Two seemingly contradictory trends have been occurring in the United States over the past couple of decades. On the one hand, our children are becoming more sedentary compared to children of past generations, which helps to explain a corresponding rise in the prevalence of childhood obesity. On the other hand, childhood participation in organized sports is at an all-time high and the participants, especially those training to become “elite” athletes, are getting younger and younger. This dichotomy can probably be explained by the realization that despite significant sports participation by today's kids, our parents and grandparents were simply more physically active while they were young. The spontaneous type of exercise and play of the past, which conjures up images of Norman Rockwell paintings of sandlot baseball, just does not occur nearly as much today. With this in mind, it is relatively easy to see how the two trends can exist simultaneously. It is also easy to understand at least one of the reasons why some parents are introducing their children to organized sports at relatively earlier ages: they are concerned about their children's health. Of course, there are other reasons that may be more self-serving to the parent, but by and large parents want their kids to be healthy and physical activity is very important in this regard. Unfortunately, not all organized sports are created equal, and while participation in them is generally felt to be beneficial, there are some real concerns that parents should have, not the least of which is when to let the child begin.
First of all, let it be clear that physical activity in children is an integral part of achieving and maintaining fitness and can act to decrease the risk of developing future health problems such as diabetes and heart disease. Combined with a well balanced diet, regular physical activity is essential to optimize health, it is believed that people who are active while young will be active as adults.
Sports participation is one way a child or adolescent can be physically active, and organized sports have advantages over “free play.” If done correctly, organized sports can provide a framework for kids to play in a safe and healthy manner. Adult supervision can help to enforce rules designed to prevent children from engaging in risky behavior that may lead to injury. Structure and rules can also “level the playing field” through the grouping of children by size and ability and making sure teams are formed fairly.
Effective examples include weight limits in football and limits of pitches in baseball. Injuries can also be prevented by protective gear that may not be available outside a formal setting. Furthermore, organized sports ideally foster sportsmanship, such as teaching young athletes to be humble in victory and gracious in defeat.
Despite the advantages, there are also drawbacks that, when considered and weighed against the advantages, have led some to question whether organized sports are beneficial, especially at a very young age. Oftentimes the sportsmanship that should be fostered is not, and many of us have witnessed unsportsmanlike behavior by coaches and parents: the very people who should be serving as examples. Perhaps more importantly, some parents are obsessed with having their child begin a sport at a very early age to “be the best.” This scenario is becoming more and more common, especially in sports such as gymnastics, where early training is given paramount importance. This is at least in part due to the success of high-profile athletes with a history of early training. It may have its roots in the revelation some years ago that former communist countries had programs to identify potential for athletes as early as three years of age. The fact that those countries were also frequently successful led to similar, though not government -sponsored efforts here. This practice should give us pause because medical research has indicated that early intense training may delay puberty in girls. Furthermore, studies have suggested that participating in only one sport at an early age may cause more injuries and lead to cessation of that sport at an earlier age, when compared to children who play several sports. Athletes who begin to concentrate on one sport only after puberty are typically more successful.
Given the trend of earlier and earlier introduction to organized sports, there are several things that need to be kept in mind by parents, coaches and physicians. First of all, it is possible that the physiological and psychological demands of a particular sport may be too much for a young child. Forcing the child to participate can be a recipe for failure. In these cases the parent or coach is often unaware that the child does not comprehend what is taught or the reason it is taught. Coaches and parents generally do not possess the skills to effectively teach the very young. This deficiency is not because of lack of training and experience in the sport, but because of a lack of experience formally educating young children and a relatively poor knowledge of child development. Along the same lines, even if the child can understand what is being taught, he or she may not have the strength or coordination to perform the task. An important point to remember is that kids will not acquire certain skills faster just because they start trying to learn them earlier in life. It is not surprising that children, as well as coaches and parents, can become frustrated when things don't go as planned. This causes less fulfillment in what might otherwise be a rewarding experience.
Unfortunately there is no definite age or magical sign marking when a child is ready to participate in organized sports. Each child and sport is different, making it, by necessity, a case-by-case decision. It is important, however, that children are encouraged to be physically active, and the majority of this activity in “free play”. When kids are involved in organized sports, it should be at a level that corresponds to each child's particular interests and ability and should not replace spontaneous play. Ideally, coaches should have knowledge of early childhood development, as well as sports safety.
Parents should be discouraged from the temptation to have their children specialize in one sport at an early age and from treating the children as “little adults.” Good nutrition should be emphasized, as well as annual visits to the child's physician. If the parents are unsure about their child's ability to effectively participate at a given age, the annual doctor's exam provides an excellent opportunity for questions. A wealth of information can be obtained from the American Academy of Pediatrics (www.aap.org).
Participation in organized sports can be a beneficial and rewarding experience when done correctly and when it is introduced at the appropriate time and setting.
©2008 National Center for Sports Safety. All Rights Reserved.
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