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Different times in here we've had conversations about kids playing sports. I found this article and thought it was interesting. I was especially surprised by the 70% drop out rate, but actually it's right in line with what the President of Little League told us this year with reference to the filtering out before high school sports. Even if your kids are little and aren't playing yet, there's some good advise here.
Players and Drop-Outs:
Thirty-eight million kids play organized sports. Of these, more than 70% drop out by age 13. One of their major reasons for dropping out: negative youth sports memories.
Building positive youth sports memories in the early years of youth sports is the major key to keeping kids playing sports in junior high and high school. Parents play an essential role in building positive memories. In a survey asking 6-12 year-olds why they continue to participate in sports, positive parent support was one of the major reasons. (Reference: The number one reason that younger children (up to age 10 or so) play a particular sport is that their friends play that sport.)
Measuring Progress:
Many kids drop out of youth sports because they compare themselves to other kids and decide they can't compete successfully. A key to keeping kids in sports is teaching them to compete against themselves by measuring their progress (movement toward a goal) in three areas: frequency (how often), duration (how long they repeat), and intensity (how much energy is involved).
Eagerly Look for Positives:
A key to building positive memories is to actively, and eagerly, look for positives to praise: skills, hustle, knowledge of the game, good sportsmanship, giving your all, encouraging teammates, etc.
Really Emphasize Successes:
It's not enough for us to notice the positives. We have to make a “big deal†out of their successes. Kids like action and commotion. When we celebrate successes (i.e., any progress) with cheering, clapping, high fives, game balls, certificates, etc., the kids hear it, notice it, and remember it, forming positive memories.
Offer support to help your kids learn from mistakes:
Many kids lose interest in sports because they live in fear of making mistakes in competition. Ironically, one of the greatest lessons in sports is that it's okay to make a mistake. In fact, when kids make a mistake, and learn from it, the mistake is a stepping stone to improvement.
Remember to Laugh and Have Fun:
In survey after survey, when kids are asked why they play and continue to play sports, the number one reason is to have fun.
If we maintain a sense of humor, and show our kids that we're having fun at their games, it helps keep a positive atmosphere, ripe for developing positive memories.
Expect Only What is Reasonable:
Age often determines a child's level of physical coordination, motivation and dedication. Expecting total dedication and motivation for sports from a child under 13 is unrealistic.
Kids who drop out of sports often cite negative memories of not being able to live up to adult expectations. Kids, in general, approach sports as a process (uniforms, relationships, the thrill of the game, snacks, etc.) rather than an end product. Adults tend to emphasize the “end product†(who won, how many hits, goals, touchdowns, baskets, etc.).
In two separate surveys, kids listed winning at the bottom of their list of reasons why they play sports. They want to win, but it's not the determining factor. And yet, adults (and the media) often send the message that winning is everything. The first and most important thing a parent can say after a game – “Did you have fun?â€Â
Gender Makes a Difference:
In general, girls are affected more by the social aspects of sports than are boys. Girls are motivated through positive relationships with teammates and coaches. In general, they're less responsive to statistics, and more interested in the human aspect of sports. We must beware of expecting too much, too soon from our kids, setting them up for failure.
Kids Should Not Be Specialists:
We have become a culture obsessed with specialization, but for young athletes, being involved in lots of different sports may be better. The more experience they gain with physical challenges, mental tests and fitting into the fabric of a team, the quicker they'll develop and excel as competitors and individuals.
Set a Good Example of Sportsmanship:
If we react to game situations with sportsmanship (winning without gloating, losing without complaining, showing respect for opponents and officials), we help our kids develop the same traits. Sportsmanship builds positive memories and keeps kids wanting to play.
(Source: Dr. Darrell Burnett, “It's Just a Game! Youth, Sports & Self Esteem: A Guide for Parents.†See also his website, www.djburnett.com, along with his other books, booklets, and audio tapes on the topic of youth sports).
Players and Drop-Outs:
Thirty-eight million kids play organized sports. Of these, more than 70% drop out by age 13. One of their major reasons for dropping out: negative youth sports memories.
Building positive youth sports memories in the early years of youth sports is the major key to keeping kids playing sports in junior high and high school. Parents play an essential role in building positive memories. In a survey asking 6-12 year-olds why they continue to participate in sports, positive parent support was one of the major reasons. (Reference: The number one reason that younger children (up to age 10 or so) play a particular sport is that their friends play that sport.)
Measuring Progress:
Many kids drop out of youth sports because they compare themselves to other kids and decide they can't compete successfully. A key to keeping kids in sports is teaching them to compete against themselves by measuring their progress (movement toward a goal) in three areas: frequency (how often), duration (how long they repeat), and intensity (how much energy is involved).
Eagerly Look for Positives:
A key to building positive memories is to actively, and eagerly, look for positives to praise: skills, hustle, knowledge of the game, good sportsmanship, giving your all, encouraging teammates, etc.
Really Emphasize Successes:
It's not enough for us to notice the positives. We have to make a “big deal†out of their successes. Kids like action and commotion. When we celebrate successes (i.e., any progress) with cheering, clapping, high fives, game balls, certificates, etc., the kids hear it, notice it, and remember it, forming positive memories.
Offer support to help your kids learn from mistakes:
Many kids lose interest in sports because they live in fear of making mistakes in competition. Ironically, one of the greatest lessons in sports is that it's okay to make a mistake. In fact, when kids make a mistake, and learn from it, the mistake is a stepping stone to improvement.
Remember to Laugh and Have Fun:
In survey after survey, when kids are asked why they play and continue to play sports, the number one reason is to have fun.
If we maintain a sense of humor, and show our kids that we're having fun at their games, it helps keep a positive atmosphere, ripe for developing positive memories.
Expect Only What is Reasonable:
Age often determines a child's level of physical coordination, motivation and dedication. Expecting total dedication and motivation for sports from a child under 13 is unrealistic.
Kids who drop out of sports often cite negative memories of not being able to live up to adult expectations. Kids, in general, approach sports as a process (uniforms, relationships, the thrill of the game, snacks, etc.) rather than an end product. Adults tend to emphasize the “end product†(who won, how many hits, goals, touchdowns, baskets, etc.).
In two separate surveys, kids listed winning at the bottom of their list of reasons why they play sports. They want to win, but it's not the determining factor. And yet, adults (and the media) often send the message that winning is everything. The first and most important thing a parent can say after a game – “Did you have fun?â€Â
Gender Makes a Difference:
In general, girls are affected more by the social aspects of sports than are boys. Girls are motivated through positive relationships with teammates and coaches. In general, they're less responsive to statistics, and more interested in the human aspect of sports. We must beware of expecting too much, too soon from our kids, setting them up for failure.
Kids Should Not Be Specialists:
We have become a culture obsessed with specialization, but for young athletes, being involved in lots of different sports may be better. The more experience they gain with physical challenges, mental tests and fitting into the fabric of a team, the quicker they'll develop and excel as competitors and individuals.
Set a Good Example of Sportsmanship:
If we react to game situations with sportsmanship (winning without gloating, losing without complaining, showing respect for opponents and officials), we help our kids develop the same traits. Sportsmanship builds positive memories and keeps kids wanting to play.
(Source: Dr. Darrell Burnett, “It's Just a Game! Youth, Sports & Self Esteem: A Guide for Parents.†See also his website, www.djburnett.com, along with his other books, booklets, and audio tapes on the topic of youth sports).
) This guy had his kid taken off the team and moved to one of the other teams. He is on the city counsel so he is a lil better than the rest of us. His kid is the next comming of Cy Young don't you know.. That was my first experience with the crazy actions that parents bring into childrens sports. Some parents would yell at there kids in front of everyone for messing up. Keep in mind these kids were 5 years old.. I tell my daughters to do there best and I'll always be proud of them.
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