Rethinking youth sports

• Right to participate

• Right to play as a child, not as an adult

• Right to share in leadership and decision-making

• Right to be treated with dignity

If you’ve ever attended a youth sporting event, you’ve probably witnessed some kind of ugly behavior or heard inappropriate remarks from those who should be most ashamed to admit it: the parents.

Adult society loves a winner, and we go to great lengths to support them. But we must be careful not to let that competitive enthusiasm destroy the virtues and benefits of youth sports.

We insist that children behave themselves, but parents routinely model the worst kind of antics, attitudes and behavior while sitting—or, in many cases, nervously pacing—as spectators of children’s sports.

The days of neighborhood pick-up games are gone, which means adults have an even greater responsibility not to ruin organized sports, kids’ only chance to play.

Plenty of coaches and parents approach youth sports with healthy, informed attitudes. But there hardly seems to be a sport or a league that is immune to at least occasional insidious, destructive behavior by adults who treat youth teams with the same zeal they do the professional franchises they follow as fans. And sadly, there are some youth coaches whose only mission seems to be winning games, while some parents will think nothing of screaming their displeasure at referees, coaches and even at the children themselves.

Youth sports do not exist for the entertainment of adults. They exist for children to enjoy and learn valuable physical and social skills that will last long after kids and parents have forgotten about scores and statistics.

The time has come for adults to re-examine why we participate in the first place and, more importantly, how we behave in the bleachers and along the sidelines of our children’s fields of play.

A leading association that advocates for children in youth sports continues to promote healthy attitudes and practices. The National Association for Sport and Physical Education knows too well the inappropriate pressure adults can put on children, and to that end promotes a Bill of Rights for Young Athletes. NASPE also offers detailed guidelines and rules for coaches and parents. For example: let coaches do the coaching, focus on giving your child unconditional support, don’t bribe your child or offer incentives for performance.

But perhaps the most important guideline of all: respect your child’s right simply to have fun.

Find more youth sports resources at aahperd.org/naspe/.