The One Thing That Can Change Youth Sports

The conversation surrounding youth sports has largely been focused on over competitiveness, travel costs, and pressure put on kids to win at all costs. Our job is to figure out how to make youth sports work for kids. The one thing that can change youth sports is focusing on fun.

You may be thinking, “Fun? Aren’t sports always fun? Isn’t that the point?” Unfortunately, with the increase in pressure and the over competitiveness, kids aren’t enjoying sports like they used to which causes over 70% of kids to quit by age 13. So how do we make sure sports remain fun?

1. Structured Fun

When we talk about fun in sports, we don’t mean letting kids run chaotically in circles for an hour and ignoring instruction. We mean using structured drills or games to teach them developmental skills in a fun way that holds their attention. Making sure drills are age-appropriate allow players to grasp foundational athletic skills and gain confidence before moving on to advanced skills. Confidence from achieving these skills fuels motivation, and intrinsic motivation is what makes kids want to stick with sports longer.

2. Let Kids be Kids

This one seems obvious but is easily forgotten in the heat of competition. Youth sports is about growth, not perfection. Putting pressure on kids to win at all costs, criticizing every error, and pushing them to play year-round or for club teams so they don’t miss an opportunity can cause kids to burnout at an early age. Some players enjoy that level of competition from an early age, but many do not. Avoid unnecessary pressure and talk with your child about what style of play and competition they enjoy. It’s important to remember that a lost game at the age of seven won’t make or break their athletic future.

3. Encourage Multi-Sport Play

It’s beneficial for kids to play different sports versus specializing at an early age. Sport-specialization too early can cause overuse injuries and burnout which can lead to the desire to quit sports all together. If young athletes show a desire to try a new sport, let them! Playing a variety of sports allows kids to train new muscles which also creates new neural pathways in the brain, strengthening the mind and body. Multi-sport athletes are known for being more versatile as they have experience in multiple types of movement and exercise.

Keeping sports fun doesn’t mean ignoring instruction or the desire for improvement—it means celebrating progress, enjoying the moment, and fostering a love for the game.  At the developmental stages of youth sports, making sure your athlete is having fun is the best way to encourage them to keep playing long-term. Making the high school team or being awarded a college scholarship is not the goal, but the result of falling in love with the game so much that you want to work hard to be better. It’s a result of having fun as a youth athlete and never wanting to quit. While it’s tempting to start thinking and planning for your child’s future as an athlete, remember that the best way to do that is to let them enjoy the present.

Find a Youth Sports Program Near You

i9 Sports^® offers a variety of youth sports leagues, camps, and clinics for ages 3-14. Our youth sports programs are designed to focus on the kids. We provide coaches with professionally developed drills that teach age-appropriate skills. These fun drills help build confidence as well as foster a love for sports. 

Find your local i9 Sports^® and choose a sport today!