It Can Be "Fixed"

2 years ago
2

Adults involved in organized youth sports have made many changes to supposedly make it a better experience for the youth involved, but their actions usually make things worse. Most have heard of participation trophies. Giving kids trophies for just participating is ridiculous, but this is not specifically what I am talking about, though the same motive is involved. Often actions are taken in hopes of alleviating any chance of kids getting hurt feelings, such as everyone bats every inning and gets to play same number of innings in youth baseball. This so distorts the game and doesn't help the kids. The young kids don't want to be there no matter how the game is distorted though. And many of the older kids don't enjoy organized youth sports either.
Then there are the adults who have instituted such things as machine pitch and coach pitch. Does it ever occur to these people that having to do such things shows the overall dysfunction of organized youth baseball? Other organized youth sports have similar dysfunctions.
Organized youth sports get in the way of authentic play. Kids enjoy pick up games so much more and better learn the games they are playing as well. And they actually enjoy the competition, unlike when they are involved in organized youth sports.
In my opinion, nothing can be done to improve organized sports for especially the very young. The problem is organized youth sports itself. Let the kids play and have actual fun.

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