1.Pushing kids too hard to succeed – adults lose
perspective for what youth
sports are supposed to be :kids having fun, learning life skills, coping with losing while aiming to improve and
succeed.
§ Those who are most hurt are kids
themselves.
2.Putting too much emphasis on winning – parents are
overzealous cheerleaders
and overenthusiastic sports experts on game day (even though they are not involved in their child’s practice
and development).
3.Losing control of emotions and accosting officials,
opponents, and players.
4.Ignoring serious injuries: concussions, overuse/year –
round participation (ages 5
to 14/one in three children will be injured/30% of injuries are related to overuse, premature return to
competition = permanent
damage, weight training - too much too early.
5.Pushing athletes too early = real athlete kicks in in
age 13-14.
6.Mistaking a child’s age for their preparedness to
compete. Chronological age is not the same as the physiological
age /athletes should be
grouped by height & weight = undersized kid will not compete against someone who develops early. Kids who are
late bloomers should not be
counted out.
§