It has been noticed with grave concerns that youth associated with team sports are plunging and affecting thereby many sports leagues countrywide. The experts have blamed the parents for this state of affairs. They are of the view that the parent-driven emphasis is on multiple things want to grab many things at the same time for their children. We see over the numbers of children aging from 6 to 17 would be 26 million in 2014 decreasing 4 percent then forth to 10 percent considerably.
There are different factors of such a glaring drop-off, especially recession in recent years. In this respect, low-income households in the Urban areas are considered to be the main reason that has plummeted the sizable number of youth sports. However, the experts also ascribe other factors responsible for this dismal and regrettable situation, especially socio-economic forces in the neighbourhood and outskirts. There is no denying the fact that parents always take decisive action for their children, taking into consideration the financial positions when making a crucial decision, especially in respect to their education and sports activities. The experts are showing apprehensions as regards the sharp decline in youth sports evident from a conspicuous shift to elite competition. Indeed, main and foremost team sports like softball, soccer, baseball, touch ball, and even basketball have suffered badly. Not only have these staples taken hits but many others such as sports organizations, health advocates, league organizers have got disturbed to a more significant extent.
Coaches and other sports experts in America are concerned over team sports and their leagues. These days, the children are concentrating on a few jokes, and a significantly smaller number of talented youth are pursuing recreational competition. As a result, you would find very low and poor levels of coaching and unfair performances. One estimate suggests more than seventy percent of children have left playing sports, especially at the age of 13. However, some substantive measures are underway to cope with the situation and achieve excellence. The sports management professor, Mr Mark Hayman, has put emphasis on distinction instead of mere participation. In this respect, a vibrant and pragmatic system needs to be chalked out, meeting the needs of the most competent and talented youth in team sports.
All those endearing for sports revival and its betterment are holding the parents responsible. A host of organizations, including the Clinton Foundation, the Aspen Institute, and amateur sports organizations, make efforts to sort it out. Every professional sportsperson is blaming the parents. They blame that the parents are after a college scholarship, elite travel teams and do not spend on private coaching, swag, equipment, and travel to tournaments. Moreover, there are many parents who do not ask their children what they want. Recently a survey was conducted that shows that the children think distinctly from their parents. This survey reveals that children need cool uniforms, quality equipment, expensive gadgets, coaching, and skills development. Moreover, this survey also unearths the main reason as to why the kids quit sports. This answer is very straight that they don’t find any fun.
Subsequently, the highly talented youth concentrate on travel teams and start playing at an early age of 5 to 7. In many cases, some kids flourish even much later. As ill-luck would have it, the renowned coaches and trainers organize travel teams, leaving recreational leagues in a lurch. Consequently, the coaches of high-end teams exert coercion and keep the youth players under pressure. They pressurize the children to play specifically one sport resulting thereby burnout. In fact, this happens to owe to the parents’ choice. They believe that the specialization would bring them a scholarship.
As a result, the recreational league is becoming less attractive and unsustainable. Secondly, the talented kids are losing interest and checking out rushingly. Moreover, the standard of trainers has aggravated badly. As a matter of fact, these all factors are ruining youth sports and need to be addressed right away.