Why are youth sports so serious and intense in the United States today? There probably isn’t one single, best answer to that question, but it does prompt us to better understand why an activity that should be a healthy part of a kid’s life, in too many instances becomes the only thing in a kid’s life. Some of the reasons why youth sports are so intense have to do with parental unmet sport dreams (vicariously living through child), pursuing an college athletic scholarship, and simply keeping up with other families in the community. Unfortunately, fewer families today look at the youth sport experience more realistically in terms of healthy physical activity, great time spent with friends, and enjoying the sheer fun that accompanies playing sports. Rather than go-go-go all the time, parents may find the youth sport experience significantly more valuable when it is framed as a fun, meaningful, balanced life growth opportunity rather than solely a means-to-an-end, earn an athletic scholarship pursuit.
Specialization and year-round sports
Keeping kids busy with healthy life activities contributes to positive self-esteem, confidence, and many more wonderful human qualities that help with life happiness and success. Sport participation is a great addition to your child’s schedule, and when kept in balance with other life responsibilities and interests can help tremendously with overall human development. But what happens when sports are all kids know? Specifically, what are the consequences for kids who specialize in one sport, and play that sport intensely year-round with few, if any, breaks from the action? Fortunately, we know the answers to these questions.
- Kids who primarily play sports at the expense of doing other things often develop an exclusive athletic identity, an identity status correlated with a host of problems upon sport retirement, including mood state issues, low career maturity, role confusion relating to “Who am I?” and anxiety relating to unmet sport goals.
- With less than 5% of high school athletes moving on to play college sports, this time in a youngster’s life can be very isolating when suddenly left to deal with an unwanted and unplanned sport retirement.
- No future plans beyond sports, especially with kids (and their families) who banked on “making it.”
- A thin resume that lacks other life experiences, activities, jobs, and volunteering since sports took up all of the kid’s time.
For every one kid that successfully moves from high school to college sports (and maybe even to pro sports), there are tens of thousands of other kids that experience most, if not all, of the concerns mentioned above. Many of these worries are mitigated, however, when parents take their foot off the accelerator, tamp down the seriousness, and broaden the experiences for their child beyond just sports.
Final thoughts
While it is true that youth sports continue to become more intense, the experience you set up for your kids can be unique and tailored to your child. Remember, your child does not have to specialize in one sport, play sports year-round, or attend every ID camp that is available. While those things may be alluring, it is important to balance sports with other activities and experiences or you will likely run the risk of burning your kid out and leaving him or her vulnerable to a host of psychological issues.
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