Chapter 6 Youth Sport

Chapter Outline History of Youth Sport Sponsors of Youth Sport Current Status of Youth Sport Organized Youth Sport Why Kids Play Sport Burnout in Youth Sport Reforms for Youth Sport Summary

Historical Development of Youth Sport 1939 Little League baseball Mostly child-organized games until 50 years ago Huge increase in participation by girls since Title IX in 1972 Family and society changes affected popularity: –Working mothers –Increase in child predators –“Safe haven” for inner city kids –Specialized training

Current Status of Youth Sport In 2000, 54% of U.S. children played at least one organized sport (14.7 million boys, 11.3 million girls). Team sport participation peaks at age 11. Youth teams are often sponsored by public, NFP, and commercial sponsors. More than 70% of U.S. kids drop out of sport.

Reasons for Dropping Out Emphasis on winning Stress on high performance Specialization in one sport Expense Increased injury rate Trend toward alternative sports Lack of trained coaches Early starting age leads to greater burnout

Organizers of Youth Sport Athlete-organized sport Pickup games run by those playing Adult-organized sport Organized sport and leagues run by parents, coaches, organizations

Athlete-Organized Sport Lots of action for all players Flexible rules Playing and spending time with friends Freedom from adult interference or criticism Results are soon forgotten

Key Point In athlete-organized sport, kids learn how to work within a group, make decisions, and get along with peers.

Adult-Organized Sport Focus on skill development, proper positioning Strict rules and strategies, reinforces conformity Adults choose competition level, arbitrate rule infractions, determine who plays and where

Key Points A lack of knowledge in safety, healthy competition, and emotional needs of kids can do real harm in adult-organized sport. When parental involvement in youth sport is balanced and positive, the athletes can gain more from the sport.

Trends in Youth Sport In past 20 years adult-organized sport increased as youth-organized sport decreased Explosion of extreme or action sports –Increased by 600% since 1990 –X Games now mainstream –See table 6.1 on page 102 for trends in extreme sport participation

Possible Reasons for Trends Both parents working outside home, need child care Increased publicity of child abductions and predators, parents want safe supervision Belief of helping kids stay out of trouble Increase in specialized training in high- performance sports

Effects of Trends on Youth and Sport Decreased physical activity –More than 5 hours a day on TV, video games, computer –Rising obesity rates Altered sport preference –Basketball and soccer increasing exponentially –Bicycling, swimming, baseball, fishing, and touch football decreasing dramatically

Why Kids Play Sports For fun! Learn and improve skills Stay in shape Do something they are good at Excitement of competition Challenge of competition Hang out with friends Exercise

Why Kids Burn Out It’s not fun! High anxiety over outcome Performance anxiety Low self-esteem Parental or coach pressure Specialization, overtraining Long practices Too many games without recovery Overemphasis on winning

Figure 6.1 Bill of Rights for Young Athletes Guidelines for children’s sports (1979) reprinted with permission from the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), 1900 Association Drive, Reston, VA

Reforms for Youth Sport Bill of Rights for Young Athletes (Martens and Seefeldt 1979) Sports Done Right, statewide initiative in Maine –For communities and schools –Educational programs for players, officials, coaches, and parents –Continuing education for adults, no specializing, good sportsmanship, decreasing pressure, policies to increase activity

Summary Youth sport has grown into a replication of professional sport. Adult-organized sport emphasizes concepts that do not match the reasons why kids participate. Athlete-organized sport encourages the development of social skills and independent thought. Initiatives have been made to encourage positive consequences of participation.

On Deck… Questions and comments Assignments and readings Next chapter: Interscholastic and Intercollegiate Sport –Participants –Positive and negative influences