EYE ON THE PROFESSIONAL
A CLOSER LOOK AT TRENDS AND ISSUES IN THE PARK AND RECREATION PROFESSION
A summer never goes by when the media doesn't report
altercations that occur in youth sports among parents,
coaches and umpires. Just recently a mother attacked
an umpire after a youth baseball game and a tee-ball
coach pleaded guilty to assaulting a 15-year-old umpire during a game involving 6-year-olds.
How many of us have seen on the TV news magazines
or experienced firsthand parents yelling at umpires or
referees for bad calls, or a coach
yelling at a kid for making a mistake or dropping a ball? Have
you ever seen youngsters reduced
to tears because they lost the
game? Have you ever observed a
child who has been criticized by
a parent after a game?
What is happening to youth
sports and our children? Recent
research shows that of the 20 million children in out-of-school organized sports, approximately 17
million quit by age 13.
We, as park and recreation
professionals and board members, should be concerned
about the state of organized
youth sports. I recently read a
great book that examines the
problems occurring in youth
sports and what can be done about them. Why Johnny
Hates Sports by Fred Engh, president of the National
Alliance for Youth Sports, takes a historical look at sports
during this century and how the behaviors surrounding both professional and college sports influence youth
sports. It reviews common problems in communities
and takes an in-depth look at the role of parents, coaches
and supervisors of youth sports.
The bottom line of both the book and the issue of
youth sports is that we have the power to affect youth
sports by offering fun-filled and rewarding experiences
that put fun back into sports for kids. Here are just a
few thoughts gleaned after reading the book and working in the profession for 30 years.
Our philosophy of youth sports must change
• Keep the concept of intense competition in the school arena.
• Our programs first and foremost should teach sportsmanship and fair play.
• Speaking of losing, have we taught our participants how to lose and lose gracefully?
One of the most important roles that we can play is that
of educator. This must cover not only the coaches but also
the parents. Why Johnny Hates Sports points out that there
is an ugly parent in all of us. Sometimes when we think we
are giving words of encouragement, we are actually embarrassing the child. Through proper orientation and education of the parents, we can help them discover their real
responsibilities and role in the youth sport process.
There is a lot more child abuse in youth sports than
we think. Much of this is verbal and emotional abuse.
Examples of emotional abuse include adults who place
unrealistic expectations on the kids, such as scoring so
Recent research shows that of the 20 million children in out-of-school organized sports, approximately
17 million quit by age 13.
8 / Illinois Porks and Recreation
LET'S RETURN THE GAME TO THE CHILDREN
many points, striking out so many players, or playing
error free.
Coaches who make kids sit on the bench, game after
game, because they aren't "good enough" to play unknowingly give out another type of emotional abuse. Never giving the second-string player a chance to play is a form
of abuse. Seventy-eight (78%) percent of children interviewed said that they would rather play on a losing team
than sit on the bench for a winning team.
Younger children who aren't developed physically are
oftentimes made to play sports with equipment that is far
too advanced for their skills. We as professionals should
constantly be on the look out for newer, safer, and more
age-appropriate equipment. Why does baseball have to be
played with a regulation hard ball? Can't the younger
players use a soft, textured ball so that they aren't afraid
to catch it?
Education is also important for the recreation supervisors and volunteer league administrators who run
the youth sports programs. These dedicated individuals need to understand that the decisions they make
have a great effect on children's mental, physical and
emotional development. They have to know how to
develop adequate policies and regulations, provide a
safe environment and equipment that is age-appropriate, plus how to manage finances and recruit volunteers.
Many of these areas are not taught in college programs. Park and recreation agencies must seek quality
training programs such as the Academy for Youth Sport
Administrators offered through the National Alliance
for Youth Sports to complete the job of educating those
who run our youth sport programs.
We can make a difference in the lives of children through
youth sports, if we approach it in the right way. Let's go
back to the basics and let the kids have fun.
As Engh suggests in his book, "Let's return the game to
the children."
Seventy-eight (78%) percent of children interviewed said that the/would rather play on a losing team
than sit on the bench for a winning team.
July/August 1999 / 9Let's Return the Game to the Children
Park and recreation programs should center on the fun of
playing, the importance of teamwork, and the lifetime
benefits of sport and exercise. "Win-at-all-costs" should
not be tolerated. Playoffs, all-star teams, championships,
and trophies could be eliminated or at least offered only
to the higher age groups.
Remember that old saying, "It's not important
whether you win or lose, but
how you play the game."
On a recent radio talk show, the commentators spent an hour discussing the art of losing. If we
don't teach children how to lose, we are setting them up for failure in life. We must get back to stressing that the kids
should just do the best they can; that the sky won't fall down or we won't be mad if they lose the game. If everyone makes a contribution on a team, isn't that more important than winning?
- Why Johnny Hales Sports
by Fred Engh