WHY ARE KIDS SPORTS SO INVOLVED THESE DAYS???
It’s just the organized, profitable, year round travel/pro leagues that have really developed.
When I was 12 in 1994 I played in 3 different little leagues and made a travel team because I loved baseball and wanted to play as much as possible until football started. This allowed me to play every single day, and during the day, I played other sports all day, some of it is just organized and more expensive now…if you want it to be.
I guess I read that you were putting blame on the coaches for not enforcing rules. Don’t get me wrong there are some coaches out there that are just as bad.
I’m not blaming coaches but they should have the ability to do something when they are stuck with some toxic parents that fail to see the bigger picture of the sport or activity.
The rare times where this stuff gets out of hand is where the toxic parents are well known and the coaches, refs and other parents do nothing about it either because there is no expectation or someone is afraid to rock the boat. It’s only human nature to push your boundaries, assuming there are any.
If all the coaches, players and parents aren’t having fun, than it’s a failure.
Personally, if a parent is out of line I have no issue with telling them to be quiet. Has only happened one time.
Also my standard answer to almost everything a parent asks is “ask the kids” or “kids make the play not me”- helps them remember the true reason we are there.
When my youngest wanted to play hockey, we saidfine. Then we find out that they could only get practice ice time at 6 am or earlier. Then get home for breakfast and school. Then teachers wonder why they fall asleep in school. The older you get the better ice time you get. We dropped the hockey. Also wonder why kids no longer get together to just play ball or find some ice to just skate without it having to be an organised.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>wimwuen wrote:</div>
The social media craze hasn’t helped either. Every sports parent, wants that profile picture of their kid with a 1st place ribbon etc… To some parents, and kids, that’s the most important thing now days.That’s no problem – Every kid gets a ribbon or trophy these days !!!
My 10 year old daughter participates in 2 sports- Karate-She is a member of the dojo’s competition team, and does intramural volleyball. Karate is year round for training, competitions once or twice a month, this is definitely not a participation trophy sport, her Sensei also doesn’t just dole out the next belt level because mommy and daddy paid a fee to get it, all advancement is earned by accomplishments, attitude and skills attained; and a form has to be filled out related to life achievements and behavior outside of karate by the parents, another by her teachers in school. Both of which can, and have, held students back. Volleyball is skill level dependent as to what team she is on and if you don’t win the reward is getting working harder for it the next week. Coaches encourage club participation in the winter to continue developing skills but not required. Every kid has to try out and earn their spots the next year. My daughter is self motivated to improve and usually is practicing karate or volleyball at home at any given time. She keeps up with the club kids just fine. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Kids need time to be outside and pursue other interests.
This was a North mpls suburb many years ago. Have since moved away but hope it got better.
When my youngest wanted to play hockey, we said fine. Then we find out that they could only get practice ice time at 6 am or earlier.
That was not our experience – we found that the kindergarten/preschool kids got guaranteed the times between 7am and 5pm, and then it got worse as they got older. Crazy for a kindergartner. This is north suburbs.
I’m curious how this culture will be in the future and the effects on society. I think it was said by another Idoer the progrestion was inevitable. I ask what made it inevitable.
I dont disagree with the conment.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>bigfish2 wrote:</div>
When my youngest wanted to play hockey, we said fine. Then we find out that they could only get practice ice time at 6 am or earlier.That was not our experience – we found that the kindergarten/preschool kids got guaranteed the times between 7am and 5pm, and then it got worse as they got older. Crazy for a kindergartner. This is north suburbs.
Pre-school hockey practice????
I’ve given up on society…..
The only time I had hockey before school growing up was in High school. We’d have practice from 5:30-7:00am. I don’t know of anyone in youth hockey with practice any earlier that 8/9am on a weekend. Never during the week.
I’d say part of it is that youth sports have become so much more competitive. Depending on the sport a lot of kids are doing extra clubs or activities to be able to compete with others. I think there’s a happy medium to most things and it all depends on the kid and their (not parents) interest level.
I think flexible work schedules make it a lot easier for parents. My dad could barely make it to watch a game let alone run me to extra practices. Every kid is different. Instead of asking for an Xbox or phone for his bday my son wants to go to an extra camp. To me it’s a sign he’s having a great time. The wacko parents give the rest a bad look.
Personally I don’t think too many youth coaches are getting rich off youth sports(maybe the associations/governing bodies are)
Best statement I’ve heard recently came from a coach my son has at an additional club he attends. I told him it’s awesome how he teaches the kids such advanced things yet doesn’t bring up winning or losing.
He said a win or loss at the youth level is about the most irrelevant thing to success ever.
Best statement I’ve heard recently came from a coach my son has at an additional club he attends. I told him it’s awesome how he teaches the kids such advanced things yet doesn’t bring up winning or losing.
He said a win or loss at the youth level is about the most irrelevant thing to success ever.
Awhile back I read a comment from Kobe Bryant about why his daughter’s team he coaches isn’t winning every single game/tournament. He said something along the lines of, “I could certainly coach them to win now and burn them out but our goal is to teach fundamentals, life lessons and make it enjoyable so that they are going to be the best players possible once they are in high school. We are trading the early wins for the later wins.” (not exact quote, it was something along those lines – can’t find article.)
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