Experts say that the decline of sport participation among the youth is due to the pressure that parents put on them.
The American childhood has often been characterized by team sports, namely, baseball, basketball, softball, soccer, and touch football. ABC news reports that kids' participation in these team sports has declined, making experts worry.
According to a survey conducted by the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, the number of children engaging themselves in team sports has dropped by 4 percent from 2009 to 2014. When other sports are included, the decline increases to almost 10 percent.
Amanda Joy Visek, an associate professor of exercise science at Milken Institute School of Public Health (Milken Institute SPH) at the George Washington University, conducted a survey in 2014 asking nearly 150 kids about what they liked in sports. She found that kids had fun playing sports by “being a good sport,” in trying hard, and in receiving learning through positive coaching.
"Swag," or the “cool factor” characterized by wearing a cool-looking uniform, for instance, was rated as one of the least important fun factors.
“When there’s such an overemphasis on winning, it really takes away the enjoyment and fun experience from the kids,” Visek, Ph.D., explained.
And this overemphasis on winning is what the experts blame for the decline.
“The system is now designed to meet the needs of the most talented kids,” said Mark Hyman, a professor of sports management at George Washington University, according to the Washington Post. “We no longer value participation. We value excellence.”
And the pressure to perform excellently has been blamed on parents.
“The adults have won,” Hyman added.
“Parents are getting increasingly competitive about showing that their kids are number one in everything and sports are just another example,” Yahoo Parenting editorial director Lindsay Powers told ABC News.
According to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, the pressure that pushes kids to excel in one sport might negative affect overall sport participation in the United States.
“I worry so much about putting pressure on kids that if you don’t commit to a sport by fourth or fifth grade, you’re out of luck," said Commissioner Goodell. "There’s a lot of pressure we’re putting on our kids whether it’s coming from coaches, leagues, or parents.”
Experts say that a change of parents' attitudes and expectations will help their kids engage in sports again.
“Parents should take a step back and really listen to what their kids want,” said Powers. “For overly competitive parents, it’s never too late to make a change.”
