Research Shows That Four Things Make Youth Sports Fun for Kids
A recent clinical report on youth sports from the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that there are four things that make youth sports fun for kids.
1) Trying Hard
Trying hard is nothing to be ashamed of. Recently talking with some middle school kids I got the perception that “try hard” kids get looked down upon. However, being a “try hard” and trying hard is not necessarily the same thing.
Trying hard is about giving genuine effort because of passion and valuing hard work. Being a “try hard” is more about perception and less about reality. The “try hard” mentality kids criticize in youth culture is one that values looking good more than actually being good.
The reason why trying hard is fun is because when you have passion and value hard work, having the opportunity to put those values on display brings joy.
2) Making Progress
Progress does not necessarily mean winning and winning does not necessarily mean progress. There are kids who win all the time who don’t have fun and don’t make progress. In addition, there are kids who lose all the time who have fun and make progress with each loss.
In order to make progress you have to do the right thing and do that thing right. You can win doing the wrong thing. Kids have fun when they know they are getting better at doing the right thing right.
3) Being a Good Sport
Winning at all cost, hating your competition, and cheating are all things that prevent a child from being a good sport. What’s more, sports stops being fun for kids when parents or coaches encourage these things.
On the other hand kids have tons of fun when sports is all about making lifelong friends, building character, and training their bodies to do things they never thought it could do.
4) Positive Coaching
Positive coaches encourage instead of criticize. That’s the bottom line. If a kid has a coach who yells criticisms as their primary means of coaching, that kid will have all the fun sucked out of their experience.
Most parents want their kids to have a tough coach, but just because a coach yells doesn’t mean that coach is tough. A coach can be tough without being an ass. The best coaches know how to correct mistakes, instill character, and make their athletes better while maintaining a positive atmosphere on their team. Kids who have coaches like this will always enjoy sports more than kids who don’t.