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SportaPolis Column - "The New P.E. & Sports Dimension" - # 6/5 January 2002The column that opens your day by opening your mind
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"Recruiting Practices in Youth
Sports:
Who's Winning?" by Dr. Daniel Frankl Associate Professor The Department of Kinesiology and Nutritional Science California State University, Los Angeles DISCUSSION I've always been a sports fanatic. Having twin 13 year old boys that are interested in basketball has just increased it more as well as giving me new insights to problems that exist in the children's (pre-teen sports as well as young teenagers). I really believe in the training emphasis. I've seen too many kids perform in games who are either not ready or are in a level far above where they should be. There needs to be more practice time for all and game emphasis after they reach a certain competency level. The players skill level in various leagues is as diverse as the volunteer coaches. The politics that goes on is sad. The so-called evaluation process that my boys went through was a joke. Their level of skills, knowledge, teamwork, and execution in scrimmage far exceeded half the team they didn't make.(especially the coaches son) There should be evaluators for the coaches! The sad thing is that the great teams have played together and have evolved to a higher level of play. A lot of good players on lower level teams can't take advantage of and will be held back for lack of preparation when they reach a older age group or bracket especially high School. There will be a lot of parents as in the education system that will realize their kids are not prepared at the next level. If there is a silver lining it is that my boys have to play twice as hard to make up for the weakness of the team their currently on.(character building0.I can work with them to make up for deficiencies as I see them (with my limited knowledge) How about paid coaching? I'd love to hear what others would say! I look forward to your advice as well as comments. Sincerely, Dave Cobb 1) What procedures other than those discussed above exist that may be used to facilitate a child centered environment in youth sports? 2) Are you aware of recruiting and/or team-building practices in your local youth sport league? How are the rules broken and what is done to control such behaviors? 3) Should league administrators organize pre-season tournaments after which team roster readjustments would take place? How would you suggest implementing such procedures? In case your answer is "no," explain your reasons. 4) Should volunteer coaches be allowed to keep last year's dominating champions or should the talent be redistributed at the onset of each season? Explain your vie How to participate with the discussion ? - just copy and paste the above questions into your e-mail program and submit your answers to: guy.vandamme@skynet.be - he collects your replies. - The author reads your ideas/reactions and if needed will add his feedback. - This all - your reactions and feedback - will be posted again onto the list.
February 2002 - Dr. Lee E. Brown will start with a new article. . Have a good discussion, co-ordinator Guy Van Damme |