Comments on: A Tipping Point in Changing the Culture of Youth Sport? http://www.nicolemlavoi.com/a-tipping-point-in-changing-the-culture-of-youth-sport Nicole M. LaVoi, Ph.D. Thu, 29 Mar 2012 22:20:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 By: nmlavoi http://www.nicolemlavoi.com/a-tipping-point-in-changing-the-culture-of-youth-sport#comment-591 nmlavoi Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:56:29 +0000 http://nicolemlavoi.com/?p=2272#comment-591 Michelle, Thanks for your feedback. One thing I try to do with this blog is disseminate and distill research in a way that is palatable to the lay person. This issue about equal playing time is one I'm going to continue to push and advocate for in the year to come. -nml Michelle,
Thanks for your feedback. One thing I try to do with this blog is disseminate and distill research in a way that is palatable to the lay person. This issue about equal playing time is one I’m going to continue to push and advocate for in the year to come. -nml

]]> By: Michelle Ritter-Taylor http://www.nicolemlavoi.com/a-tipping-point-in-changing-the-culture-of-youth-sport#comment-590 Michelle Ritter-Taylor Wed, 25 Aug 2010 20:20:32 +0000 http://nicolemlavoi.com/?p=2272#comment-590 Nicole, I just wanted to applaud you on your strong stand. As a part of the classes I have taught over the years in psych of coaching, sport psych and sport soc. I have addressed the issue of developmental appropriateness (or lack thereof) and "competitive" sports prior to the age of 12 and came to the same conclusions regarding competition as well as playing time. I'm so happy to see that perspective out there in a "non-scholarly" way. I also, just completed Malcolm Gladwell's book "Outliers" in which I think he brings up another important reason (that of age cut off dates) why equal playing time up until at least 12 is imperative. As a parent, though, I might add (even with a Ph.D. in sport psych) that it is extremely difficult not to get caught up in the "win" attitude ever present on field of play. I'm grateful I have the tools to talk myself down :). Unfortunately, I cannot say that for the vast majority of parents out there. Thanks for the great blog, which I (and my class) read religiously! Nicole, I just wanted to applaud you on your strong stand. As a part of the classes I have taught over the years in psych of coaching, sport psych and sport soc. I have addressed the issue of developmental appropriateness (or lack thereof) and “competitive” sports prior to the age of 12 and came to the same conclusions regarding competition as well as playing time. I’m so happy to see that perspective out there in a “non-scholarly” way. I also, just completed Malcolm Gladwell’s book “Outliers” in which I think he brings up another important reason (that of age cut off dates) why equal playing time up until at least 12 is imperative.

As a parent, though, I might add (even with a Ph.D. in sport psych) that it is extremely difficult not to get caught up in the “win” attitude ever present on field of play. I’m grateful I have the tools to talk myself down :) . Unfortunately, I cannot say that for the vast majority of parents out there.

Thanks for the great blog, which I (and my class) read religiously!

]]> By: Wendy Parker http://www.nicolemlavoi.com/a-tipping-point-in-changing-the-culture-of-youth-sport#comment-589 Wendy Parker Wed, 25 Aug 2010 20:11:53 +0000 http://nicolemlavoi.com/?p=2272#comment-589 Terrific points here about letting kids enjoy sports when they're young by stressing skill development over winning. At some point elite youth athletes may need to go to a more highly-charged environment, but not at the outset. The biggest challenge is convincing enough parents to move away from the current ethos of competition. Especially if they cling to the delusion that their kids can get college scholarships by "learning" to win early. Terrific points here about letting kids enjoy sports when they’re young by stressing skill development over winning. At some point elite youth athletes may need to go to a more highly-charged environment, but not at the outset. The biggest challenge is convincing enough parents to move away from the current ethos of competition. Especially if they cling to the delusion that their kids can get college scholarships by “learning” to win early.

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