How does sports affect youths
.... The sports programs are set up by adults, run by adults, and maintained by adults with a precise date and time. Spontaneous play and creativity are taken out of the equation. Coaches are choosing who plays and who doesn't in an effort to win. A study found that 90% of all children would rather be on a losing team if they got to play. Competition forces children to rely on external sources in order to feel good about themselves. It also causes youth to view others as obstacles to their success. Many other critics of the emphasis of sports in youth are concerned not only with the structure of sports, but the negative stereotypes that many professional athletes portray. Professional athletes directly affect other sports programs. Many professional athletes are perfect examples of the influence and dangers of competition. Many professionals walk around with an act of superiority. Their self-centeredness and egos derived from competition force them into a win-at-all-cost mentality. They need to understand that their behavior influences youth a great deal. Parents also need to teach children the difference between respecting and idolizing an individual for his/her athletic ability. Athletes like Charles Barkley beg not to be a role model. He understands that children may view the lavishness of fame as a ticket to do as they please. Athletes are engaging in more criminal behavior off the field and more violence and aggression on the field. There is report after report of students injuring one another in practice and in games. This introduction of increasing violence in an already questionable structure of youth sports adds even more questions and doubt to critics. The controversies involved in the effects of sports on youth are very important due to the ever-expanding number of participants and programs. It is also important because sports programs are used in community and government projects to deter bad behavior and protect at risk youth. One cannot conclude that sports prevent students from being at risk, but that at risk children actually have less opportunity to participate. It actually confirms the views of the critics of sports and introduces several more factors. Sports programs are expensive and often require transportation to and from fields across town. Many at risk youth have no means of transportation and cannot afford the rates of some leagues. Others simply do not have recreational facilities available to them. Many are not in school; therefore they do not have the opportunity to use the gym, tennis court, or football fields that schools provide. Schools also provide equipment and coaching free of charge. Many at risk youth are surrounded by or engage in criminal activity, drugs, alcohol, and gangs that do not allow for time or energy to be placed into physical activity. At risk youth also stress that structured activity was not fun for them. They feel the need for supervision, but want to make up their own rules for the activity. The number one reason that at risk youth quit an activity was lack of motivation. This again confirms the idea that self-esteem may not be positively influenced. It also brings into question the negative influence of coaches and lack of parental support. Government agencies do not want to promote something that may actually be harmful to youth. The activities should emphasize having fun, be at a location close to public transportation, and not be overly structured. Some at risk youth can identify with many professional athletes. Many at risk youth have no familial structure or models of success in their life. Athletes serve a purpose for them. They gain a sense of hope. Athletes like Karl Malone enjoy this status they receive. He feels that children often stay in school or do not use drugs as a result of their positive perception of a particular athlete. This proves the importance of positive role models in sports. However, it is hard to control which athletes these youth look up to. These same at risk youth may identify with Mike Tyson better than Michael Jordan. This would reinforce his/ her bad behavior. The influence of athletes is nonnegotiable-they are in the spotlight whether they like it or not. The programs for at risk youth can attempt to bring more attention to the positive professional athletes, but it will be a hard battle to be won if professional athletes do not accept the responsibility of prope...