Youth Sport-Adult Directed Syndrome
Youth Sport Directed Syndrome
There have been so many changes in the field of youth sport that not only would it be hard to list them it seems impossible to determine the long range effects of these changes. But the short range effects do not look to good.
Today the youth of our nation is so over-coached and directed by adults one has to wonder how our children can think at all.
Gone are the playgrounds and parks where kids worked out their differences between themselves. Gone are the pick-up games where children refereed their own games and decided if a ball was fair or foul and made their own lineups. Can you imagine?
Given the current state of youth-directed sport I cannot imagine how we ever chose up sides and played so many sports and games without adult assistance or direction.
What is perplexing about the whole thing is that for the most part it is the baby-boomer generation who played so freely and creatively who ushered in the “youth sport adult directed syndrome” we have today.
How did we get here? The exodus to the suburbs surely had something to do with it. I think the economic affluence of this generation also had something to do with it. Children of today have so many more things than the baby-boomer generation. Perhaps it can be blamed on technology. Let’s face it you do not have to go to far today to be connected to another human being. If you are reading this then you are connected, or at least have the capacity to be connected.
How does the mindset of a free thinking generation create a generation that appears to be less active, less productive in creating new and different games to play? I am not sure.
One thing I remember growing up is that there just wasn't much choice in organized youth sports, and what was there was only for boys. There was Little league, and PAL baseball & basketball. Most organized sports were not available for children less than 11 or 12 years old.
We as youths were creative in the games we played with our friends because we were left to do it ourselves. We invented the rules we needed to make it work and majority usually ruled.
Since my youth there has sprouted up Organized SOCCER, football, hockey, tennis, cheerleading, volleyball, field hockey, LAX, and the list goes on and on. Not only are there more organized sports, they also begin right after birth for both girls and boys. Kudos to those who donate countless hours to make these venues available, shame on the people who have a lot to say (mostly negitive) never volunteer, and are completely unaware of the amount of time and effort involved. Parents are so self absorbed these days, its scary because it is beginging to reflect in their childrens behavior.
Parents in my day would only be involved if I came home with a broken arm or more likely a bloody nose. Now parents get involved in coaching, referring, and umpires all unsolicited. There are no cheers but there is plenty of screaming, usually at the aformentioned or other spectators.
Youth sports is growing out of control on a number of different levels. I miss those days when my parents let me go out to play with my friends we picked up a ball an bat and played for hours. NO PARENTS, NO REFEREE, NO UMPIRE, did I say NO PARENTS. and we had a great time. (Comment this)
We as sports coaches and parents need to rethink our approach to the youth sports experience.
1. 70%of young athletes drop out of sports before they are 13, when asked why... they cite pressure as the most overriiding reason for dropping out.
2. 62% of LI high school athletes feel that "trash Talking" is part of the game
3. 15% of parents at youth sports events display obnoxious, unruly and unsportsman-like behavior.
4. The 19,000 member of the National Association of Officials are now offered assault insurance.
5. 74% have seen out-of-control adults at games.
6. 36% cite embarrassment as the main emotion felt while witnessing bad adult behavior.
7. 37% have witnessed parents yelling at young athletes.
8. 27% have seen parents yelling at coaches anf officials.
These facts have been taken from:
The Inststute of Study of Youth Sport, Michigan State University.
Athletes Helping Athletes, Inc.
National Alliance for Youth Sports
Sports Illistrated for Kids
The compilation was put together more than two years ago, I can only suspect, that in my experience, the percentages anf changed for the worse.
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