Comments on: A Perfect Example of What’s Wrong in Youth Sports Training http://iyca.org/wordpress/a-perfect-example-of-whats-wrong-in-youth-sports-training International Youth Conditioning Association Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:29:52 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.3 hourly 1 By: Doug Whipple http://iyca.org/wordpress/a-perfect-example-of-whats-wrong-in-youth-sports-training/comment-page-1#comment-37606 Doug Whipple Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:11:01 +0000 http://iyca.org/wordpress/?p=452#comment-37606 Great Blog!! We did a Live coaches clinic with Tom Brands. The U of Iowa head wrestling coach. One thing he said is "You are not training these kids to win at this age. You are teaching them life long lessons". The best wrestlers in the world are from Russia they do not start wrestling until age 12. At this point are 70% of our kids do not even compete in sports any more. Can you believe this stat? These kids are the future of our the USA. The parents need to start being the role model and not the Professional Athletes. Step up and you be the role model. In this video of Tom Wilson the Dowling High School Head Coach talks about how parents should react to a few things. I usually don't plug my own blog but there is some things that really tie together here. http://championshipsportstraining.com/?p=276 Doug Whipple http://championshipsportstraining.com/ Great Blog!!

We did a Live coaches clinic with Tom Brands. The U of Iowa head wrestling coach. One thing he said is “You are not training these kids to win at this age. You are teaching them life long lessons”.

The best wrestlers in the world are from Russia they do not start wrestling until age 12. At this point are 70% of our kids do not even compete in sports any more. Can you believe this stat?

These kids are the future of our the USA. The parents need to start being the role model and not the Professional Athletes. Step up and you be the role model.

In this video of Tom Wilson the Dowling High School Head Coach talks about how parents should react to a few things. I usually don’t plug my own blog but there is some things that really tie together here.

http://championshipsportstraining.com/?p=276

Doug Whipple
http://championshipsportstraining.com/

]]> By: Chris Blake http://iyca.org/wordpress/a-perfect-example-of-whats-wrong-in-youth-sports-training/comment-page-1#comment-37565 Chris Blake Mon, 13 Jul 2009 03:30:37 +0000 http://iyca.org/wordpress/?p=452#comment-37565 I felt uncomfortable just watching the video clip...can't imagine having my son out there like this young guy was. Plus how does this video fit in with the Livestrong.com theme? Kind of odd??? Chris Blake I felt uncomfortable just watching the video clip…can’t imagine having my son out there like this young guy was. Plus how does this video fit in with the Livestrong.com theme? Kind of odd???

Chris Blake

]]> By: Henry http://iyca.org/wordpress/a-perfect-example-of-whats-wrong-in-youth-sports-training/comment-page-1#comment-37559 Henry Sat, 11 Jul 2009 02:46:21 +0000 http://iyca.org/wordpress/?p=452#comment-37559 I watched the video. I thought it would be alot worse. I do not think the pro is serious. Listen to his comments. I think the debate rages on. Do we, as parents, allow the "fun factor" and if so, then for how long? At what age should a young aspiring athlete begin the "serious" training? If kids are allowed to have fun, then I believe they may get left behind by their competitors. It seems to me that more and more kids are becoming specialists at a very young age. Here's another question I have, so we let kids play and have fun, how does this affect their technical ability. At what age do we as parents and coaches introduce technque? 10, 15 20? I watched the video. I thought it would be alot worse. I do not think the pro is serious. Listen to his comments.
I think the debate rages on. Do we, as parents, allow the “fun factor” and if so, then for how long? At what age should a young aspiring athlete begin the “serious” training?
If kids are allowed to have fun, then I believe they may get left behind by their competitors. It seems to me that more and more kids are becoming specialists at a very young age. Here’s another question I have, so we let kids play and have fun, how does this affect their technical ability. At what age do we as parents and coaches introduce technque? 10, 15 20?

]]> By: Mike http://iyca.org/wordpress/a-perfect-example-of-whats-wrong-in-youth-sports-training/comment-page-1#comment-37551 Mike Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:09:17 +0000 http://iyca.org/wordpress/?p=452#comment-37551 Brian, (First Great Post.. this is exactly what blogging should be about creating debate, questions and opinions!) I think that you were a little harsh because the golf pro is doing what most sports teaching pros do. They try to apply teaching tools that they use with older players and adults to young kids. But he is still guilty! Its kinda like the law.. just because you dont know about it, it doesnt justify your actions..ignorance is not an excuse... but you kinda feel sorry for the guy... But most coaches education is focussed on the skills and not on the needs of the player.. at ay age so its also testiment to the way in which he was trained to teach... and by the look of him he has been teaching for some time and probably started before 4 year olds were picking up golf clubs in their droves... The real sad thing is that parents are watching and thinking he is an expert.. at golf, I guess (I am not a golfer so wouldnt know) .. at kids ... no where close...! But at least he was advocating the correct sized equipment!! In the tennis industry we have trouble even getting parents to pay attention to that... Is it conscious or exploitive ... well we just don't know... so some of the posts are right that its not entirely fair to blame the pro.. (although we can blame him for his sense of humour which i think is where most of the problems with this clip lie :-))...but also it is also not fair for coaches to really think that they can stand up and talk about kids when they clearly do not have much of a clue about them... but maybe the other pros were too busy having a good time with the kids to worry about being on camera! I work in coach education.. working soley in training coaches to work with the under 10 age group... In working with Tennis Coaches all around the world I try to get them to understand that there are 3 pillars to effectively teaching a child... you need to understand the skill (which most pros do!), the child, physically, mentally, emotionally (which most coaches dont) and the environment (which most coaches just ignore).. if you want to help children learn (actually most learning is incidental and not as a result of direct teaching, so I prefer the term "helping children learn" rather than "teaching children")then you have to understand all three pillars.. without it most coaches just spend most of their time "wasting time" with kids...try to teach inappropriately...but then most sports are fixated on the skill forgetting the key role that environment plays... Perhaps a good debate to have that links to this is what is FUN? The problem with the word Fun is that it means very different things to different people and so when it is mentioned people just access ther definition of Fun and try to transpose it only others... I spend a lot of time getting coaches to understand what Fun is and how it is different things to different ages and personalities... clearly your golf pro thinks that he is making it fun maybe because adults often relate fun to competence or improvement.. but of course the child is sure that being in front of camera does not equal fun.. that said i have seen parents playing with their kids at this age at golf and tennis and both a laughing the entire time so i dont think we should be saying that golf is not fun.. in fact at this age the environment provides more fun than the sport itself.. so we are back to your original comments... Thanks for the post Brian, (First Great Post.. this is exactly what blogging should be about creating debate, questions and opinions!)

I think that you were a little harsh because the golf pro is doing what most sports teaching pros do. They try to apply teaching tools that they use with older players and adults to young kids. But he is still guilty! Its kinda like the law.. just because you dont know about it, it doesnt justify your actions..ignorance is not an excuse… but you kinda feel sorry for the guy… But most coaches education is focussed on the skills and not on the needs of the player.. at ay age so its also testiment to the way in which he was trained to teach… and by the look of him he has been teaching for some time and probably started before 4 year olds were picking up golf clubs in their droves…

The real sad thing is that parents are watching and thinking he is an expert.. at golf, I guess (I am not a golfer so wouldnt know) .. at kids … no where close…!
But at least he was advocating the correct sized equipment!! In the tennis industry we have trouble even getting parents to pay attention to that…

Is it conscious or exploitive … well we just don’t know… so some of the posts are right that its not entirely fair to blame the pro.. (although we can blame him for his sense of humour which i think is where most of the problems with this clip lie :-) )…but also it is also not fair for coaches to really think that they can stand up and talk about kids when they clearly do not have much of a clue about them… but maybe the other pros were too busy having a good time with the kids to worry about being on camera!
I work in coach education.. working soley in training coaches to work with the under 10 age group…
In working with Tennis Coaches all around the world I try to get them to understand that there are 3 pillars to effectively teaching a child… you need to understand the skill (which most pros do!), the child, physically, mentally, emotionally (which most coaches dont) and the environment (which most coaches just ignore).. if you want to help children learn (actually most learning is incidental and not as a result of direct teaching, so I prefer the term “helping children learn” rather than “teaching children”)then you have to understand all three pillars.. without it most coaches just spend most of their time “wasting time” with kids…try to teach inappropriately…but then most sports are fixated on the skill forgetting the key role that environment plays…

Perhaps a good debate to have that links to this is what is FUN? The problem with the word Fun is that it means very different things to different people and so when it is mentioned people just access ther definition of Fun and try to transpose it only others… I spend a lot of time getting coaches to understand what Fun is and how it is different things to different ages and personalities… clearly your golf pro thinks that he is making it fun maybe because adults often relate fun to competence or improvement.. but of course the child is sure that being in front of camera does not equal fun.. that said i have seen parents playing with their kids at this age at golf and tennis and both a laughing the entire time so i dont think we should be saying that golf is not fun.. in fact at this age the environment provides more fun than the sport itself.. so we are back to your original comments…
Thanks for the post

]]> By: SoCal Brian http://iyca.org/wordpress/a-perfect-example-of-whats-wrong-in-youth-sports-training/comment-page-1#comment-37543 SoCal Brian Fri, 10 Jul 2009 05:54:59 +0000 http://iyca.org/wordpress/?p=452#comment-37543 I just want to say that this is somewhat of a joke! I do think that this guy is a golf coach but, he can't be serious. I think we need to ask Lance why he would allow just anything to be put up on his website (livestrong)! This does no good for anyone anywhere! This kid is not the next "Tiger" by any stretch of the imagination, you never know but, I don't think you can see it here. It is not fair that that little guy even has to be subject to this discussion at all. Brian, I feel you brother but, this man is not in it for the kids obviously, he wants fame and fortune. You let him know what's up and you need to do it being who you are, represent! Find out who that little boys parents are and let them have it too! I wonder if that guy is his father or grandfather maybe. I just want to say that this is somewhat of a joke! I do think that this guy is a golf coach but, he can’t be serious. I think we need to ask Lance why he would allow just anything to be put up on his website (livestrong)! This does no good for anyone anywhere! This kid is not the next “Tiger” by any stretch of the imagination, you never know but, I don’t think you can see it here. It is not fair that that little guy even has to be subject to this discussion at all. Brian, I feel you brother but, this man is not in it for the kids obviously, he wants fame and fortune. You let him know what’s up and you need to do it being who you are, represent! Find out who that little boys parents are and let them have it too! I wonder if that guy is his father or grandfather maybe.

]]> By: Mark Taylor http://iyca.org/wordpress/a-perfect-example-of-whats-wrong-in-youth-sports-training/comment-page-1#comment-37540 Mark Taylor Fri, 10 Jul 2009 03:08:31 +0000 http://iyca.org/wordpress/?p=452#comment-37540 Brian, You were not too critical. I thought your response was measured and very professional. Your critique was as it should be, based on fact not emotion. I thought the video was pathetic. IYCA is a great organization and you are doing a tremendous job in your efforts to educate. Thank you. Mark Taylor Brian,

You were not too critical. I thought your response was measured and very professional. Your critique was as it should be, based on fact not emotion. I thought the video was pathetic. IYCA is a great organization and you are doing a tremendous job in your efforts to educate.

Thank you.
Mark Taylor

]]> By: Carlos Torres http://iyca.org/wordpress/a-perfect-example-of-whats-wrong-in-youth-sports-training/comment-page-1#comment-37539 Carlos Torres Fri, 10 Jul 2009 02:51:02 +0000 http://iyca.org/wordpress/?p=452#comment-37539 Could you do a video demonstrating how you would do it? I'd like to see it. I am able to comprehend better by seeing it myself. Thanks Brian for all the great information! Carlos Torres Personal Trainer SAn Antonio, Texas Could you do a video demonstrating how you would do it? I’d like to see it. I am able to comprehend better by seeing it myself. Thanks Brian for all the great information!

Carlos Torres
Personal Trainer
SAn Antonio, Texas

]]> By: Ken Finley http://iyca.org/wordpress/a-perfect-example-of-whats-wrong-in-youth-sports-training/comment-page-1#comment-37538 Ken Finley Fri, 10 Jul 2009 01:59:09 +0000 http://iyca.org/wordpress/?p=452#comment-37538 I get tired of people using Tiger Woods as an example of how to raise a young athlete. I'm not saying Mr. & Mrs. Woods did anything wrong. What they did was right for Tiger but is not the way we should approach the overwhelming majority of our youth. Tiger Woods is one in a billion and not representative of how the general population should approach their kids and sports. Keep up the good work Brian. I get tired of people using Tiger Woods as an example of how to raise a young athlete. I’m not saying Mr. & Mrs. Woods did anything wrong. What they did was right for Tiger but is not the way we should approach the overwhelming majority of our youth. Tiger Woods is one in a billion and not representative of how the general population should approach their kids and sports. Keep up the good work Brian.

]]> By: Brian Grasso http://iyca.org/wordpress/a-perfect-example-of-whats-wrong-in-youth-sports-training/comment-page-1#comment-37534 Brian Grasso Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:45:13 +0000 http://iyca.org/wordpress/?p=452#comment-37534 Thanks for posting all. Tarik, I read every post... Always. Thank you for leaving your comments and I would enjoy a conversation with you. To know me is to know that I speak my mind always. Sometimes people like what I have to say and sometimes they don't. But I never censor myself - I say what I feel. That being true, I have never been afraid to say I was wrong, apologize or be 'put in my place' if I realize that I was in fact incorrect. The state of youth fitness and sport is in complete shambles worldwide and requires a revolution to right the ship. All revolutions are sparked by a someone who is unafraid to voice opinion and opposition to oppressive or popular culture. But my earlier point stands.... I will ALWAYS listen to and digest the opinions of others. The IYCA is FAR from a one-man-show and I won't ever claim to have all the answers. Contact me via the 'contact us' icon on www.iyca.org - I would absolutely love to chat with you. Best! BG Thanks for posting all. Tarik, I read every post… Always. Thank you for leaving your comments and I would enjoy a conversation with you. To know me is to know that I speak my mind always. Sometimes people like what I have to say and sometimes they don’t. But I never censor myself – I say what I feel. That being true, I have never been afraid to say I was wrong, apologize or be ‘put in my place’ if I realize that I was in fact incorrect. The state of youth fitness and sport is in complete shambles worldwide and requires a revolution to right the ship. All revolutions are sparked by a someone who is unafraid to voice opinion and opposition to oppressive or popular culture. But my earlier point stands…. I will ALWAYS listen to and digest the opinions of others. The IYCA is FAR from a one-man-show and I won’t ever claim to have all the answers. Contact me via the ‘contact us’ icon on http://www.iyca.org – I would absolutely love to chat with you. Best! BG

]]> By: Tarik Tyler http://iyca.org/wordpress/a-perfect-example-of-whats-wrong-in-youth-sports-training/comment-page-1#comment-37533 Tarik Tyler Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:02:37 +0000 http://iyca.org/wordpress/?p=452#comment-37533 First off Brian I hope you read this. I was the trainer on Shaq's Big Challenge and when you invoked the show as an example of people jumping on the bandwagon for youth fitness I had to sit up and laugh and say "Did this guy just bag on the show I was on?" But it didn't stop me from getting the cert Level 1 and it won't stop me from getting cert level 2. We can get into why there was no follow thru later. The teacher is obviously pimping that kid for his own business. Telling the child to pivot his back toe when he looks more like he wants to run around and play is going to make that child feel more insecure. Your on point with the childs reaction is purely Pavlovian. First off Brian I hope you read this. I was the trainer on Shaq’s Big Challenge and when you invoked the show as an example of people jumping on the bandwagon for youth fitness I had to sit up and laugh and say “Did this guy just bag on the show I was on?” But it didn’t stop me from getting the cert Level 1 and it won’t stop me from getting cert level 2. We can get into why there was no follow thru later. The teacher is obviously pimping that kid for his own business. Telling the child to pivot his back toe when he looks more like he wants to run around and play is going to make that child feel more insecure. Your on point with the childs reaction is purely Pavlovian.

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