SPORTSPASTOR

According to the Institute of Youth Sports at Michigan State, close to 75 percent of all kids who play organized sports stop playing sports entirely by the time they turn thirteen. In their fantastic book, How to Win at Sports Parenting, Jim and Janet Sundberg list the main reasons that young athletes give as their reasons for not continuing their sports journey. The list includes everything from loss of interest and too big of a time commitment to an experience with a bad coach or too much pressure from coach and family. The bottom line: It just was not fun anymore.

Youth Sports Parents are often guilty of living vicariously through their children or putting too much pressure on their children either from the bleachers or the sidelines. It is about time that young people had certain rights that guard their sports experience. What could keep a parent from deciding a child should specialize in one sport beginning in the 3rd grade? What rights should a young athlete have that parents and coaches need to consider as they seek to help their child to have a positive experience playing sports. That is why I am thankful that the National Association for Sport and Physical Education. They released the following statement that youth sports coaches and parents need to remember. They call it the Bill of Rights for Young Athletes. Check it out:

According to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Centers for Disease Control, kids today are six times more likely to play a video game than engage in an outdoor activity/sport. This is not just an self esteem or emotional health issue – this is a physical health issue. Sports develop the mind, body, and soul. We cannot overlook the importance of youth sports in the lives of young people and we should not overlook the responsibility that parents and coaches have in this arena. If you are reading this blog post, accept the challenge to be a catalyst for change if you see any of these patterns in your child’s youth sports experience. It is all about the kids. It really is all about the kids.