Experience in sport enlarge(s) the human adventure — James A. MichenerA major motivation for writing this monthly column is that as school and youth sports grow in India, you will not squander the potential to create a sports culture that will offer the greatest good to the greatest number of young people. In poll after poll, Americans express their belief that engaging in sport enhances physical fitness in children while teaching citizenship, commitment, teamwork and other valuable lessons. However, in far too many American communities, the youth sports system overemphasises ‘select or ‘travel teams (children judged to be the most talented in a particular age group), which effectively eliminates most young people before they can fully explore a sport or realise their talent. The question I often raise is: What opportunities do you provide for average-ability children? The current emphasis in American school and youth sports is on shortlisting athletes for select teams or for the ‘next level. This screening process requires sorting out athletes who show promise to advance to the next level, and has contributed a 70 percent dropout rate by age 13 to most sports. This heavy dropout percentage of youth as they proceed up the ladder, leads many to conclude that sports progressively become less fun. It is less fun for many because it has quickly become serious ‘business for coaches and youth sports organisations who measure success by win-loss records and the number of member-athletes who make it through the screen to participate at the next level. Such screening processes lead to uniformity in the values promoted in school and youth sports where outcomes are accorded more importance than the actual process of sports, such as effort, progress toward mastery and plain good fun. This emphasis on winning, records and progressing to the next level is and will continue to produce bumper harvests of dropouts from sports year after year. My concern is: Can nothing be done for young people who drop out of sports and games because of excessive competition? Although the popular preference is for youth to achieve self-esteem through academic excellence or community service, the reality is that sports and play induce children of all ages and abilities to seek self-esteem on the playing field or in gymnasiums. Lessons learned on the sports field and in games arenas complement lessons learned at home or in classrooms. Therefore what we call recreational leagues are necessary for sports to fulfill its promise to our youth, their families and communities. While I played sports at the highest levels in my youth and college days, I have always been impressed by friends and schoolmates who played in recreational and intramural tournaments, and who have memories and experiences that equal mine. They are better people first and good athletes next. As a coach for many years of elite and recreational teams, I have learned that play at any level promotes positive development of youth. Therefore I am wholly convinced that equal opportunity in school and collegiate sports…
