This article from Proactive Coaching, from the Parents and Coaches Working Together collection, examines how youth sports have become more intense and adult-controlled, and how parents can become over-invested in their children's athletics. Featuring insights from Bruce Brown of Proactive Coaching and author Rick Wolff, it covers parental investment, the loss of joy in youth sports, over-identification, sideline coaching, dealing with failure, and practical tips for sports parents.
Introduction
One of my husband's fondest childhood memories is when he was 12 years old and his Little League team won the town championship. He can recall every player on that team, their field position and every play that occurred leading up to their big victory. His best memory of that day is sharing it with his dad who was also the team coach.
For decades, sports have been an important part of the lives of teens and their parents. But a lot has changed since my husband's team won their pennant race. Rick Wolff, a sports commentator for WFAN and author of the book, Good Sports: A Concerned Parent's Guide to Little League and Other Competitive Youth Sports, says, "In the past 20 years the intensity of youth sports around the country has revved up." Sports have gotten more competitive with many kids playing on elite travel teams and working with personal trainers. Years ago, kids played different sports based on the season. Now there is a push by coaches and parents to specialize in one sport early and play year round.