Youth In Sport

1. Youth In Sport SEP 271 Dr. Jack C. Watson II

2. Topical Outline • Definitions and Statistics • Development and maintenance of youth sport • Socialization into sport • Socialization via sport • Coaching requirements • Topical Review • Discussion Questions

3. Definition of a Youth Athletics • Athletic league or team that promotes athletic competition which includes individual between birth and age 18 years • Youth athletes can compete in most levels of competition (i.e., little league, Olympics, pro, college, high school, …)

4. Pervasiveness of Youth Sport in the U.S. • Approximately 46 million children in youth sport programs in the U.S. • Up to 43 million children in non-school based sport programs • Up to 6.5 million children in school based sports • 70% of elementary schools sponsor competitive sport • 60-65% male • Before 1970, youth sport was 90+% male

5. When is too early and/or too late to start? • Many parents, leagues and coaches push for early competition • 2-4 years old in some sports • Diaper Derby • World Records for child athletes • Many stop participation between ages 11-13 • Sport disengagement is huge starting at age 11

6. Who is in charge of youth sport programs? • Educators left control of youth sports in 1940’s after high schools developed sports • Often uneducated and unknowledgeable individuals • Parents • Much complaint by scholars from 1930-1960’s about highly competitive sport • AAHPERD

7. Pros: Helps develop personal-social attributes (such as hard work, determination, courage…) Prepares children for the realities of life Cons: Excessive psychological and physical demands Injury rates Stifles creativity and expression Self-serving process for parents and coaches Reasons for and against youth sports

8. Primary forces leading to youth sport. • Child Labor laws • Muscular Christianity • Industrialization • Rise of corporate sport • Educators refusal to develop and monitor youth sport • Growth of professional and high school sports

9. Getting Involved in Sport • Who gets involved? • What causes them to get involved? • How do people learn sport roles? • What are the social processes for getting involved?

10. Socialization Into Sport • Families • Birth order • SES • Parent’s interests • Fathers are most important • Siblings • Peers • Coaches • Schools • Mass Media

11. Why do Boys Participate in Sports? • To have fun • To improve their skills • Excitement of Competition • To do something they are good at • To stay in shape • Challenge of Competition • To be part of a team • To win • To go to higher levels of competition • To get exercise

12. Why do Girls Participate in Sports? • To have fun • To stay in shape • To get exercise • To improve their skills • To do something they are good at • To be part of a team • Excitement of competition • To learn new skills • For the team spirit • Challenge of Competition

13. Why do kids drop out of sport? • Loss of interest • Not fun • Too much time • Coach played favorites • Coach was a poor teacher • Tired of playing • Too much emphasis on winning • Wanted non-sport activity • Needed to study more • Too much pressure

14. Why do Parents want kids to play sports? • To learn discipline and hard work • To compare kids against others • Excitement • Development of skills • Time away from home • Vicarious involvement

15. Socialization Via Sport • What children learn from their participation in sport (how does sport socialize them?): • Discipline? • Persistence? • Dedication? • Hard work? • Social skills? • Depends on type of sport: • Adult organized • Peer group

16. Child Play Informal rule of play Less specialization of roles Fast resolution of problems Games begin quickly, and teams picked fairly Intrinsic motivation Adult-Organized Child Play Specialized rules for play Practice is rule bound No autonomy Need for structure Unfair and lopsided teams More extrinsic motivation and focus on winning Differences between child play and adult-organized child play

17. Problems Caused by Parental Involvement in Youth Sport • Emphasis on winning • Emphasis on money • Disruption of education • Sportsmanship problems • Robs kids of fun • Programs started to help with parent and coach related problems • Injury problems • Todd Marinovich, Williams sisters, Tiger, Dominique Moceanu

18. Bill of Rights for Young Athletes • The right to participate in sports • The right to participate at a level commensurate with each child’s maturity and ability • The right to have qualified adult leadership • The right to play as a child and not as an adult • The right to share in the leadership and decision making of their sport participation • The right to participate in safe and healthy environments

19. Bill of Rights for Young Athletes • The right to proper preparation in sports • The right to an equal opportunity to strive for success • The right to be treated with dignity • The right to have fun in sports

20. Coaching Requirements • Non-educational Youth Sports • Volunteer coaches • Minimal training • Parents with time • School Sports • Teacher • Knowledge of the sport • Interest in extra $

21. Miscellaneous info about Training Coaches • 7.5 million volunteer coaches in N.A. • >50% of coaches are untrained • US is the only major economic country without nationally mandatory training • No conformity between states • 26 states require coach education if working in the schools • 23 states require non-faculty to have training to coach • 28 allow non-faculty to coach

22. Proposed National Coaching Standards • 8 Domain areas that categorize coaching responsibilities. • Coaches need some training in all areas • Philosophy and Ethics • Safety and Injury Prevention • Physical Conditioning • Growth and Development • Teaching and Communication • Sport Skills and Tactics • Organization and Administration • Evaluation

23. Coaching Problems • Lack of training • Lack of understanding of youth sport issues (physical and psych development) • Lack of ability to adapt • Coach like they were coached

24. Topical Review • Definitions and Statistics • Development and maintenance of youth sport • Socialization into sport • Socialization via sport • Coaching requirements

25. Discussion Questions • When should children begin their sport involvement? • What steps should be taken to enhance youth sport participation for the children? • Should all coaches be mandated to have training in coaching?