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Too much pressure causing kids to quit sports
Filed under: Teens, Development/Milestones: Babies
Thanks to excessive pressure from parents and coaches, seventy percent of children have quit team sports by the age of 13. Why? According to experts, it is the "professionalization" of athletics, where having fun is placed of lower importance than becoming successful.Many kids aren't just heading down to the local park for a once a week ballgame. There's practice, private coaches, trainers and travel games. I remember, when I was in high school, having a girl on my cross-country team that had her very own private trainer to help make her "the best." (She did well for awhile, though I heard rumors of burnout while in college.)
I understand wanting your child to do well. Heck, college is expensive and it might seem like a full tuition sports scholarship is the way to go. But, as the article mentions, out of over 19,000 young athletes, about 356 children will get a scholarship. Out of all those kids, only four will "go pro."
With those types of odds, isn't it important to instill a love of activity in the kids, especially in this age of obesity? Sports help children learn to work together and having a "team" mentality is good. Not everyone is going to be the best but they can still have fun while trying.
Do you know of any parents who put too much pressure on their children to perform in sports?
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
11-17-2006 @ 1:35PM
Nancy Toby said...Are there any actual objective data indicating that children are leaving sports due to parental pressure at any greater rate now than they ever did? Or is this just a few individuals asserting it is so?
Sure, we all know a few over-the-top parents. But are there more now than in the past?
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11-17-2006 @ 2:34PM
Wendy Mac said...My daughter is finishing up fall soccer this weekend. I also played soccer when I was a child.
I have to tell you, things are COMPLETELY different for my daughter than they are for me.
To be honest, I really, really am against her playing next season. She wants to return to dance anyway, so she'll still be getting exercise.
There have been some good moments, for sure, we've had a fantastic coach and a terrific group of families on our team. I can't say the same for our opposing teams. Also, when I see what lays ahead in future years? No thanks- I've seen what the older leagues are like, and I don't want my daughter to have any part of it.
It is TOO MUCH PRESSURE on her- she's 8 years old, and many of the practices and games ended with her in tears (despite how fantastic our coach is). My husband was a referee this season, and he also won't be coming back because of his unpleasant experiences.
When you have adults yelling, or worse, at the VOLUNTEERS like the refs and the coachs? Why should they go through with that?
I'm very sad to see how much has changed with kids soccer. I think it's ridiculous to put so much pressure on the kids this young. It's no surprise to me to hear so many drop out by 13.
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