This may not be precisely on swimming, but I feel an overwhelming need to vent. This is my reaction to an essay by Josh Levin arguing that the Little League World Series needs to "do something" about early maturing 12-yr olds who dominate the competion. Hope it's food for thought for those of us involved in helping with age group swimmers:
Mr. Levin,
You are on the right track when you argue that oversized 12 year olds dominating the Little League World Series is a problem. However, I think you have missed the more significant point by attributing the problem to the kids. I coach summer league age group swimming. As you rightly note, comical differences in growth development are part of youth sports. But, it is also not fair to a legit 12 yr old to tell him he is too big or too good to play with kids his age; he should go let the 14 yr olds do to him what he would do to kids his own age if we let him. His age is his age. It may not accurately reflect who grew up faster, but it is a more objective yardstick than anything else we might use to let younger kids compete against someone "their own size."
No sir, the problem is all of we adults paying too much attention to athletic achievements of 12 yr olds. 19 yr old high school graduates have a difficult time dealing with all attention of Div I college athletics. What in the world are we doing covering 35 Little League games, NATIONALLY (!!!) on ESPN?!! (For the love of Pete, you did not even get national coverage of all the games of the first round of MLB playoffs a couple of years ago!)
The problem is not overdeveloped 12-yr olds dominating; the problem is our message to the kids that it means so much more than it actually does. Coverage in the local paper is fine, maybe even regional TV coverage in the areas of the teams as they get close to the championship. But, this disgusting hyping of a child's game is BAD for the kids that play in the Little League World Series, BAD for the "grown-ups" caught up in it, and WORST of all for the kids who are expected to carry their teams to the championship.
The subtitle for ESPN's coverage is a perfect microcosm "See the big leaguers of tomorrow." BULL CRAP!!! Not every major league player was a dominant Little Leaguer (or even played in the Little League World Series), and not every dominant Little Leaguer will make it to the Bigs. It is pure BULL CRAP, yet for corporate profit interests, we are shoving it down the throats of 8-12 yr olds who do not know any better. Sad and disgusting. ESPN should be ashamed of themselves.
Matt
Parents
Former Member
All I have to say is TRUE DAT!
The pressure is enough to make a kid rebel and turn into a weirdo, or leave their favorite playing sport all together. Kids are kids. There is plenty of time to grow up, and have pressure. Sure, it's fun to be competitive during youth--but this stuff is way too extreme, and there is just way too much focus on it. I just wonder what the parents are thinking! Are they living vicariously through their children? It's weird!
What happened to riding bikes, hanging out, playing a multitude of sports, and just having fun? Having serious sports expectations on young children is a mistake, and is a reciepe for disaster in later years. How many of us know young athletes who would rather die than kick another soccer ball, swim a lap, or swing a baseball bat.
Certainly sports can shape a young persons character and personality--but with this level of seriousness, I would be a very concerned parent. There is life beyond sports--and in this day and age, a person needs to be well crafted outside of physical attributes to be able to take care of themselves when they're older. (I have 4 friends of mine who have become handicapped in their adult lives...thank goodness they invested in themsleves and didn't just rely on physical talent in life. They are educated, have broad horizons, and have been able to overcome adversity.).
Also, when a young person is spending that much time on one sport--they aren't getting exposure to variety, and may not get the chance to identify other things in their youth that they would also enjoy, and benefit from. Perhaps the arts, or who knows what else.
Granted, I don't have children--but if I was a parent, I would encourage my child to engage in many things, and do many different things. Youth is the time to experiment, learn, and grow. When I was young, I never understood those interferring parents that faithfully watched every dag gone practice of swimming or whatever it was. Puhlease. Those parents need to get a life--and realize that there is more past the age of 12. There is more past the high school years of athletics. It's so ridiculous how things can get so wrapped up in "today".
Sometimes pushing a kid far, is the same thing as pushing a kid out--right out of the sport due to burnout and frustration. We see it in swimming all the time. That's why for so many of us it took us decade(s) to come back.
So, that's it for me and my box (you all know that I have a huge box, right?) :rolleyes:
Jerrycat
All I have to say is TRUE DAT!
The pressure is enough to make a kid rebel and turn into a weirdo, or leave their favorite playing sport all together. Kids are kids. There is plenty of time to grow up, and have pressure. Sure, it's fun to be competitive during youth--but this stuff is way too extreme, and there is just way too much focus on it. I just wonder what the parents are thinking! Are they living vicariously through their children? It's weird!
What happened to riding bikes, hanging out, playing a multitude of sports, and just having fun? Having serious sports expectations on young children is a mistake, and is a reciepe for disaster in later years. How many of us know young athletes who would rather die than kick another soccer ball, swim a lap, or swing a baseball bat.
Certainly sports can shape a young persons character and personality--but with this level of seriousness, I would be a very concerned parent. There is life beyond sports--and in this day and age, a person needs to be well crafted outside of physical attributes to be able to take care of themselves when they're older. (I have 4 friends of mine who have become handicapped in their adult lives...thank goodness they invested in themsleves and didn't just rely on physical talent in life. They are educated, have broad horizons, and have been able to overcome adversity.).
Also, when a young person is spending that much time on one sport--they aren't getting exposure to variety, and may not get the chance to identify other things in their youth that they would also enjoy, and benefit from. Perhaps the arts, or who knows what else.
Granted, I don't have children--but if I was a parent, I would encourage my child to engage in many things, and do many different things. Youth is the time to experiment, learn, and grow. When I was young, I never understood those interferring parents that faithfully watched every dag gone practice of swimming or whatever it was. Puhlease. Those parents need to get a life--and realize that there is more past the age of 12. There is more past the high school years of athletics. It's so ridiculous how things can get so wrapped up in "today".
Sometimes pushing a kid far, is the same thing as pushing a kid out--right out of the sport due to burnout and frustration. We see it in swimming all the time. That's why for so many of us it took us decade(s) to come back.
So, that's it for me and my box (you all know that I have a huge box, right?) :rolleyes:
Jerrycat
