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Children and Competition
Last week we
started our series on children and competition
in school and sports. We referred to the trend
to taking competition out of school and sports
programs as "sissifying" our children. The term
was controversial, supported by many and angered
others.
Before we can
discuss whether the youth programs are doing
what's best for their athletes we need to find
out what they are trying to do as an
organization. We understand there are many
variables, usually with the individual coaches
themselves, that determine whether these goals
are being achieved.
Are they around
just to provide organized "pick up games" with
supervision? Should they be a feeder system for
the school sports programs, training the
athletes to compete at the high school level,
college or above? Or should they at the very
least teach each child the rules of the game and
the basic skills in the hopes of giving the
children the tools to form a life-long love for
the sport?
Windham Youth
Soccer separates the objectives of the two
programs it runs. While both programs emphasize
fun it clearly defines the in-house league as a
recreational league and the travel division as a
competitive program.
The recreation
league serves as a way to introduce children to
the game and the skills need to play the game.
This program is perfect for the younger children
and for all children who want to get out
play soccer each week but aren't interested in
the additional time and financial commitment
involved with playing travel soccer.
The travel program
is very different. Coaches must be licensed
through Soccer Maine
www.soccermaine.com. Through the State and
National licensing programs the coaches are
taught how to train soccer players for a high
level of competition.
The other big
difference between the recreation and travel
programs is that while all players who sign up
for rec. soccer are guaranteed a spot on a team,
the travel teams must cut players once a maximum
roster size is met. This may be the first time
most children are faced with tryouts and the
possibility of not making a team.
This is a hard
process for everyone involved, the players,
parents and the coaches who are charged with
telling a young player that they "weren't as
strong as the rest of the players" who made the
team. Many times the difference between the last
five or six players who made the team and the
ones being cut is minimal and subjective.
There are people
who feel that there shouldn't be cuts for the
youngest ages and there are some solid arguments
for not making cuts at U11 and under. Children all mature at
different rates and a child should not be left
behind simply because they were a late bloomer.
Another argument is that the younger kids are
too young to deal with the disappointment, or
shouldn't be expected to deal with the
disappointment.
Fortunately kids
are very resilient and can survive a lot worse
than being cut from a travel soccer team. Many
times a kid will use being cut from a team as
motivation to work harder throughout the year.
Windham Little
League specifically states their goals are not
only to build baseball skills but also life
skills. Children learn through baseball that
there are many successes and failures and the
more you try the more opportunities the players
will have for success.
They also strive
to teach the children the value of teamwork,
sportsmanship and fair play. All valuable
lessons on the diamond and in life.
Windham Youth
Football also states their commitment to helping
the athletes develop not only as players but
also as people.
It is clear from
the leagues' own websites that they view their
programs as a valuable experience that will help
shape the youngsters as adults. Our interest
here is what part of the program makes this big
of an impact in the rest of a child's life?
Our contention is
that competition plays a huge part in these life
long lessons. Adding competition to anything
makes it more important, at least in the minds
of the participants.
A good example of
this would be any crazy bet between friends that
involves doing some silly activity better or
more times than a friend can. How many dollar
bills have changed hands because one person
could hit a trash can more times in a row than
their friend? Usually throwing a wadded up piece
of paper into a trash can from across the room
may entertain most of us for a few minutes but
add in the competition aspect of a friendly
wager and most people could shoot at the trash
can for the better part of day.
From our
experience competition was a big motivator in
school as well. Even though the grading system
in the Windham school system isn't sports
related, we feel it deserves mention here. Our
school experience included competing with
friends to see who had the highest grades or GPA
and it did give us an incentive to work harder
for those oh so important bragging rights.
We understand the
discontent with the grading system is far more
complicated than students trying to "be the
best" by getting higher grades.
The biggest
complaint about not using letter grades is also
the reason it has become nearly impossible for
students to compete with their friends for
higher grades, or to compete against their own
benchmarks from prior quarters. No one
understands the meaning of the new grades and
how it directly relates to the effort put in by
the students.
Ask ten people
what a "2" means on the report card and see how
many different answers you get. How are parents
supposed to motivate their children if they
don't understand the scores? How are children
expected to want to improve their grades when
they don't understand them?
What is the intent
of the non-letter grading system? Is it to make
sure students who don't or can't perform well in
school feel better about themselves because they
aren't easily identified as "C" students? Do
students walk around school saying "I am a
straight "4" student because I worked hard"?
There will always
be the students that go to school and work hard
and will do well. For others, they need the
accountability that is easily delivered when a
student receives a "C" which is usually evidence
that a student needs to work harder.
We have covered a
wide range of topics in this part of our series.
We want your opinions below for our next
installment. We will not share your name with
anyone. We know these topics are sensitive with
people being very passionate about their
stances.
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ARCHIVE
Part I
Part
II
Part
III
WINDHAM YOUTH SPORTS
MISSION STATEMENTS
From Windham Youth
Soccer
www.windhamyouthsoccer.com
"Windham Youth
Soccer Association is established to provide
Windham area youth the opportunity to learn and
enjoy the sport of soccer. Our recreational and
competitive programs emphasize the development
of soccer skills, an understanding of the game,
and the enjoyment that comes from playing the
world’s most popular sport, soccer.
Windham Youth
Soccer is committed to a simple philosophy:
"success for all players." It is the expectation
that with each season played, all players will
develop greater physical soccer ability,
knowledge of the game, and a respect for their
team, coaches, officials, and opponents. To
achieve this, it is crucial that our coaches
emphasize to their players having fun as much as
doing their best."
From Windham
Little League
www.windhamlittleleague.com We have taken a
couple excerpts from their website. The only
thing we edited was the promotion of how Little
League encompasses the globe and while it is
great to see how big Little League is worldwide
it doesn't pertain to our discussion here.
"...Baseball and
softball embody the discipline of teamwork.
They challenge players towards perfection of
physical skills and bring into play the
excitement of tactics and strategy. The very
nature of baseball and softball also teach that
while every player eventually strikes out, or is
on a losing team, there is always another chance
for success in the next at-bat or game....
...Little League
is a program of service to youth. It is geared
to provide an outlet of healthful activity and
training under good leadership in the atmosphere
of wholesome community participation. The
movement is dedicated to helping children become
good and decent citizens. It inspires them with
a goal and enriches their lives towards the day
when they must take their places in the world.
It establishes the values of teamwork,
sportsmanship and fair play."
From Windham Youth
Football
www.windhamyouthfootball.com
"Dedicated to
providing a safe and positive experience for
learning and playing football. The Association
is committed to helping the athletes develop not
only as players but as people."
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