Pushing Children In Sports

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Pushing Children in Sports
According to statistics gathered by youth sports organizations, “Up to 50 million kids play youth sports in America, and 73 percent who begin playing a sport quit before they turn 13” (Binns). The children could have quit because they did not like the disappointment of losing or because they are exhausted from their parents pushing them too hard. But parents have their reasons for pushing their children into sports. “Studies show that kids who play sports are less likely to become obese, abuse drugs or alcohol or to perform poorly in school” (McCormick). If children are not active, then they will most likely become overweight, and if they have nothing to do in their pastime, they may turn to drugs and alcohol, which …show more content…
Children need parents there for emotional support, not for them to yell and act like a coach. There is a way for parents to be there for their children without making them feel pressured to be the best, such as explaining to them that it is not about winning or losing, because it is about having fun. In an article about what makes a good or bad sports parent, Steve Henson says an ideal sports parent will “know what is suitable to discuss with the coach.” Discussing their children’s progress and ways that may help them do better is good. Discussing other team members and voicing their negative opinion about how the team is playing is not okay. Playing in sports also helps children become physically healthy along with giving them a chance to interact with other children “The physical exertion involved in sports can straighten muscles, increase flexibility, rev up metabolism, improve circulation and promote good mental health. Sports also give kids a chance to develop valuable social skills” (Mooney). Being involved in a sport keeps children in a better physical shape than children who do not do sports. Being in good physical shape can help decrease health problems such as diabetes and problems related to blood pressure. Sports also gives children higher self esteem and confidence while giving them a chance to interact with other children and, build relationship skills that …show more content…
Overtraining is the term used when an athlete is training very hard without taking the proper amount of time off to recover. A symptom of overtraining is when an athlete does not make progress but declines in their performance. It can happen because they do not take enough time off, or they have too many competitive game days, or both. When children are complaining of pain, it is a sign that they should take some time off, not continue to train because that could lead overuse injuries, and overtraining can lead to burnout. Burnout is when the child becomes emotionally and physically exhausted with an activity. It can occur because of constantly repeated workouts or because children are feeling pressured to constantly train beyond their limits. The excessive training causes children to be worn out from the activity. Burnout can be avoided by having changes in the workout; children get bored doing the same thing all the time. It can also be avoided by taking time off. More training does not always mean better results, and sadly not all parents realize this. Many parents are hoping that their children will acquire a sports scholarship, but they do not understand that while they are pushing their children to the point of exhaustion they are also
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