My friend is writing a very provocative series on youth sports...
RYK
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I spend 2 nights a week coaching my sons basketball team, and spend both days on my weekend at the ice hockey rink coaching
him how to skate and play hockey. I spend all my free time with my boys because I love them to death, and will do anything I can
to keep them active and involved in something positive.
American parents get their kids involved with sports not because we all think we have the next Michael Jordan, but we sacrifice our
lives because we want them to have positive experiences growing up.
I do agree with this: "Today, kids get so many they are meaningless. Trophies for just showing up."
Also I hate it when they dont keep score. LOL
1. Let the kids have fun
2. Teach the kids the fundamentals and how to play the game the right way.
3. Teach the kids and families how to be a good sport.
When it comes to youth sports there may be some coaches who do not know everything about the game. However, I would rather have a coach teaching the kids how to play the game the right way than have a coach with knowledge leading kids down the wrong paths. We had a local team run the table with a perfect season. However, the coach was rude and many of the kids hated the game. In the process our county lost several young people who no longer thought the game was fun. I coached against this person in the district tournament. A play happened in the 5-6 year old league. The umpires are there to get the calls right but at the end of the day it is 5 & 6 year olds. The umpire asked for help and the kid involved told the truth. The coach stepped in and lied. After the game the coach was bragging to everyone how he was the hero because he lied and had a key play decided by what he said. Knowledged coach, bad example. I'll take a good example and less knowledge any day.
It's all about perspective when working with young people and in life in general. For example, consider the following comment from the blog:
"a couple of weeks ago after a rec league basketball game that my older son participated in and was fortunate to win by a large amount."
No. Your son is fortunate to have a healthy life and people that care. Your son is fortunate to be able to play the game perios win or lose. Just because your kid won does not make him any more or less fortunate than a kid who played for a team that did not score as many points.
Ripken in the Minors * Ripken in the Minors Facebook Page
I'd HATE to be a kid whose parents put all that pressure on them. I have a friend whose parents were like that and sports became a chore for him. We'd be playing rec league basketball when we were 14 years old and his dad would pace the sidelines the entire game. He'd have a turnover and his dad would yell at him from the bleachers. Of course, he's swimming on a D-1 scholarship now but he also ended up quitting baseball and basketball in high school because he couldn't take the stress his dad put on him anymore.
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American parents get their kids involved with sports not because we all think we have the next Michael Jordan, but we sacrifice our
lives because we want them to have positive experiences growing up. >>
In many cases yes, but step foot at highly competitive AAU baseball tournament and you will likely no longer believe that.
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<< <i>
American parents get their kids involved with sports not because we all think we have the next Michael Jordan, but we sacrifice our
lives because we want them to have positive experiences growing up. >>
In many cases yes, but step foot at highly competitive AAU baseball tournament and you will likely no longer believe that. >>
Would you rather have your child at a higly competitive AAU baseball tournament, or getting girls pregnant
and smoking dope ?
and smoking dope ? "
wow tough call, as i know those are the only two paths they could possibly choose.
dont NBA players do both on a regular basis? its called mulit-tasking!