Violence in Youth Sports
It's in the churches, it's in the community parks, it's in the schools, it's in the recreation centers - violence in youth sports is a problem, not just in the local communities but all over the country. The behavior of coaches, parents and grandparents is troubling. The results can be tragic, mentally and physically. Parents and coaches get so emotional over the sports that children participate in, that name calling, arguing, fighting and sometimes bodily harm ensue.Out-of-control adults in youth sports are a big, ugly problem. Go to a game, and you'll probably see at least one adult acting like a maniac. About 40 million kids play organized sports in the U.S. An astounding 18 million of them say they have been yelled at, insulted, or called names during practices and events. That's a big reason why 70 percent of kids who play organized sports will quit playing them by age 13 (Cosgrove & Aiani, May 2001). Adults often forget that youth sports are supposed to be fun. Players make mistakes, teams don't always play well, and officials make unpopular calls. But parents, adult spectators, and coaches sometimes get so angry that they yell and curse at players, officials, and one another. Worse, some adults get violent. Adults an
Pro athletes now find themselves entangled in endorsements, drug addiction, and a few, murder and rape charges. One study found that as the children grew older they moved away from placing high value on fairness and fun in participation and began to emphasize skill and victory as the major goals of sport. It stands to reason that "fan rage" would increase as well. * Educate parents about the objectives of youth sports and clarify the goals of the program. Ideally, these individuals should be certified by a credible official's organization. In many instances, the goal can be a college scholarship or professional contract. It is time to regulate youth sports so the youth may learn the pro-social attitude and values that they should learn from sports, instead of the obsessive competitiveness, emotional callousness and disdain for moral scruples that often lead to the violence we see everyday. Children idolize and strive to mimic these pro athletes. Each person must be willing to not only change, but admit that they need to do so as well. Instead of regarding sports as a potentially fun or healthy activity for their children, some parents view athletics as a means of achieving fame, glory or material rewards (Pallerino, 2003). In society today children often compete with one another to get into selective schools, on to teams and into school activities. Another related element, which contributes to parents' emotional involvement in their child's athletic career is a process sport psychologists call identification - the intense bond between parent and offspring. In a burst of unfathomable rage, Thomas Junta confronted, attacked and beat to death Michael Costin over what witnesses say was - ironically enough - a disagreement on how rough practice had gone. Recreation professionals who oversee community facilities can begin to assert their influence by taking responsibility for educating parents about their proper role and responsibilities in the athletic triangle (e. "The culture can be changed," NAYS's Engh says.
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