by admin | May 12, 2014 | Uncategorized
The answer to this question is more complex than you might think. Readiness for sports does not come with a certain birthday. And just because a program offers sports teams for 4 and 5 yr-olds does not mean that you should feel compelled to sign your child up for the team. Nor should it compel you to think that this is the best possible thing for them. Readiness is also not determined by when the neighbors sign their kids up for sports. To determine when your child is ready for sports you need to know a little bit about physical and psychological development. In this section we will discuss some of the myths involved in early childhood youth sports participation. We will also present a guide to help you determine when your child is ready. The Early Start Youth sports seem like a rather benign, cultural rite of passage for children all over the country. Many parents feel that putting their child in sports early is the best thing for them, but did you know that pushing an early start could actually be the worst thing in some cases, causing undesired emotional consequences (1)? Some parents view youth sports as the arena where their child will be turned into a superstar, and they are under the impression that giving their child an early start will ensure success in athletics. However, physical education expert and professor Robert Pangrazi (2) says, “There is no evidence to support the idea that starting a child at a young age assures the child will become an outstanding athlete” (p. 30). He also says, “In...
by admin | May 12, 2014 | Uncategorized
Childhood is a unique time. Children are growing and learning at a fast pace. Children are different than adults, and the structure of the youth sports environment should reflect this. These articles from The Educated Sports Parent relate to how to accommodate the uniqueness of children in youth sports. Is My Child Ready for Sports? Should My Child Specialize? Is My Child the Next Michael Jordan? ...
by admin | May 10, 2014 | Uncategorized
Do Sports Teach Cooperation or Competition? Sports are by nature competitive, but recently, the over-competitive nature youth sports seem to have taken on has led to cause for concern. The issue has caused debate over competition vs. cooperation. In this debate there appear to be three sides: those that believe competition is inherently bad; those that view competition as a normal, acceptable part of American society; and those that are somewhere in between. The Case Against Sports Competition Author Alfie Kohn is one who is very outspoken against competition, going so far as to say competition is inherently bad. He points out that in a competition, only one wins while the rest fail. In “The Case Against Competition,” (1) Kohn argues that competition leads children to define themselves by the outcome, tying their self- esteem up with their ability to beat others. He further argues that competition is less productive than cooperation and that research has shown competitive children to be less empathetic and less generous than others. Competition causes anxiety, interferes with learning, and causes children to view others as obstacles to their success (1). Competition restricts participation and emphasizes winning. A “win-at- all-costs” mentality can lead to a devaluation of honesty and fair play (2). Furthermore, according to professor Daniel Frankl, competition only benefits the few skilled participants. In most sporting events, it is the skilled minority who will have the most contact with the ball and the most game experience even if all participants have the same amount of playing time (3). Cooperation, on the other hand, helps build self-esteem, helps kids learn to communicate, builds...
by admin | May 10, 2014 | Uncategorized
Should Every Kid Get a Trophy? There appear to be two philosophies when it comes to awards and trophies: those who want to hand out participation trophies for every little accomplishment, and those who think a pat on the back is just about right. So which side is right? This question is an important one. The way in which you decide to hand out awards can have an impact on a child’s motivation to participate in sports. Awards can either enhance intrinsic motivation or cause an athlete to rely on extrinsic motivation. Cox defines intrinsic motivation as “motivation that comes from within” while extrinsic motivation is “motivation that comes from an external as opposed to an internal source”(1), such as playing on the soccer team because you want the trophy presented at the end of the season. Trophies and medals are extrinsic rewards that can either enhance the intrinsic motivation a child feels to participate in sports, or they can become the sole reason that the athletes participate in sports, changing the child’s focus from intrinsic to extrinsic factors. Extrinsic rewards can serve two functions: to provide evidence of ability or to control (2). Once the athlete feels controlled by the trophy, or by getting paid to play as in the case of professional athletes, intrinsic motivation decreases (1). On the other hand, rewards that provide information can increase intrinsic motivation (2). Helping an athlete develop intrinsic motivation can lead to them developing self- determination and help them develop personal control and a sense of choice in what they do. It will also help them to maintain the feeling...
by admin | May 10, 2014 | Uncategorized
It’s been said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It turns out that the same can be said for winning (although saying “winning is in the eye of the beholder” doesn’t sound quite as poetic). Traditionally when most of us think of winning, we probably focus on the final score of the contest. Generally, the winners are considered to be only the ones who are on top when the final whistle blows. However, this is not the only possible definition of winning. Winning can also be defined by the quality of the performance of each individual athlete. The problem with taking the traditional perspective on winning in youth sports is that it is extremely limited, and it can serve to undermine a great performance by someone on the “losing” team. However, if we choose to go with the view that winning is in the eye of the beholder, we open the door to allowing everyone to become a winner, not just one group of people. Here’s an example. Let’s say your child played the best soccer game of her short little life, scoring her very first goal, but her team still lost. If all you focus on is the final score, her brilliant performance means nothing, and she might possibly go away feeling disappointed. However, if you choose to refocus your perspective, and consider effort and how she performed compared to past performances, winning can be something else totally. I don’t deny that at collegiate and professional levels of sport the final outcome should be important. However, youth sports should be all about fun, learning, and...
