If left unattended the loudest and most demanding parents or youth coach will take over the identity of a youth league. When a director listens to parents or coaches who say they won't be involved unless the score is kept, teams can press, the best players can all be put on one team, etc... the league will go wrong.
If parents and coaches who have a negative impact on the greater good of youth sports are not held in check we end up with kids quitting over time.
A complete culture change is needed in American Youth Sports! The willingness to identify what is important and STICK TO IT regardless of what the "negative parents/coaches" say is important.
The comments that always come out of the crowd like; kids need to learn how to lose, or winning teaches them how to compete, etc... The bottom line is those things happen naturally. Kids know who is faster, stronger, quicker, or just better- they know this. But they don't really care unless it is drilled into their heads by silly parents and coaches.
Growing up, we played backyard sports of all kinds all the time. We knew the best athletes- it didn't matter. We just wanted to play and be involved. Kids naturally develop a competitive spirit- it is part of human nature. Kids know who wins, they are not dumb.
In the backyard kids will self-regulate the games. They will switch teams to make it more fair if it is not fair. Ever go to a high school football game and watch the game that breaks out on the sides between 30-40 kids? it is amazing to watch them create their own environment. No parents, No coaches, No lobbying by adults to get the rules in their favor or the best team- just kids doing what kids do.
The sad part is parents and youth coaches can't see the big picture. They can't see it because it might involve their team or child not being #1 as a 1st or 2nd grader. They can't see it because they might have a poor record as the coach of a 3rd grade soccer team. WE HAVE ATTACHED TOO MANY OF THE WRONG STANDARDS TO YOUTH SPORTS SO WE MISS THE GREATER GOOD OF YOUTH ATHLETICS!
This may surprise you but here are my top priorities (in order) for youth sports development.
1. Play- the most important aspect of youth sports is the "Play Factor". I think kids being involved and learning to estimate how to play with others and against others is real important. I think kids will naturally compete.
2. Rules- I think rules for youth sports are important because it starts the process of learning what "boundaries" in life are. It allows kids to have a working framework on how certain sports or games should be played. The key is to make the rules "Kid Friendly". If you watch kids play in the backyard the first thing they do is set up rules for boundaries, end zones, or what ever rules apply- kids want rules.
3. 70/30 coach to kids leadership. I believe in youth sports, at least up to junior high, kids should be able to call 30% of the plays and have at least that much to say about how the game will be played. When a coach rules everything kids disengage. Give them a chance to call plays, say who gets the ball, organize part of practice, etc...
4. Skill Development- Although I have made my living as a skills coach I feel youth sports need more guidance than a strong-hold approach. I like to let my little athletes "figure" things out with a little help rather than make the practice or games about being perfect with skill. Remember, when most of us older parents/coaches were kids we didn't have skill coaches- we simply modeled what we saw from older players and eventually became pretty good at it. SO HOLD OFF ON THE "HARD-CORE" SKILL WORK WHEN THEY ARE LITTLE KIDS. I believe they will benefit much more from it.
Train Smart!
via Lee Taft's Facebook Page