School's Out for Summer - Youth Sports Tourism Edition

It has been several months. After a series of deep dive articles last fall, I fell into a software project around youth sports — innocuous at first but then all consuming.

I started tinkering with a simple scorekeeping app for sports like water polo and volleyball. That dovetailed with volunteer work for Tam High School that included video streaming. And finally I embarked on determined mission to tie all this together into a great service to replace Teamsnap!

Playtime Sports is that lightweight, full-featured and ad-free replacement! Having spent years as a coach and admin, I wanted to build my dream service for team rosters, events, RSVPs, communication, scoring, and media. If you or anyone you know wants to use the latest and greatest for youth sports, please share. 🙏 You can even migrate an entire Teamsnap setup in under 2 minutes. 😀

Before pausing the essays last fall, the article I had planned to write next was about the burgeoning youth sports tourism industry. And with summer vacation just starting, let’s have a look!

When Alice Cooper’s 70s anthem blares to the final bell of the classic film Dazed and Confused (1993), the camera follows the rising seniors and just released 8th grade grads into a one-night cultural odyssey on the eve of the United States Bicentennial in 1976.

Suffice to say, in no way could you imagine any of the characters headed off for an epic combination “vacation” youth sports “experience.” Least of all, Mitch Kramer. 😂

So where are our aspiring sports families headed this summer? Here’s a quick hit list with a few recs thrown in.

Got 12-year-old son playing youth baseball, you are almost certainly headed to Cooperstown, NY for a stay at Dreams Park or All Star Village. Since this is a pilgrimage you won’t miss a visit to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Recommended: Pesto Fries from Mel’s at 22.

Is your teenage daughter really into volleyball? How about Orlando and the AAU Nationals. Are you AM or PM wave?! Get ready to jockey for pool umbrellas, team dinner reservations, and fitting in a theme park day. Enjoy the chaos and energy at Disney Springs and get a meal at Otto’s High Dive for some Cuban/Floridian authenticity.

Hello Frisco, TX. If you are planning like a boss and managed to combine a World Cup 2026 match with a trip to a showcase for your super talented 14-year-old daughter at the Toyota Soccer Center then 👏👏👏 You may be watching America’s Sweethearts in your hotel room so a trip to The Star is a must. And since you are in Texas — Hutchins BBQ.

If your 13-year old boy is wearing out the driveway shooting 3s, maybe Sandusky, OH is in your future. Get ready to marvel at the Cedar Point Sports Center. Enjoy Lake Erie, roller coasters, water parks, midwest summer vibes, and some quiche at Berardi’s Family Kitchen!

Here is what 151 courts looks like:

For all these memorable excursions, a family of four for 4-5 nights is looking at north of $3000 as a car road trip. Flying in pushes that to $5000 or more. And, Cooperstown is tiny and usually a 6 night affair — upping the price by $2k more than the others. If you hit the major parks in Orlando, you are also adding $1-2k.

Wherever you are headed, safe travels!