Preview

The Harsh Cost of Youth Orgonized Sports.

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1549 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Harsh Cost of Youth Orgonized Sports.
Carrillo 1
Garrett Carrillo
Professor Solis
English 101
29 February 2010
“Win, At What Cost?” “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.” A quote made famous by NFL head coach Vince Lombardi winner of the first two Super Bowls ever played, but are these words the motto we should subject our young athletes too? In a Research Digest article titled “Youth Sports In America: an Overview” the Presidents Council On Fitness & Sports talks about the benefits of organized sports. Also in Sports In Contemporary Society Authors: Joan Ryan, Buzz Bissinger, and Mark Hyman write about their encounters with eating disorders, mental and physical abuse in organized sports for youth. Unfortunately the harm caused to youth by organized sports is greater than its benefits. According to “Youth Sports In America: An Overview” sports are an excellent opportunity for social development. The Article states that, “…many of the social and moral requirements for sports parallel to how individuals must function in a law-abiding society” (7). This statement is true in theory, listening to your coaches and following orders at practice can teach you to follow the law and model how to act with say a supervisor, yet this is all assuming your coach teaches you how with more then an agenda to simply win at all cost. Although sports are thought to teach moral values “Youth Sports In America: An Overview” states this, “Sports themselves are not morel or immoral…however the potential does exist to enhance moral development…”(7). This tells us that sports its self is neutral, the people are in control of practice are the ones who install the morals that come with the
Carrillo 2
Organized sports. If the people who are in charge of organizing our sports for our youth only want to win at all cost, physical health and integrity will slowly disappear in our youth. In “Harm to Your Children in Youth Sports” by Mark Hyman we see how the coaches and parent in youth



Cited: Bissinger, Buzz. “Bench the Parents.” Eitzen 108-111. Eitzen, Stanley D, ed. Sports In Contemporary Society. London: Paradigm Publishers. 2012.Print. Hyman, Mark. “Harm to Children In Youth Sports.” Eitzen 112-115. Ryan, Joan. “Female Gymnast and Ice Skaters The Dark Side.” Eitzen 101-107. Seefeldt, Vern D. “Youth Sports In America: An Overview.” Education Recources Information Center. Sep. 1997. Web. 25 Feb 2012.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Fewer kids play amid pressure.” by Machael Rosenwald, the author addresses an issue widely faced by many children. Quitting sports because of the pressure their parents put on to them to keep playing to hopefully become a professional “elite athlete”. A survey was taken to see what the top factors contributing to kids happiness was. The results helped to prove the fact that children aren’t in games for winning or being the best. This is proven when the article reads, “...low on the list: playing in tournaments, cool uniforms and expensive equipment. High on the list: positive team dynamics, trying hard, positive coaching and learning”(Rosenwald 3). As this shows, children enjoy not being pushed to constantly be the best. Instead, they prefer being encouraged and not being forced into…

    • 478 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Richard L. Worsnop offers multiple different points about high school sports and athletes. Concerns about the oppression of young athletes and debating if high school athletics “builds character”, are some of the main issues pointed out. Some coaches believe interscholastic sports competitions teach everything about character and teamwork, while others believe overemphasizing a win can teach the growth of negative character traits. Meanwhile, there are no doubts that certain drugs can enhance an athlete’s performance, but this can lead to injury and other harmful effects. High school athletes are sometimes considered, “dumb jocks”, which leads to the question if student athletes should maintain a certain grade-point average. Some players think…

    • 269 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    This paper aims to compare the ideas of equal opportunities and sports equity with regard to sport in Britain. Within this structure, there will be particular emphasis on the theoretical approaches that are used to look at equality in British sport. A key part of this comparison is the study of (social) equality; this includes formal, radical and liberal interpretations of equality. The arguments and suggestions will be reinforced and supported by literature and other texts outside of just the sporting context.…

    • 2881 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    In “children Need to Play, Not compete,” Jessica Statsky put emphasis on the hazardous effects on children when they play the type of sports designed for grownups. These sports are conducted under the rules and standards of professional practice which becomes too much of a burden for the young and growing children. Making them indulge in these type of extreme physical test makes them physically and emotionally in distress. Jessica furthers goes on saying that these sports sole focus is on winning and defeating the opponent team. This leaves the essence of the sports like learning to play as a team, maintaining your health and collaboration, behind. She also talks about the attitude of the coaches as well as the parents that they consider…

    • 1105 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Many sports related injuries do not just happen to professional teams but occur on youth, high school, and college teams. Concussions, knee sprains, stress fractures happen often and are now considered common injuries. Parents do not get overly worried, like they should, due to the severity of these injuries that happen to their children. In reality, the real problems are how parents encourage their children to be extremely competitive on the field and play aggressively, the amount of traumatic injuries that occur on the field, and how it is affecting the futures of young athletes. These are the reasons why youth sports are becoming too violent to be safe for children.…

    • 708 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Youth Sports Issue Analysis

    • 3047 Words
    • 13 Pages

    Some parents really see the benefit of youth sports but others are major critics and want to see its downfall. 30 million youth have been treated to hospitals overall due to organized sports accidents. Surprisingly, this past year 3.5 million youth have went to the hospital due to organized sports related injuries with 25% of these being considered serious (Sports Injury Statistics). Youth sports are dangerous and it is obvious that there is always a risk when an athlete steps onto a court, field, ring, etc. Many injuries are a result in this action. How can these accidents be controlled and prevented is the question asked by many? No real solution has been created and enforced order to organize this youth sports issue. In order to fix the problem of youth sports the government should completely end youth sports, invest more money into better protective gear for all youth, or re-create the rules for all youth organized sports programs.…

    • 3047 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Youth Athlete Burnout

    • 418 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The main issue that the field of sports faces today and in the future are gambling, drug abuse, emphasis on winning in youth sports and burnout of young athletes. The youth league has major turn games into all about winning is most important which cause athletes to burnout. The youth burnout syndrome occurs when a youth athlete has worsening performance despite intense training.Coaches and parents have pressure kids that show some talent for the sport, to show “commitment” by specializing in a single sport. The major issue of coaches and parents pressuring is the obsession with their child getting on all-state teams, scholarships and pro contracts. The result would lead to the constant high levels of physiologic or emotional stress, fatigue,…

    • 418 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Multisport Athletes

    • 1480 Words
    • 6 Pages

    In today’s society, many parents who are involved with their kids’ sporting activities, have an unhealthy addiction to their children being on top of their game; because of this addiction the kids are ultimately suffering. Parents are only letting their kids play one sport, believing, incorrectly, that specializing in one sport is best.…

    • 1480 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Youth Sports

    • 1757 Words
    • 8 Pages

    The emergence, growth, and current state of youth and college sports in the United States have been subject to many things, but two of the most influential and definitive conditions of these stages are the social and economic factors.…

    • 1757 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Athletes Off the Field

    • 1778 Words
    • 8 Pages

    The life of an athlete has changed significantly over the years. Their salaries have increased along with their popularity. But possibly the most considerable change has been in the culture. It seems that every day on ESPN we here about another athlete getting in trouble. Society loves to put athletes up on this metaphorical pedestal, but they love even more to watch them fall off. Of course there are athletes that we can look up to as model citizens, but the group’s image as a whole is most definitely suffering. When it comes to athletes, there is a lot more to it than what is seen on the field. Growing up, sports are used to teach lessons of hard work, discipline, and most of all teamwork. These three attributes are useful on and off the field. But what happens when natural talent allows an individual to succeed without developing these attributes? This individual will prosper without ever learning the true meaning of sport. Natural ability can be a curse to most athletes. They take their talent for granted and do not set goals to become better. Natural talent can only take one so far before their lack of hard work, discipline, and teamwork turns into their downfall. The off-the-field life of an athlete is one of partying, spending absurd amounts of money, and run-ins with the law. The development of this lifestyle evidently begins in college and eventually affects most athletes’ professional careers in a way that usually leads to their demise.…

    • 1778 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Interscholastic athletics provide countless benefits to student-athletes, and many beyond giving them stories and memories to share later on in life. There is the basic value that student-athletes have higher graduation rates than those not in athletics (Krings, 2014). However, that alone is not extending education, rather allowing it to occur. Extending, the NIAAA states that 21st century skills such as perseverance, sportsmanship, and collaboration can best be learned through athletics (NIAAA, 2013, p. 32). Athletics can also focus on the whole picture. For example, athletics can get students’ parents engaged through booster clubs or other parent organizations, and can potentially provide substance-abuse assistance to athletes in need.…

    • 344 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Youth sports are becoming too intense for children. Many do not see it that way but we do see more injuries suffered by children under the age of eleven.it might not happen to all children who playing a single sport but to those who play multiple sports. Youth sport are becoming too intense because they are involved in more than one sport activity, the child’s parents might be the problem as well, and their own coaches might be teaching them to play wrong.…

    • 577 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    There are around 21.5 million young athletes between the ages of 6-17 that play in organized youth sports (Kelley 34). Numerous children participate in sports with the help of external forces, for example: parents, coaches, peers, and more. This investment can impact adolescents’ health in a positive or negative way (Hyman 119). Receiving help can be a wonderful gift, but people’s selfish pride can ruin sports for adolescents. Youths are powerless against outside help because it is usually given by adults who are considered more “wiser.” This can cause children to stop playing sports all together as they mature because of the trauma they may receive at such a young age. It is important to examine this issue because this is a problem that…

    • 154 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    When kids are involved in sports they…

    • 756 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Youth Sports

    • 564 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Youth sports programs, has become a very important part of today's society. Youth sports, provides our youth with positive development both physically and mentally. Sports programs should be fun and challenging. A positive approach should be used to help develop athletic skills and teach kids lessons in life. Every youth that participates should feel they are in integral part of their team. Education is very important in today's complex and technical society. Before we devote so much time to youth sports, we must make sure the kids are being educated in the classroom. Education comes before any sporting activity. Youths can survive life without sports, but not without an education. Kids are the most important slice in youth sports. Parents and coaches must remember to place the welfare of the kids first. Participating in youth sports is a very fragile time for kids. Coaches must take advantage of the opportunity to teach and help kids develop. Youths should have a fun sporting experience and want the youth to return next year. Coaches are similar to teachers in a classroom. A good coach will develop a system to get the kids attention so they can teach and mentor proper sporting techniques and teamwork. Coaches and parents must remember they are role models for our youth, and must govern themselves accordingly. Many of the kids will remember their sporting experience the rest of their lives. Responsibilities of the coach are endless. Focusing on things like safety, conditioning, and nutrition and improving your knowledge in the sport becomes daily ritual for coaches. Parents also play an important role in youth sports programs. Each parent should support the sport programs and coaches. Supporting the coach relieves pressure and allows the coach to concentrate on the youths. Many parents try to live their sporting experience through their kids, even applying unwanted pressure and stress on the kids. Parents must remember its youth sports not adult sports.…

    • 564 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics