Youth Sports Is No Longer Play

Allowing Youth Sports to be Child's Play

Why Do Kids Play Sports?

http://www.nationwidechildrens.org/allowing-youth-sports-to-be-childs-play

On February 12th, 2015, my American Sport in the 21st Century class discussed the topic of organized youth sport in America. An organized youth sport is an athletic league or team that promotes competition which includes individuals between birth and age of 18 years. Youth sport is the largest organized participation of over 47 million children. Why are there so many children that are interested in playing sport at a young age? Recent studies have been conducted to determine why children play sports, and why parents get their children into organized sports. The main reasons that children initially choose to play sports are to have fun, learn new skills, and make new friends.  Parents, often times, look for sports to challenge their child, engage them in competition, and set winning as the goal (Nationwide Children's Hospital 2014 p.9). Having fun is the most important interest we discussed in class, but there were other benefits relating to these studies that we also mentioned in class. 

Benefits of Youth Sports:

• Develops and maintains fitness
• Preparation for adulthood
•  Opportunity to learn values
• Teaches interactive skills
• Provides opportunities for leadership  

I know from experience of playing and coaching youth sport how children learn new skills and values that will prepare them for adulthood. However, from that experience their are also major problem growing in youth sport. In the article Allowing Youth Sports to be Child's Play summarizes the main issues in youth sport today. It has been recorded that physical activity is necessary for normal growth in children. Although, when the activity level becomes too intense, or excessive, within a short period of time, tissue breakdown and injury occur (Nationwide Children's Hospital 2014 p.9). Although injury is no the only concern in youth sport; experts have identified two factors responsible for determining whether youth sports are enjoyable or anxiety-filled for young participants. First is the quality of adult supervision and coaching. The second is the amount of pressure parents place on their children to perform (Nationwide Children's Hospital 2014 p.9). In class we covered all these major problems in youth sport today:

  Major Problems In Youth Sport:

• Overemphasis on winning
• Pressures by significant others to achieve success
• Instilling unrealistic goals of stardom or professional status
• Overuse injuries/over training/burnout
• 1.35 million youths a year have serious injuries 

In this video John O'Sullivan from TEDxBend discusses the issues in youth sport today, and how we can change those issues. He brings up topics that we have talked about in class about the benefits of children playing sports at a young age, and the problems occurring in youth sport.    

Socialization of Sports

Selig’s legacy as environmental advocate is unmatched

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2015/02/23/Opinion/Allen-Hershkowitz.aspx?hl=youth%20sports&sc=0 

In class on February 10th, 2015 my American Sport in the 21st Century class we discussed the topic of socialization in sport. Socialization is an active process of learning the culture of society. Part of America's culture is sports. Socialization in sports include agents withing our everyday lives. Such as family, peer groups, schools, community, and mass media. The youth is the largest population in participating in sports, and the one reason for so many children being involved in sports is because children emulate professional athletes. They see them as role models to continue playing sports. Charles Barkley proclaimed he wasn’t a role model, young children ranked famous athletes among the most admired people in their lives (73 percent). While their parents are also among their role model (92 percent) (Ziemer p.1). Athletics should not just be role models for their great work on the field, but should show role model qualities outside of sports. 

Role Models Qualities  

• Honesty
• Commitment
• Good sportsmanship
• Sense of humor
• Fairness
• Determination
• Good self-image
• Hugh moral values

However, a role model in sports does not have to be an athlete. Former commissioner of Major League Baseball, Bud Selig, made a big impact on the sport industry. Throughout his 22 years of being a commissioner he has shown all these role model qualities that children should look up to (Hershkowitz 2015, p. 27). Also, after his retirement he was able to find another job relating to sports and become independent. He uses the skills he has learned for working with sports for his future achievement as a public speaker for sports. Bud Selig is an excellent role model. He brings socialization into the game.  

Values of Playing Sports

The Values That Can Be Learned by Playing Sports
http://www.livestrong.com/article/515810-the-values-that-can-be-learned-by-playing-sports/ 

On January 29th, 2015 in my American Sport in the 21st Century class we discussed the topic of social values in sport. We defined values as anything that is desirable and important (personal, societal, and organizational).In America are values are societal. As a country we value:
  American Societal Values

• Achievement and success
• Materialism
• Moral Orientation
• Humanitarianism
• Progress
• Equality
• Freedom
• Conformity
• Nationalism
• Individualism

Another American value are the real world lessons we learn from participating in sports. "Sport mirrors society" was the saying for this lesson. We as a country value sports because of a social and experience base. Which is a reason why we try to get children involved in sports at a young age.  Children often start playing sports because their parents have an interest in it (Silverman 2015, p. 1). We want children to learn the character traits that they will experience from playing sports; which will provide life learning experiences for the real world after sports. 

Examples of Character Traits  

1. Integrity
2. Work Ethic 
3. Leadership 
4. Sportsmanship 
5.  Teamwork 
6. Honesty 
7. Respect
8. Self-confidence 
9. Responsibility
10. Overcoming Adversity (Silverman 2015, p. 1) 

Growth of Sport

Harris Poll: NFL Remains King Among U.S. Adults, But Gap With Baseball Close

 http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2015/01/28/Research-and-Ratings/Harris-Poll.aspx

MAP: The most popular sport in every country (soccer is really popular) 

http://www.vox.com/2014/7/3/5868115/most-popular-sports-world-cup

The first week of semester on January 17th, 205, my American Sport in the 21st Century we discussed the topics What is Sport and Why Study It? Today people describe sport as a competitive entertainment to watch, but their is a difference between sport and play. Play is individuals choosing to engage in activities that have no temporal or spatial boundaries. Just plan fun. In class we came up with a definition for sport that separates the sport from play.

 Sport is Defined As Discussed In Class

• Physical
• Competitive
• Institutionalized
• GBs  (Governing Bodies)
• Motivated by a combination of personal enjoyment & external rewards. 

  

In class we discussed that those who have played sports at a young age and never made it to the level of professional athlete become extraordinary sport fans. The millions of people interested in sports are one of the many reasons for the billion dollar industry. Around the world the popularity of a sport relates to the fans culture and value. A sport can be growing in profit in one country, but in other countries that sport can be less impacted. About 3.2 billion people watched at least a minute of the World Cup in 2010. That means about half, if not more, of the world's population will have watched the 2014 World Cup. But, after taking a look at this map of the most popular sports around the world, that shouldn't surprise us all that much (Beauchamp, 2014, p.1). 

In a recent poll by Harris shows the favorite sports among U.S. fans. Professional football kept its large lead as the favorite sport among United States. However, the second favorite sport in America is baseball, which is the closest it has been in five years, according to results of an annual study from Harris Poll. Around 32% of U.S. citizens said the NFL was their favorite sport during a recent study. Now down three percentage points from 2013. Meanwhile, baseball is at 16%, up two points (Harris, 2015, p.1). Sport is a growing industry that will become even more popular in the future. We will be seeing favorite sports around the world become famous in other countries. Sport is a billion dollar industry that in a few years could become a trillion dollar business. Which is a reason so many people are interested in learning more about sport.     

FAVORITE SPORTS AMONG U.S. FANS (CHOOSE ONE)
SPORT	'14	'13	'12	'11	'10	'09	'98	'85
Pro football	32%	35%	34%	36%	31%	35%	26%	24%
Baseball	16%	14%	16%	13%	17%	16%	18%	23%
College football	10%	11%	11%	13%	12%	12%	9%	10%
Auto racing	7%	7%	8%	8%	7%	9%	7%	5%
Men's pro basketball	6%	6%	7%	5%	6%	5%	13%	6%
Ice hockey	6%	5%	5%	5%	5%	4%	3%	2%
Men's soccer	6%	2%	2%	1%	4%	2%	4%	3%
Men's college basketball	3%	3%	3%	5%	4%	3%	4%	6%
Boxing	2%	2%	1%	2%	1%	2%	n/a	n/a
Men's golf	2%	2%	2%	2%	2%	4%	4%	3%
Track & field	2%	1%	1%	1%	2%	1%	3%	2%
Women's tennis	2%	1%	1%	1%	1%	1%	n/a	n/a
Not sure	2%	3%	2%	1%	3%	2%	1%	*
Men's tennis	1%	2%	2%	2%	2%	1%	4%	5%
Swimming	1%	2%	2%	2%	1%	1%	n/a	n/a
Horse racing	1%	1%	1%	2%	1%	2%	2%	4%
Bowling	1%	1%	1%	1%	2%	1%	2%	3%
Women's soccer	1%	*	*	*	*	*	n/a	n/a
Women's college basketball	*	1%	1%	*	*	*	1%	n/a
Women's pro basketball	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	n/a
Women's golf	*	*	*	*	*	*	n/a	n/a