Playing youth sports can be a positive experience for any young person. They can gain skills at a game they enjoy playing. They can get exercise in the fresh air, and help their overall conditioning. They can join a team and make friendships that last many years, or play an individual sport and learn how to depend on themselves. But playing sports might not always be a positive experience
Injury Risks
Organized youth sports often go to great lengths to make sure players remain healthy and injury-free. Baseball batters must wear helmets. Hockey players wear protective facemasks. Football players wear several layers of pads, and a protective helmet. But no matter how well they are taught the game, or what type of equipment they wear, young players can get hurt. Football players can suffer broken bones, baseball players suffer shoulder injuries, and soccer players may suffer those injuries or concussions. While most injuries do not lead to any permanent damage, they can be painful, and force the players to the sidelines for weeks or months.
Emotional Trauma
Children play sports to learn the skills of a particular game, to learn how to compete, to get the best out of themselves, and to have fun. Most coaches and parents realize this, and are there to help foster a great environment for their children. Some, however, do not — putting pressure on children to win and perform. A child might only be playing because the parent wants him to be a positive reflection on the family name. If a batter strikes out with the bases loaded, an ill-advised parent or coach might criticize her in front of other players, parents, and spectators. Depending on the severity of the criticism, it could rob the player of all enjoyment of the game, and make her regret ever trying to play.
Peer Issues
Sports can be a wonderful experience for the young player who participates, performs well, and earns praise from teammates and friends. But what about the player who performs poorly? In many of these cases, some players will feel they let their teammates down, and their self-worth will suffer. In other cases, a player might be rejected by teammates and peers, deepening their self-esteem woes. Instead of wanting to play, such players feel burned out, and might give up the game at an early age, according to an article entitled "Problems in Youth Sports" by James White and Gerald Masterton, Ph.D.
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