SPORTS AND CHILDRENNotebook: Kids And Sports (CBS News) - YouTube

Origin and Development of Organized Youth Sports

People began to realize that the social environment influences the character and behavior of children

Sports were supposed to teach boys how to cooperate and work together, and turn them into strong, assertive, competitive men

Most programs were for boys age 8-14 in the U.S. and girls were given the hope of becoming HS cheerleaders

5 Factors Related to the Popularity of Organized Youth Sports

1- # of families with both parents working has increased (ASP)

2- Significant changes in what it means to be a good parent

3- Informal child controlled activities often provide occasions for children to cause trouble

4- Outside the home has become dangerous 5- The visibility of high-performance and

professional sports has increased people’s awareness of organized sports as part of a culture

Trends in Youth Sports

Organized programs are becoming privatized Sponsored by private and commercial

organizations Programs are emphasizing the

performance ethic Increase in the # of elite sport training

facilities Many programs encourage exclusive attention

to a single sport Participation in alternative sports has

increased Popularity is based on children’s reactions

against the highly structured character of adult-controlled organized sports

Informal Player Controlled Sports

1- Emphasize action which will lead to scoring No strikes or balls

2- Challenging or exciting experience 3- Opportunities to reaffirm friendships

during games Problems

Bigger and older kids exploited smaller and weaker

Girls and others were excluded from games When space is a problem many don’t get the

opportunity to play

Formal Adult Controlled Sports

1- Adults determine and enforce the rules 2- Plan strategies and call plays 3- Solve problems 4- Controlled schedules and playing times

Less skilled sat on sidelines 5-Deviance occurred more often 6- Status on teams depends on the

coaches’ assessment of physical skills

When are Children Ready to Play Organized Competitive Sports

8 years old-children begin to develop the cognitive and social abilities they need to fully understand the complex social relationships involved in most competitive sports Beehive soccer Parents may accuse kids of not trying or

having a bad attitude 12- abilities are fully developed for most

children

Family and Organized Sports

Pressure on children If they quit, they feel their parents may

withdraw support and attention If they play sports but don’t perform well, they

fear their parents will criticize them If they perform well, they fear they will be

treated like “little pros” instead of children 70% of children drop out by age 13

Roles

Mothers- drive children to practices and games, fix meals at convenient times, wash dirty uniforms, make sure equipment is safe, raise funds for teams/leagues, prepare food for pre-post games, make phone calls about schedule changes, provide emotional support when athletes play bad

Fathers- handle on the field administrative matters (coaching, field maintenance, league admin)

Gender Differences in Children

Boys popularity depends on… Athletic ability Toughness coolness

Girls popularity depends on… Families social status Physical appearance Grooming behavior Relationships with boys Grades in school

Gender Difference in Children

Fathers play with their sons more often in more physically active ways

Boys are more likely than girls to think they are better than they actually are when it comes to sports skills

Changing Children’s Sports How can we make a better sporting

environment for our children