Junior sport is about participation

4 Responses to “Junior sport is about participation”

1. mollymaree on September 22nd, 2008 2:20 pm 1

   I would have to agree with Adrian Sutton. My son loved football and wanted to play it 365 days fo the year. It was his passion. Now he won’t play at all after a season in under twelves, where it should have been all about enjoyment, development of skills, encouragement and having fun. Unfortunately, the misguided coach thought it was all about winning. Naturally, that is the aim but not the be all and end all. When there are almost forty enthusiastic kids, obviously not all of the kids can be on the ground for the whole four quarters. In actual fact, equal game time should be given to each kid, as much as is possible. However, this was not what happened. There was a core group of kids who were quite talented footballers, and/or also happened to have had family connections to the club for several generations. This group of kids was on the ground for the whole four quarters every week. The balance of the kids would be put on the ground for a few minutes here, and a few minutes there. I’m sure my son was not the only one whose passion to play football was killed because of this “win at all costs” attitude of the coach. This same team was beating the other clubs by a hundred points or more every week. Why not give all the kids a go? This same club talked about what a great future it had at the presentation night, where, incidentally all kids received a trophy for “participation.” I guess that was when they were allowed to! I wonder how many kids whose passion for a sport has been killed could have gone on and excelled in their chosen sport if they’d only been given a chance. This club with a “great future” may not have a future if it doesn’t change its attitude. The kids are their future. Turn the kids away and there is not future.
2. Alistair on September 22nd, 2008 10:40 pm 2

   This is a tough one. My experience as a parent is with junior basketball and soccer but the principles are the same. Coaches at the under 12 level have a tough job and should be looking for the right balance.

   Kids like to win, coaches and parents like to win. The kids all like to have a go and enjoy their participation as well.

   I’ve seen it work in the opposite direction where talented players are subbed off, get frustrated, their team concedes a goal and the other players get frustrated, everyone is unhappy.

   In my observation, the top 10 – 20% of any junior team are future stars who need to be nurtured, challenged, developed and they should have pretty much full game time. They are role models for the other kids. Perhaps take them off in the last quarter if the game is already won or lost.

   The bottom 20% may be too young or small to compete and they won’t expect or shouldn’t expect full game time. Maybe they are nine years old playing against 12 year olds just to make up the numbers.

   The rest of the players in the middle should be rotated through the team equally.

   Any suggestion that some kids are getting favoritism because of who their parents or brothers are is wrong, but I’ve seen it happen.

   With mollymaree’s example it’s also wrong, I think, not to give the players with lesser ability a run when the game is already won.
3. muriel on September 24th, 2008 2:54 pm 3

   Well said Adrian Sutton. I’d like to see copies of your letter sent to all sporting clubs and all parents and children involved in sporting clubs. I can’t honestly see the situation changing , because there’ll always be people who think they’re playing for sheep stations, but it won’t hurt to try to get the message across that this “win at all costs” attitude is not what junior sport is all about.
4. Jeremy Aston on September 27th, 2008 8:57 pm 4

   Good call mate! in the junior sports its all about everyone having a fair go and being given the chance to have a shot.
   I coached under 12 baseball for three years and the biggest thing i learned was at the end of the day the kids just want to play and have fun! and its up to the coach and parent top make sure this is the attitude that is attained.
   Seeing winning as a bonus but not as a priority..if everyone is having a good time then the results will look after themselves