According to a poll from the National Alliance for Youth Sports, around 70 percent of kids in the United States stop playing organized sports by the age of 13. Why are kids walking away? According to research, one of the main reasons is injury. Here are some additional reasons kids are walking away from sports according to an article published in the Washington Post.
- Sports aren’t fun anymore because they’re not designed to be.
- Our culture no longer supports older kids playing for the fun of it.
- There is a clear push for kids to specialize and achieve at the highest possible level.
- There is a cost to be competitive and not everyone is willing or able to pay it.
- Age is a factor — 13 year olds are forming their own opinion and making choices just like they always have. They’re also pulled in many directions (consider screen time, more challenging school work, etc.)
So, what can be done about it? Read this advice.
“No, we can’t single-handedly change youth sports as we know it, but if each parent started practicing good, positive, supportive behavior, with the focus on the fun of the game and nothing else, that’s how you create a movement.” Furthermore, the article said “Parents should keep their eye on the bigger picture… the goal is a happy, healthy, well-adjusted, self-supporting individual.”
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