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Youth Sports and Responsibility
How do sports help kids learn the value of doing the right thing? A special multi-part feature about what parents and coaches need to know to ensure a positive — and rewarding — experience for their student athletes.
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11 Comments
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April 17, 2010 by Chris Cyr
As more and more kids take to organized ball, a few things happen. First, kids lose the opportunity to just play the game for fun, because they love the game - without umpires, just pick up a bat and play. On the other hand, more kids today have the opportunity to be part of a team, to learn how to play the game, and build even more enjoyment of the game itself.
This is where the role of the coach comes in. All parents and coaches must recognize that in each town, maybe 18 kids go on to play some level of high school ball. Let's keep it in perspective. So - a coach - the role is two-fold - to teach, to cheer, to support.
Mistakes happen - in sports and in life. How does a coach feel when they make a mistake at work - and get yelled at. Mostly, it doesn't happen - there is a discussion - but yelling, not so much. In the end, when we learn to treat kids with respect, when we learn that mistakes happen, when we take those mistakes and turn them into teachable moments - everyone wins.
Yelling - it has no place in youth sports. Unless it is to get someones attention - yelling at a kid does not teach the kid - the youth hears the yelling - not what is coming out of the coaches mouth.
Learn to support our youth - be positive role models - turn mistakes into lessons - teach, support, grow the love of the game.
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December 5, 2011 by darius
We are keeping the pacifer in the mouth of our youths way too long. Children should not be singled out or embarassed with hurtful intent but the world should not come crashing down because a coach raised their voice.
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January 19, 2012 by shelley
Yelling is not a problem, sports can be loud and a yell may be needed. What is yelled could be an issue. Yell encouragement, yell direction, yell concern... but when a couch is belittling or humiliating a child, that couch needs to find a different outlet. Keep the bully away from our kids.
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May 27, 2010 by Coach John
There is nothing wrong with yelling at a kid. Quit trying to baby them!
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June 2, 2010 by Pacopablo
There is something wrong with yelling at a child: it is not how adults should act.
The absence of yelling does not equate to babying a child.
If you're not intelligent enough to motivate and teach a child responsibility for their actions, without resorting to yelling, then you are a lousy coach.
I agree that there is no need to coddle a child and make excuses for lack of performance; however, there is also no need to yell.
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November 12, 2010 by nathalia davis
Just think, your on your job and you enjoy your job, but yet your supervisor comes out of nowhere and starts yelling at you for no reason,just that he thinks you should tighten up. Dont forget your trying your best. Now a grown up can tolirate a little more than a child. Yelling at a child can set them back and cause them to dislike there most favorite thing in the world to do. So what ever you do unto others the same shall be done unto you.And be careful, that same child you may yell at just might be your next supervisor. God Bless you all and have a blessed day.
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March 16, 2011 by James
Kids do need to know when they are doing something wrong to improve their situation. But if you yell at a child and it becomes a emotional feeling to the child for what they are not doing wrong , you can effect there whole life when it comes to their relationships and success through their subconscious mind.
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June 4, 2010 by Bartleby
Sports fields are large, and one cannot be heard in the heat of a game unless one yells. Yelling to berate a child is not something that should usually be done, but yelling to be heard is not out of line at all.
Yelling at a child can be appropriate if the child needs to have their attention brought to their behavior and how egregious it may be. For example, deliberately injuring another person would be grounds for yelling.
-Bartleby
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July 26, 2010 by Scipio
Really, some of them just need to man up. They need to accept that life is harsh and people yell at you for little to no reason in all aspects of life.
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July 26, 2010 by Richard Nibbler
if the child is disturbing people in any way, SO WHAT IF HE GETS YELLED AT BY THE COACH! THATS WHAT COACHES DO! YELL!
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October 22, 2011 by jodi
Let the kids keep their innocence. There is no rason to put pressure on them to perform well in sports at such an early age. Aren't their more important lessons to be learned like team work and good sportsmanship?
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