Youth
sports in America have evolved into a highly competitive beast, a far
cry from the idealized version outlined in rulebook and handbooks
distributed across the nation. Much like the win-crazy father played
by Will Ferrell in the film Kicking and Screaming, the attitudes of
many coaches today nearly create a parody of the very behaviors and
morals they're supposed to abide by.
I've
played 9 years of recreational sports in my town, and many years of
competitive sports as well, even at a varsity high school level. In
addition to this, I have several years of refereeing, captaining, and
coaching experience. Winning or losing, having an undefeated season
or not winning a single game, winning a championship or not even
qualifying for the playoffs- across baseball, soccer, and basketball.
Every year, season, I saw terrible coaches, before even I was able to
fully comprehend and recognize their actions. Later on, as I got
older, it became clear the coaching became less and less about fun
and more about winning and winning, and I was able to find myself
beginning to discern the few great coaches from the unrighteous
majority with greater clarity with every season that passed.
It
is said “Great men do not
seek power. They have power thrust upon them”. The very same
principles described in Star Trek have a real-world parallel in youth
sports. Rare is the coach who coaches simply to have fun. Instead,
coaches work to develop their own child's skills and create more
playing time for their kid. Unfair treatment of other children, those
whose skills are lacking, is more common than finding a scuffed up
penny on the ground outside of your local supermarket. It's obvious
from the behavior of coaches the fun of the children definitely isn't
their number 1 priority. In fact, the fun of the children isn't even
on their list of concerns- but that's what recreational sports at a
young age are supposed to be all about.
Had I become the
commissioner of youth sports in my town, several drastic actions
would be put into immediate effect regarding the practice of coaching
immediately. No longer would there be “volunteers” who so
“graciously” dedicate their time coaching be put in charge.
Instead, the least likely candidates would be put on the job. It may
be someone with no prior leadership, coaching, or even sports
experience, but that may as well be all the better. I know for a fact
some of the very most fun games or matches I've played I had no idea
what the score was at all. Especially when you're playing a strictly
recreational sport, winning is the least important thing. Thus, I
would impose rules working to tone down the importance of score
keeping, especially in the games of those less than ten years old.
Increasing the interaction and importance of referees in the game is
something else I would focus on. I would give referees more power in
the youth sports leagues in order to keep coaches in check and make
sure every player receives an equal amount of playing time. More
training would be necessary to make sure referees could hold up under
the pressure, but it would be worth it.
In addition to the
training referees would receive across all sports, coaches would be
subject to a strict regiment as well. Breaking any of the rules set
in place for coaches would result in harsh discipline. After all,
coaches are looked up to by the children. Seeing an adult upset by
the outcome of a kid's sport, frankly, is embarrassing for all
parties involved.
Under my
commission, youth sports would achieve their goal of being fun again.
No more broken baseball bats, soccer balls kicked across the complex,
or clipboards thrown to the ground. No more cussing out the sidelines
or prolonged glances of disappointment towards under-performing
athletes. By altering the way games are played and taught, a
revolution would be sparked, resulting in superior sportsmanlike
behavior in later life, even in those who do not continue in the
sporting world.
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