I've been thinking this for quite some time, just never have taken the time to share it. Topics on this board often go down the class opt down discussion, private vs public discussion, kids are just different these days discussions, etc...
As a parent and current youth coach I can't help but feel bad for kids these days. Kids haven't changed, they don't know anything other than their environment. What has changed is their environment, their parents outlook, their coaches specifically their youth coaches outlook, the pressures they face at a very young age, etc...Frankly we as a society have overtime eroded the experience of youth sports and it is very saddening to me. I can't say that I'm 100% innocent and I need to remind myself at times that a kid has a whole life ahead and the pinnacle is not some high school championship let alone a 4th grade tournament medal on a weekend at some mega money youth programming center that trys to give the impression that their mission statement is to provide opportunities to youth. Bull crap, their unstated mission is to line their pockets at the expense of kids.
Kids are having experiences that are driving them away from participating at alarming rates. Below are some of the many problems I see and I'm sure their are many more.
1. Too much organized programming and not enough free play. Kids are constantly being coached from as little at 3 years old. This tremendously hinders development on multiple fronts. Do 10 year olds really need to put on a helmet, pads, etc..that almost doubled their weight in order to become a good football player down the road? We sure seem to think so and so does the kid until he realizes it's not fun and quits when he's 13.
2. Pressure from parents, coaches, etc... Just take a step back and watch and listen at any youth sporting event. It doesn't matter the age or sport. But if you really want to see some crazy go to a youth football or basketball game. Watch the coaches and how they act. Watch the parents and how they yell at some 20 year old ref barely getting paid. Watch how the coaches and parents are constantly barking instructions at kids. Watch that 9 year old girl's head spin as she is constantly hearing from multiple people what to do every play.
3. Specializing in a sport and not playing multiple sports. Does a 12 year old need to quit softball or baseball in the summer so they can go play another 40 basketball games in the summer? How many times have you heard of a kid changing favorite sports when they are 16, 17, 18 years old because they came to excel at a sport that was previously not their favorite? How many kids never did because they only played one or two sports past age 12? How many kids ended up losing a season due to overuse injuries from playing only one sport?
4. Too long of seasons. These sport facilities are all about getting money at the door and thus will make league seasons extremely long at very young ages. The leagues held at schools tend to be much more balanced, probably because their primary goal is not too make money.
5. Focus on winning and not skill development. Teams that focus on winning can and will win a lot of youth games, and actually dominate a league or tournament, but a team that doesn't win may have had a much better season because of their focus on skill development. In the long run the skill development team will be the more successful season and at some point the winning will follow at a time when it becomes more relevant. I remember being on the coaching staff of a boys basketball team years ago at a large high school. I was shocked at the number of kids who couldn't do a simple jump stop and pivot without falling over. Many of these same kids had spent numerous years playing club ball. My mind was blown and it was one of my first insights of the failures that club ball can be.
6. Costs - I believe the talent of the athletes at the highest end continues to get better and better but everyone else is left in the dust. Look at OPS softball and volleyball for the past 10+ years. Both of those sports have a huge influence by club programs. Schools that have traditionally low income households stand absolutely no chance. Skutt, the Elkhorns, the Millards, etc...are buying their success at this point. I don't fault the kids and patents but extremely sad that some kids will never have the opportunity because of the family and income level they grow up in, something they have no control over.
7. Too much too soon. I'm under the belief that much of the participation rate issues stem from youth sports. Years ago kids may have not played their first organized game until 7th grade. Maybe they started in 5th or 3rd but it surely wasn't at the rate it is today.
One last issue I see often. One kid is born on 07/15/2011 and another is born on 06/01/2010 but was held back (often with athletics in mind). These two kids are in the same grade and same team. One kid is only 90% of the age of the other. Because the focus is on winning and not individual skill development one kid feels behind and the coach casts them to the side and never really works with them but instead focuses on the older kid, which is often the same parent that held their kid back, yes that crazy dad. The younger kid finds sports to be no fun and ends up quitting only to years later, when they are no longer playing, have had their body develop and catch up with the older kid.
Be careful parents. Love your children and understand they are just a child, not a means of you reliving your glory days or living out a college scholarship you didn't have. Maybe your kid is able to handle the pressures but how many other kids, your child's classmates, did your actions effect?
Unfortunately we as a society are so deep into this now I don't know how this ever reverses.
As a parent and current youth coach I can't help but feel bad for kids these days. Kids haven't changed, they don't know anything other than their environment. What has changed is their environment, their parents outlook, their coaches specifically their youth coaches outlook, the pressures they face at a very young age, etc...Frankly we as a society have overtime eroded the experience of youth sports and it is very saddening to me. I can't say that I'm 100% innocent and I need to remind myself at times that a kid has a whole life ahead and the pinnacle is not some high school championship let alone a 4th grade tournament medal on a weekend at some mega money youth programming center that trys to give the impression that their mission statement is to provide opportunities to youth. Bull crap, their unstated mission is to line their pockets at the expense of kids.
Kids are having experiences that are driving them away from participating at alarming rates. Below are some of the many problems I see and I'm sure their are many more.
1. Too much organized programming and not enough free play. Kids are constantly being coached from as little at 3 years old. This tremendously hinders development on multiple fronts. Do 10 year olds really need to put on a helmet, pads, etc..that almost doubled their weight in order to become a good football player down the road? We sure seem to think so and so does the kid until he realizes it's not fun and quits when he's 13.
2. Pressure from parents, coaches, etc... Just take a step back and watch and listen at any youth sporting event. It doesn't matter the age or sport. But if you really want to see some crazy go to a youth football or basketball game. Watch the coaches and how they act. Watch the parents and how they yell at some 20 year old ref barely getting paid. Watch how the coaches and parents are constantly barking instructions at kids. Watch that 9 year old girl's head spin as she is constantly hearing from multiple people what to do every play.
3. Specializing in a sport and not playing multiple sports. Does a 12 year old need to quit softball or baseball in the summer so they can go play another 40 basketball games in the summer? How many times have you heard of a kid changing favorite sports when they are 16, 17, 18 years old because they came to excel at a sport that was previously not their favorite? How many kids never did because they only played one or two sports past age 12? How many kids ended up losing a season due to overuse injuries from playing only one sport?
4. Too long of seasons. These sport facilities are all about getting money at the door and thus will make league seasons extremely long at very young ages. The leagues held at schools tend to be much more balanced, probably because their primary goal is not too make money.
5. Focus on winning and not skill development. Teams that focus on winning can and will win a lot of youth games, and actually dominate a league or tournament, but a team that doesn't win may have had a much better season because of their focus on skill development. In the long run the skill development team will be the more successful season and at some point the winning will follow at a time when it becomes more relevant. I remember being on the coaching staff of a boys basketball team years ago at a large high school. I was shocked at the number of kids who couldn't do a simple jump stop and pivot without falling over. Many of these same kids had spent numerous years playing club ball. My mind was blown and it was one of my first insights of the failures that club ball can be.
6. Costs - I believe the talent of the athletes at the highest end continues to get better and better but everyone else is left in the dust. Look at OPS softball and volleyball for the past 10+ years. Both of those sports have a huge influence by club programs. Schools that have traditionally low income households stand absolutely no chance. Skutt, the Elkhorns, the Millards, etc...are buying their success at this point. I don't fault the kids and patents but extremely sad that some kids will never have the opportunity because of the family and income level they grow up in, something they have no control over.
7. Too much too soon. I'm under the belief that much of the participation rate issues stem from youth sports. Years ago kids may have not played their first organized game until 7th grade. Maybe they started in 5th or 3rd but it surely wasn't at the rate it is today.
One last issue I see often. One kid is born on 07/15/2011 and another is born on 06/01/2010 but was held back (often with athletics in mind). These two kids are in the same grade and same team. One kid is only 90% of the age of the other. Because the focus is on winning and not individual skill development one kid feels behind and the coach casts them to the side and never really works with them but instead focuses on the older kid, which is often the same parent that held their kid back, yes that crazy dad. The younger kid finds sports to be no fun and ends up quitting only to years later, when they are no longer playing, have had their body develop and catch up with the older kid.
Be careful parents. Love your children and understand they are just a child, not a means of you reliving your glory days or living out a college scholarship you didn't have. Maybe your kid is able to handle the pressures but how many other kids, your child's classmates, did your actions effect?
Unfortunately we as a society are so deep into this now I don't know how this ever reverses.
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