1. C H A P T E R 6
Youth Sport
Chapter 6 Youth Sport

2. Chapter Outline History of youth sport Sponsors of youth sport
Privatization of youth sport
Current status of youth sport
Organized youth sport
(continued)

3. Chapter Outline (continued)
Why kids participate—and stop participating—in sport
Burnout in youth sport
Reforms for youth sport
Chapter summary

4. Historical Development of Youth Sport
Expanded from lower-class activity (before WWII) to include all social classes.
Little League baseball began in 1939.
Majority of sport was geared toward boys until the 1970s.
Evolved from child-centered “play” to organized sport.
(continued)

5. Historical Development of Youth Sport (continued)
Title IX (1972) increased girls’ participation.
Family and societal factors affect popularity.
Both parents working outside home
Fear of child predators
Safe haven for inner-city kids
Specialized training

6. Sponsors of Youth Sport
Community and parks programs (local recreation centers)
Community organizations such as YMCAs
Nonprofit sport organizations
Corporate sponsors: national, regional, local
Commercial sport and fitness clubs
Private organizations that rent private facilities

7. Discussion
What is the difference between the traditional youth sport model (focused on learning the rules and being competitive) and the i9 Sports model?

8. Long-Term Athlete Development Plan
Sets a program for training, competition, and recovery based on developmental age.
Children develop needed fundamental movement and motor skills.
For more information, see table 6.1.

9. Privatization of Youth Sport
Funding for public youth sport has been decreased.
Entrepreneurs see money in competitive travel teams and private coaching.
Popular services include summer camps, private lessons, and sport academies.

10. Discussion
Parents can send a child to the IMG Academy for $50,000 per year in search of a college scholarship or pro career.
Discuss this phenomenon from a critical perspective.

11. Current Status of Youth Sport
About half of U.S. children participate in youth sport.
Team sport participation peaks at age 11.
More than 70% of U.S. kids drop out of youth sport before high school.
High school youth not on the school team drop out of athletics unless they can access nonprivatized recreational leagues.

12. Why Do Children Drop Out?
Increased pressure to win due to overemphasis on winning
Stress on high performance
Participation expenses
Risk of injury
Participation in alternative sports
Lack of training for youth coaches

13. Discussion About half of youth drop out of organized sport.
How could we design a study to find out whether they drop out altogether or begin participating in other types of sport?

14. Gender Differences Boys enter sport sooner than girls.
Girls drop out sooner than boys.
About 80% of urban girls and 64% of rural girls have no physical education class in the 11th and 12th grades.
The figure is lower (48%) for suburban girls.

15. Does Sport Matter?
More than 80% of executive business women participated in organized sport in middle and high school.
Girls of color have a lower participation rate than Caucasian girls.

16. Issues To Consider Increase in overweight and obesity among youth
Increasing costs of sport
Rise of extreme sports

17. Explosion of Extreme or Action Sports
600% increase since 1990
X Games now mainstream
Not a fad!

18. Changes in Sport Preference
Participation has decreased in baseball and football.
Participation has increased in lacrosse, rugby, ice hockey, gymnastics, and beach volleyball.
Basketball has the highest participation rates for both girls and boys.

19. Organized Youth Sport Athlete-organized sport Adult-organized sport
Pickup games run by players
Participation declining over the past 20 years
Adult-organized sport
Sports and leagues run by parents, coaches, and organizations
Participation increasing

20. Athlete-Organized Sport
Lots of action for all players
Flexible rules
Time with friends
Freedom from adult interference or criticism
Results soon forgotten

21. Discussion
What are some benefits of athlete-organized sport?

22. Key Points
Adult-organized sport has increased as youth-organized sport has decreased.
Adult-organized sport can do harm due to lack of knowledge about safety, healthy competition, and kids’ emotional needs.
Parental involvement that is balanced and positive helps athletes gain more from sport.

23. Adult-Organized Sport
Focuses on skill development and proper positioning.
Reinforces conformity through strict rules and strategies.
Adults choose competition level, arbitrate rule infractions, and determine who plays and where.

24. Why Kids Participate in Sport
For fun!
To learn and improve skills
To exercise and stay in shape
To do something they are good at
To experience the excitement and challenge of competition
To hang out with friends

25. Discussion
What are some of the main reasons that children give for dropping out of sport?

26. Burnout in Youth Sport
Excessive stress related to game outcomes, performance anxiety, and low self-esteem
Early specialization in one sport
Dropping out because sport is no longer fun
Poorly trained coaches
Unrealistic parental expectations

27. Reforms for Youth Sport
Bill of Rights for Young Athletes
National Council of Youth Sports
National Standards for Youth Sports (from the National Alliance for Youth Sports)
Educational programs for players, officials, coaches, and parents
Good sporting behavior and less pressure

28. Figure 6.3

29. Discussion
What suggestions do you have for reform in youth sport? Explain your reasoning.