Parents spend hours driving to and from practices, games and tournaments. They give up time to volunteer, go to parent meetings and sit on hard bleachers game after game.

Wallets start to thin from all the expenses of youth sports. 

And then there’s the drama, political mess and challenge of holding a family together in the craziest of seasons.

Do you ever wonder if it’s all worth it?

If you’ve watched college sports on TV, you’ve probably heard the saying: “There are more than 400,000 NCAA student-athletes, and most of us will go pro in something other than sports.”

Most high school and college athletes will not make a living playing sports. They will become leaders in their workplace, in their homes and in their communities. If youth sports is not helping them become the leaders they need to be for the future, then why are they participating?

The question then for all coaches, league organizers, parents, officials and anyone involved in youth sports is this: What are you doing to help kids become the leaders of tomorrow?

You cannot do that if your only concern is the score and the championship.

Janis B. Meredith, sports mom and coach's wife, writes a sports parenting blog called JBM Thinks. She authored the Sports Parenting Survival Guide Series and has recently launched a podcasting series for sports parents. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.