weekend, will a team or event require? Are there trainers on site? Will the teams stay in air-conditioned dorms?
And lastly: How much does all this cost? What is financially feasible for your family? The cumulative cost of playing for a club team and participating in recruiting tournaments can quickly exceed $10,000, especially with programs starting at such young ages. To what end is this money being spent?
Ginsburg suggests evaluating these types of questions on a seasonal basis. He also says having a non-invested third-party can help provide feedback or perspective.
"It's really important that parents have objective adult allies who can help give a sense of perspective," Ginsburg said. "To have an adult — someone with nothing invested in giving you feedback — say this kind of experience would be valuable for your kid is helpful. We need that kind of additional, objective feedback that we respect."