misunderestimation

This is a issue that will always be near and dear to my heart and will continue to appear on this site. I am both a parent of youth athletes and a coach of various youth teams who wants to see the fun return to sports. I believe we have gone too far in “developing” student athletes and forgotten the basic lesson that competition is meant to be enjoyed, not dreaded.

It seems there are a growing number who share my view:

At times, the district director of the local Babe Ruth chapter of baseball does think youth sports have become too competitive.

“You have coaches who are too competitive and so are the kids and so are the parents,” [Steve] Ayersman said. “A parent will sit back there and belittle the umpire, but they are not willing to go on the field or join an organization and help.”
[...]
“Almost all the sports are. There’s AAU travel teams. Those are for kids who are more talented. Some of them are on the league teams. You get complaints from the parents about playing time. Travel ball is talking away from recreation league players. There’s not such thing as rec ball anymore.”

Why are we so driven to push our children to excel in sports? Could it be the money we see professional athletes earning? Could it be the status gained by being the parent of the star player? Could it be trying to right the wrongs of our own childhood sports experiences? Could it be all of the above?

Please, let kids be kids. They grow-up too fast as it is.

Others blogging:

• Kids Who Hate Sports
• Readers: We Want Your Input On This Story
• Friday Edition: Big Hurts for Little Athletes
• Sports Advisor
• Good game

More misunderestimation