Youth sports have come a long way in the last few decades.
What was once nothing more than a few kids gathering to play a fun but
(usually) rather unorganized game has become serious business. Today’s youth
sports are highly competitive, well-coached, and just really top-of-the-line.
Here, we examine some of the big changes we’ve seen and what they say about the
future of youth sports.
Today’s Sports are Serious Business
In the past, youth sports were not taken very seriously.
They were just something to keep kids busy and give their parents a little
peace of mind. Nowadays, however, youth sports are a big deal. Many parents
have dreams of their kids becoming professional athletes, and, even those who
don’t, often still want their kids to have high level, high quality
experiences. Kids spend more time practicing and playing than they ever did
before which might mean a better, brighter crop of professional athletes in the
years to come. However, it might also mean more kids burnt out on sports at an
early age if you’re not careful, so make sure you balance the seriousness of
today’s youth sports with a healthy dose of fun.
Attention to Diet
“Calories,” “protein,” and “carbs” used to be foreign terms
to kids. Nowadays, however, more parents realize the importance of getting the
right mix of foods in order to make their athletes as healthy as possible, to
prevent injury, and to increase energy and stamina. While parents should steer
clear of putting growing kids on restrictive diets, the trend toward whole, organic,
and natural foods is definitely a good thing. If the healthy eating trend keeps
up, young athletes should grow into healthier adults, whether they continue
playing sports or not, and that’s certainly a great thing.
A Focus on Winning
While many things have been gained in recent years, some
things have also been lost. In the past, for example, youth sports tended to be
about having fun, making friends, and developing skills and qualities that
would last a lifetime. Unfortunately, nowadays, many of those truly wonderful
benefits get overshadowed by a focus on winning, and so does the plain and
simple joy of playing a sport for the fun of it. Remember, no matter how high
the aspirations you have for your young athlete, that it’s not about whether you
win or lose but about how you play the game (and how much you enjoy it).
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