SportaPolis

Column - "The New P.E. & Sports Dimension" - # 6/1 January 2002

The column that opens your day by opening your mind

"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

Reactions to : Diego Crespo and George Osorio

Dr. Daniel Frankl

Diego has proposed a radical idea-- leave the team intact and rotate the coaches. This procedure, however, is impractical because it still leaves the "souped up" team intact. Also, typically, the coach and a "gang" of assistant coaches, who’s kids play on that same team would rightfully expect to move along with their parents. Diego’s idea, however, prompted me to imagine the following scenario: The creation of team clusters of four to six teams per cluster. Those teams then practice and play within their cluster and rotates players and coaches around in an effort to level the field. The "cluster" is an extended family that includes a number of teams. The understanding among coaches, parents and kids is that friends and parents move around with a child only in cases of switched clusters. The kids will get to know their cluster very well because they’ll play inside their group all season. The emphasis in such a system is on playing the game not on beating some other team.

Diego also pointed out the existence of accelerated programs in our school systems as a counter point to my argument that recruiting in the school system is unthinkable. The existence of accelerated and special programs and classes is a known fact but this reality in our educational system is a far cry from the moral equivalent of the recruiting scenario presented in the article. These programs and classes are formed using standard procedures and are an integral part of the educational system. There is no program for recruiting for regular youth league season. There is no such system in place. The proper analogy would have classroom teachers and parents illegally manipulate the system.

George’s comments regarding the first discussion item and his comments addressing the fourth item exemplify the inevitable conflict between a child centered and a program centered philosophy. George concludes his argument by stating "I am very much in favor of developing ‘champion’ teams if only to serve as role models for both the other coaches and the other players. A ‘Champion’ team may be looked upon as the ‘best’ of the league and,..., will have a more positive influence on everyone... " My experience and observations lead me to a very different view. "All star," "special teams," and "tournaments of champions" are riddled with dirty politics (who’s going to be the head coach and who’s kids are on and who’s are out and who’s not coaching etc.). I witnessed a lot of bickering, plotting and very aggressive play along with a handful of fancy moves. As the stakes get higher tempers flare and sportsmanship flies out the window. This is not my idea of role models.

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