Sports: It’s all about kids having fun, right?

Although Mother Nature took her time this year, it appears that springtime is finally upon us. As the grass turns greener and the weather gets warmer, youth spring sports are now in full swing. So as we embark on this youth season, it's a good time for parents, coaches, and adults everywhere to remind ourselves the true meaning of youth sports.

Youth sports help children learn important life skills such as respect for others, teamwork, commitment, self-confidence, and safety. Youth sports help children to develop physical skills as they mature and learn the specific skills required to play that sport. Playing a team sport teaches them the importance of being committed to a single goal and how each member's contribution is greater than any one individual.  It teaches camaraderie and fitness, but the most important aspect of youth sports does not need to be taught, it is pure FUN. Go to any playground and you will find it in its purest form. Children love to have fun! As a coach or parent, how much emphasis should we put on winning?

Winning should not be a primary goal in pre-pubescent athletes. Any coach who lists it in their top goals should not be coaching youth sports. Any parent who lists it in their top goals should rethink their priorities. Yes, winning is fun, and given the choice, I too would prefer to win than lose; however, it should never be a primary goal in youth sports. Focusing on player development, hardwork, and the goals listed above should always take priority. Assuring that each child has an equal opportunity to play, to learn, to develop is vital. When winning becomes a primary goal, the best children often play more or receive more instruction. If the other children get less playing time and/or less instruction, they improve less and will be less likely to enjoy themselves. Watching from a bench is far less fun than playing.

Children who are often the best players at the ages of 8,9 and 10 are usually the children who are the biggest and most physically developed. Once puberty occurs everyone else catches up, the biggest 8 year olds are often not the biggest 15 year olds and are often no longer the best athletes. If the smaller kids at 8,9, and 10 however, were not given an equal chance to play, they may no longer be interested in the game when they get older and stronger and the sport may have lost a good future player. Playing to win at a young age often does not allow the less physically developed players the same chance to progress.

In recent years youth sports has grown tremendously, it's fairly common for players to play on 2 or 3 different teams in 1 season at ages as young as 8 or 9. Travel ball is more common now than ever before and the pressure to play on these teams seems to increase yearly. With this added pressure so to comes the desire to win. The kids often feel this pressure and when that pressure becomes too much, they often stop playing the game; not because they don't want to play, but because they are no longer enjoying themselves. The sport becomes more of a job than a game. As adults, it is our responsibility to make sure that our children are playing because they truly want to play; not to fulfill a parents' dream; secure a college scholarship; or to help a coach collect youth championships. I have heard youth leagues as young as 7 pressuring coaches to teach non-age appropriate skills to build a better high school team. Youth leagues should not be looking to build players for high school. Furthermore, college sports scholarships are few and far between. Don't make it a goal. The amount of money spent to obtain that goal often outweighs the money received. If your child is having fun and gets a scholarship, that's great; but don't mortgage your house or schedule your child to spend every waking moment training.

If you are a parent or a coach in youth sports, remember FUN is the name of the game! Children that have fun will be more likely to love the game. They will want to play in the backyard, they will improve their skills, and they will be more likely to keep playing. Have a fun season.

Read more Sports Doc for Sports Medicine and Fitness.