Maybe 10 to 11 years ago my wife coached in the state championship game. About an hour before the game I arrive with my young family and a 1 to 2 year old son. He is running back and forth behind some fans. Not doing anything wrong. The two males turn around and tell me to take my kids and get the "F out of here". I let a lot of things go in my life and stay cool for my family, but that day wasn't one of them. I was so taken off guard and threatened that I just lost it. I calmly asked them "which one of you wants to get thrown down that flight of stairs first?". Their response. ..."hey man we were just kidding". I could go on and on with the weirdest stuff I've seen. The KIDS act more grown up than the adults. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
I post these here for people to view at their leisure. As someone who has five years experience coaching youth sports and 10 years in personal training/strength and conditioning of athletes, I think sports specialization before high school is the worst thing that a young athlete can do both for athletic development and lifelong participation. I will not be allowing my children to do it until they are least 16. They will be playing at least two different sports per year or not at all, that will be their choice. Beyond my personal anecdotal experience, more and more scientific research into youth sports participation and athletic development is supporting my personal observations. Youth Sport Retention Specialization vs. Multi-sport participation: http://www.shapeamerica.org/events/upload/Sport-Specialization_Stewart-Shroyer_.pdf Overuse injuries and Positive Youth Sports Culture http://www.acsm.org/docs/default-source/fit-society-page/acsmfsp15-1.pdf?sfvrsn=0 Early Sport Specialization Benefits vs Risks https://www.nsca.com/uploadedFiles/...pecialization_vs_diversification_in_youth.pdf Injury Prevention in young athletes, summarized key points: https://www.nsca.com/education/articles/infographics/injury-prevention-in-youth-athletes/
Cantexian...my wife and I share the same beliefs. Two to three sports for all our kids. Even though my oldest displays a high skill level in basketball she still played soccer and volleyball through 8th grade. This year as she enters highschool we gave her the option for her to choose what she wants to do sports wise. Kids become much better athletes when they play multiple sports Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Zach is the exact same, he's a high-level basketball player and a really good soccer player. He will remain in both until High School than his choice. Daughter was the same, she chose soccer and robotics come HS.
I don't disagree with this at all. It's hell on us parents, but my daughter has played competitive softball which includes games, practices, pitching and hitting lessons. She has played competitive basketball as well. When she went into Junior High she stopped playing competitive basketball but played JR High basketball with the school along with cheer leading and running track. Now that she is going into High School she will be playing competitive softball during the spring, summer and late fall(after HS season), in addition to basketball, track and cheer leading. She will be will rounded, but we know her heart is really in softball. That's the sport that she wants to play competitively at the highest level and really wants to play at the next level in college.
Ida won state champs this year, my daughter played with many of these players and I coached them 10U travel team. Ii was a great joy to watch these young ladies win it all, and know I had a small part in their success.
That's awesome. I was my daughter's travel ball coach until after first year of 12U. We played C ball because we had one pitcher and several players that weren't that skilled at the time. Now as I look around, almost all the girls that were on her team are playing competitively at the A and B level and doing very well for themselves. It feels good to know that I helped build the foundation for these girls to move on to be successful and play at a high level.
I'm still really curious...What do you think will help improve lower level coaching quality & retention? This topic grabbed my attention quickly...My kids both participate in school sports & we see the shortcomings. Many of you have coached and seen the worst of some very "loving parents". Punching their teeth out won't help...Ignoring them? Make them assistant coaches? I don't know...I was hoping you were going to share some insight from your experience (I know it's more fun to talk about our awesome kids! But I feel a little like you invited us over for venison steaks & now we're eating beef...Tasty, delicious, filling, but not venison). I'm not looking to be spoon fed...I like hearing other thoughts & opinions. Kids have to have a sports physical before they are allowed to play & I think it's coming to the point where parents/guardians will be required to sign a contract or attend a conduct class(not that I think it would help) before their children will be allowed to play. What do you think?
Parents are d-bags at games because they are in a pissing match with other parents over who's kid is better, or who's kid is going to get a scholarship. Which leads to the next point, parents will spend 100k on travel ball over tbe child's playing career to try and get a 50k scholarship, Why ? Because they are trying to live through their kid....and win the pissing match with other parents.
As a ref last year for soccer this is what I did. If I had a parent/fan out of control I would walk over and informed all the fans for that team. I will be throwing them all out, but the fan being an ass gets to stay. I have only had to do it once when others parents ask me why I simply told them I blame you for allowing the fan to act that way. As a coach, it's simple, I kick you out.
Well my daughter chose to play volleyball and basketball her freshman year. It's gonna be one long continuous 6 month season right in the middle of my wife's 4 to 5 month long bball season. And my two other kids sports season. Working the midnight shift...won't be getting much sleep. Probably age like 5 years in 6 months. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Parents need to deal with the fact that the world does not revolve around them or their kid. They need to grow up, get over themselves, sit down, shut up, and stop living vicariously through their kids. There, now those parents do not need a life coach. And, their kids won't need therapy. Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
100% agree. If your kid is going to go on in sports they pretty much better travel in that 12-16 range or they will get squashed by the kids who do- especially if your kids go to a small school.
