16
4. s ED 107 612 DOCUMENT RESUME SP AO.235 AUTHOR Burke, Ed.; Kl4ibler, Douglas .7 TITLE, Pdychblogical flat.Physical IMplications-df Highly Competit.i''e Spo;rEsfot Chil&ren:. . ,.-p-UB DATE 75- --. t .1 `NOTE '16-,p4 v . .. tE-AIR s .-p-nci'"-* ii-10..35 HC,-_- 1.58 PLUS POSTAGE .- . 'DESCRIPTORS _ *Athletic P_rog ms,.; *Athletics-4 *Child kevelopment; _4- , *Child=rn=,;_ Iits ture R-eviewd; g:Fh=ysidal Develop_ment; ,-; 4 O , .. .. ; , -Play ' . . . ' 4 , / IDENTIFIERS *_*Corapetitionittle Ie4gues % '. " e . . . . Ther )s -a growing -movement toward' highly- structured-, competitive sports for children aged- 712=, --who are* at a crucial stage cz ot _physical and- psyChOlogic0. d-evelopritenf. Social play and gethep have. , important sociaILLation and identity7formation 4u7c.4bni. -On'e , argument sup porting =h10-ly -competitive sports "far`rehildten iS _that thAay -_protla=e ad-Altional-T-laty: op_portun-itieS4- In fa-ct., organized -sports may _reduce- play- op:portunities4_- by Ieading -Child -ren _al4Ay.ftOta, _free and spYrit"ati-e-o-ii*vganei. _A_ second -a=rgu-m-ent id_ th&t more &ighl-ki- skilled athleteS result -frOir_-hzighlly- =dbm.p-etitiwe sport's* =a1AhOitigh this does not seem to- -be true for team sports. A -t=hir=d" a-Tigivarellt,i-that. organized sports are sa=fer_ -and= :heasl,th-let th-an_ the Safitilot variety-. There is conSiderwble enidetice=,_ --howeVer, to= support the- -obn-CliiSion t t 'high-ly c-op_potIt-iite sports can ;he !rt-pful 71yeith, 1phsySio-IOgiCalltyy _,,a= 4 p-sy-dhoto_goally..__Sadtity, it is- -arg_ & tlat it is socially advantageous tor chlld=ren! to learn.= to -comp-ets =e-aryiy. 0131 / -1 A I

& tlat it is socially - ERICCOMp_etition'has. beCome a primary value whioh operates in- many personalities as s-major drive, I have not charged= that sports have caused this -condition;

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Page 1: & tlat it is socially - ERICCOMp_etition'has. beCome a primary value whioh operates in- many personalities as s-major drive, I have not charged= that sports have caused this -condition;

4.

s ED 107 612

DOCUMENT RESUME

SP AO.235

AUTHOR Burke, Ed.; Kl4ibler, Douglas .7TITLE, Pdychblogical flat.Physical IMplications-df Highly

Competit.i''e Spo;rEsfot Chil&ren:. .,.-p-UB DATE 75- --. t .1`NOTE '16-,p4 v .

..

tE-AIR s .-p-nci'"-* ii-10..35 HC,-_- 1.58 PLUS POSTAGE .-.

'DESCRIPTORS _ *Athletic P_rog ms,.; *Athletics-4 *Child kevelopment;_4- ,*Child=rn=,;_ Iits ture R-eviewd; g:Fh=ysidal Develop_ment;

,-; 4O ,

.... ; , -Play ' . . .

' 4 ,

/IDENTIFIERS *_*Corapetitionittle Ie4gues % '. "

e.

.. .

Ther )s -a growing -movement toward' highly- structured-,competitive sports for children aged- 712=, --who are* at a crucial stage

cz ot _physical and- psyChOlogic0. d-evelopritenf. Social play and gethep have., important sociaILLation and identity7formation 4u7c.4bni. -On'e,

argument sup porting =h10-ly -competitive sports "far`rehildten iS _thatthAay -_protla=e ad-Altional-T-laty: op_portun-itieS4- In fa-ct., organized -sportsmay _reduce- play- op:portunities4_- by Ieading -Child -ren _al4Ay.ftOta, _free andspYrit"ati-e-o-ii*vganei. _A_ second -a=rgu-m-ent id_ th&t more &ighl-ki- skilledathleteS result -frOir_-hzighlly- =dbm.p-etitiwe sport's* =a1AhOitigh this doesnot seem to- -be true for team sports. A -t=hir=d" a-Tigivarellt,i-that.organized sports are sa=fer_ -and= :heasl,th-let th-an_ the Safitilot variety-.There is conSiderwble enidetice=,_ --howeVer, to= support the- -obn-CliiSiont t 'high-ly c-op_potIt-iite sports can ;he !rt-pful 71yeith, 1phsySio-IOgiCalltyy

_,,a= 4 p-sy-dhoto_goally..__Sadtity, it is- -arg_ & tlat it is sociallyadvantageous tor chlld=ren! to learn.= to -comp-ets =e-aryiy. 0131

/ -1A

I

Page 2: & tlat it is socially - ERICCOMp_etition'has. beCome a primary value whioh operates in- many personalities as s-major drive, I have not charged= that sports have caused this -condition;

/. -

PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL IMPLI(TIONS

9'0?)-HIGHLY COMPETITIV4 SPORTS

FOR CHILDREN:-

U.SDEPARTMENTOF HEALTH,EDUCATION t WELFARENATIONAL INSTITUTE OF

EDUCATIONTHIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPR9DUCED-EXACTLY AS RECEIVED FROMtTHePERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIGINATING IT POINTS ORVIEW OR OPINIONSSTATED DO NOT-NECESSApIllY-,REPRtSENT OFFICIAL NATIONAL INSTITUTEOFEDUCATION POSITION OR POLICY

. -1

EdA3utke pmd-pOuglab Kleibbr-

=Ed Burke. Ph.D. is Assistant PtOfessoi, Of Thysidal -Edudaticin in the Schotil

of Health; Physical-EdudattOn 'and=ledi.eation, Ithede-Oollegel, tthate,_,New-,York_,_ 1450

f- -

Douglas Kleibet, PhD. iS_Assisant-PtiofesSOt-of'PsytholO withe Schoolof'Education, St. Cloud Etats College, St. Cloud-, Minnesota= 56301

r

t 4

ti

Page 3: & tlat it is socially - ERICCOMp_etition'has. beCome a primary value whioh operates in- many personalities as s-major drive, I have not charged= that sports have caused this -condition;

a

V

'44

.

In post World War II 'NneRica,.there has been .a growing movement towards

'ever increasing participation in highly structured, competitive snorts for.,

. * . .. , /

boys in -they age group 7 -12._' Since thig is a' rather drastic departure froth -

. . ,-,-,

otr earlier heritage of game p_ laying and since i_ n. .thid respect we differ from. . , 6

...

a

.

mbst other cultuTs, the 'phenomenon deserves seriOus consideration. .. z ,

Competi=tion and"ghildren's-Sports '-lt, .,a,

..'a -

'A 195,6 Report on SChoOl Health (19hchgracter Zed h=ighly- Impetitive. .

1.

. ., . .

sports for children as follows: "The chief stress is placed on winning with

1 #

excessive ethotion&

with par4;,,;

pressures applied by teadherslparen&and others, and*.

interest going to the point of -expressing undue Concern over

.g." Scott (23) hag.indicated that the Lotbardian ethic has.so 15ermeated

the Amdrican sPOrt culture that it ext ends'even to the little leagues. The

,.

statement :: "Winning M,n't everything* its the only thing," leads too a Product=

orientea system in which "the opponent is viewed at hest'as an obstacle, at

worst as an enemy that must-be overcome in order to achieve Victory."_

There has teen little tendency on the pa of tost.parents to questiart. -

the value, of sucil ethic to the health ana,well-being_of their children.-

Because competitiveness is a Cultural value held by post Americans. It is

seen by most be basiC anli even biological in its,relationships =to human

nature. While

respect to the

the preVailirig opiniOns of psyc hologists aLie varied 'with

origins of competitive behavior, the ubiquity bf competition

=

in our Culture is at leas-t Of factors that are -biologically inherent

to huMan nature -., -And in the context

trdhsllatei into such ideas as the folklore of-how-we "won the west:"

Psychologists of the pgYchoadalytic school 76) indicate that'

American HistorY such beli6fs becote

/.

plays a-role in the development of the ego, =A chilet 'seIf,conceptis ,

4 .

A

strengthened or _placed_ in jeopardy by hiS=successes or failures_. Early.

,

4

Page 4: & tlat it is socially - ERICCOMp_etition'has. beCome a primary value whioh operates in- many personalities as s-major drive, I have not charged= that sports have caused this -condition;

4

I

in life the child is forced to compete with other _siblings or with one

parent for the love of the other.

ivIn contrast to those who might wish` to show that competition is noai l. I

and- healthy, some-authoritiet feel that it -depas-ing''and a social evil.

In- a review of the sociolk,ical literature,, Sadler (2-11 has dallied for a

change in lifestyle:

J-tave -attempted to 'suggest,_ some of -the most horrendous- -problemsencounfer-ed -not only an sports bit throughout our society are 4.i part due-t* the unprincipled =expameion -and 111r-teal domination of our lifestyles by-4the spirit of cenipetition;. That has -set the standard-. COMp_etition'hasbeCome a primary value whioh operates in- many personalities as s-majordrive, I have not charged= that sports have caused this -condition; In -faCtthe institution -of sports hay? become- a-victim- of it Ironically likemuch-organiZedreligion4n -our _society:, it mindlessly expresses, =endorset-andrevitaIites_ the -very spirit of competition- which is -becoming a signfi-;.cant factor in -suits tan-out =own -undoing. .

1.

It is a popular thought that "competit=ion= is _a law= of the 'jungle:,I is

deoperati'm is the laW of civilizatidii.-"- Skinn-er-(24 -= has-expressed

,contempt for competition in his behaviorldtio WalZien_If. In h-is

classical experiments_,_ Sheri -_(22 demenstrated that competition- among.

norma=l Il.i-ye.r -old= 'boys _resulti in -n.istrust aid interpirtonal = host=ility.. . .

-Na matter what the cau Noy =what th-e justification:,_ ttiere are: at%I.. 4

present over three million 7 =2_year old- bcys playfng orgarjized b'aseball

,(more than half p yihg in Little League). Over one million play orgauited

football wlille organized babketball and ice hockey are growing. rapidly,.

as are age4group twinning-J. tennis, :golf and _gymnast ics (3.813.

The practical question= is how_ to redirect these _organ-ized: sPotts to

take into .consideration= the -we-3a being of the- ,childreit'involVed,

we witll examine the child -pArChologically- aid:physidellyand- -then readi te

some of_ the common arguments,of -those wh-opromotte:highly competitive sports

for 'children.

I.

A

S.

Page 5: & tlat it is socially - ERICCOMp_etition'has. beCome a primary value whioh operates in- many personalities as s-major drive, I have not charged= that sports have caused this -condition;

The Psychological_ Condition at Age 7-42

From a developmental perspective, the child at this age is emerging

from a stage of. -his lifejn Which, parewls were thaidcminan others into orin which hfs Pair..giloup is increasingly Eignificant Soo& plaiand games

provide situations which are crucially important to socialization and to.

Identity formation. i r

In psychbanalyti8 terms, this is the latency stage or post-oedipal

period.. The crises and 'conflicts' of fainily ,relations he.'ve been a'tt.least

temporarily resolved with the formation jaf the conseience or "super- ego "'=This is essentially an internalized set a rules which by ackntwledging

certain limi ts and prohibitions, enables tie child to-be =sure of love- and., .

4approval.. This period may be a crucial time in moral development., ..- . .

Witt these new tools of human relations; the cfi Xd = =is =eager 16 test

their validity in other social situations. Games are particularly ffective.

in :providing- _protected,, prancipIes=.of social. - t

interacts n and ."fair play. As such they are a primary socializing agent.-.",..4.... .

- "' .Team iaines In particular pros*ride for. "power-sharing" thus enabling' the in,

.

dividual xperience,collectiCe achievement. Sim'ilarly , "failures" in1 - /.-

group games are reduced in importance because losses are also shared and.. , - -.. .. . S A

because they are c4therwilse inconsequential; part pk- Ole security and eppeal

of a child-organized game lies in the fact that .here is/no fear of loss of. . ,

'love due to peformance. That adult-organized sports threaten this s ourity.. , --.*11 be consider=ed shortly. ,

1

. ,I, .

1

TriktOn- a{i_2= }-,' -who -cIkscuss-es -eight3progressive stages_ In -the-. _development. . .

-Of the -ego_,_ deacribes thiS -par=ticular as "socially almost detisive- . _ .

, t N,.. , t 1_ -

;-

Page 6: & tlat it is socially - ERICCOMp_etition'has. beCome a primary value whioh operates in- many personalities as s-major drive, I have not charged= that sports have caused this -condition;

-4:

., .

. . i

stage" during which inferiority is1a dominant fear.

-

This concernis.most - .

6 r . o.

often exiiiessed in grodp piety and games where a.

child has the opportunity. ,

to "testteit himself" in relation to, others. Othe' attitudes toward both.

_is,

. ...--,.. . .

, . ..

hirOelf and toward common experiences contribute to the development of a _ ,

child't self-concept and Provide at-mirror image of himself.

. . .s

: 1p a'game with other children, "getting along" and ''making the game,

.

\...... work" are important to the individual, for this setting is rich with,in-,.. .

formation. about himself and his abilities. Unlike the parent who accepts.

4

the:ail-Von the tasit of lOve,the-peer will relate to the child oh-the

basit.Of what he offers the _group. Thus:,_ fnutuaZizty, and interpersonal de,

:pendence _are al3so deve-lopied- quite-naturally- in_ thit setting, ._Chilidren

AD

_readIlyaccept rules -froth_each other and-make their own agreements for,"the

\greater good" and they racy- requir=e standarat imposed by adults

.

Lt appears thenthat_ much of the _psychological development and sOciali,Po_

iaatin_ that occurs during this stage is a-resuIt of the child's- entrance

into the culture of his_ -peer group. _It is unlikear,that adult intervention

Wa,

into the realm of*childrens gamhs will dock to improve on its contribution

to the ii,owih of children, but there it a= distinct pcsssibility that if there

is interference.in these attivities, dame\ge may be done to the natural.

ts

ptocess of growing up:4 1

The Phygidal Condition_at Age "7=-12

Perhaps the Most atportant concept whiCh must be understobd-bythe,, .

. . t .

ithewho supervises ;the activity ofvohildren is that they are not-Miniature-._

. tadults. Activitie which may bv riate for the adult are simply too

strenuous for the normal develeptent of many children.

Page 7: & tlat it is socially - ERICCOMp_etition'has. beCome a primary value whioh operates in- many personalities as s-major drive, I have not charged= that sports have caused this -condition;

-5-

S._.,---- __

--

Success in motor sal]: performance is relhted to the body type of the..!--

child,* Body type or bone structure is inherited and dannot.be altered by.

4-4training. Physically the dhildls height and weight are increasing at

fairly constant rate with large growtfi spirt' around the age of twelve.

#While-boy's are usuailystronger,.girls are often taller and heavier,than

. ... ..

..

. . : /.

boys. Boys are twice as strong at age 11 as at age 6. While their.; bones

are harder, they Are easiei. to break, During the gro4th years,_ bone growth,

..

is more rapid than imisclgroWth, Temporaray the=bones and joints lack,

,

.

. .

.,

. - - .

the normal' protectiOn/pf covering_ muscles and supporting tendons thus in

-dreasing the tendency -foriclisiocations-of loin-Cs and4permanpnt injury to,

boner. Frequently, injury to the growth -region of-bone, the,-epiphysis, goes.

. // .- . ..

undetected-until Iater4in life. Withinany age range there is A-Ode_ in--,,

. . . .--- ,

diVidual-variatibein= maturation levels, Chronological age is-by no-means

__an,accurAteindicator- Of _phySiologiegi age, Thus yhen children -10 -12_........S.-

compete, the Ader child- couldbe Iiterally'twice as strong due to by

type, age differences--the growth spurts at adolekence and relative-matura.I

tion :rates. 2

Analyzing the -Rhetoric Ok Advocates of Childhood' Sports

A'considerationTak =ing into consideration the psychological arid physical:charActeritics

of.children 7-12 years old, let us exatine some of,the typical arguments

o5fered in support of highly competitive sports-for children :

1, "Sports-provide additional puy-oppottuatiet,fot, dhadren.",,

DeVeredx (-7= has pointed-to-the lack ofplay in our cul=ture. as CavAI '

e

pared_with cultureS in,other parts of the, world -. Eifertan,-(9410), and- the

Opies (l13)= have described the rich Culture-of SpontaneOuSgames in -other

Page 8: & tlat it is socially - ERICCOMp_etition'has. beCome a primary value whioh operates in- many personalities as s-major drive, I have not charged= that sports have caused this -condition;

t.

6-

cultures while Sutton-Stith and Rosenberg -{ }27) note; a gradual. decline in-the number of games being played in- America-. Devete9 (7) has,specuiated

. ,that TX. and the enormous importance pieced on big tite'sports may have

/ led children ip their play time away from free and spontaneolie games towards._-a more rigid system of structured sport. Skubic (25) reported that of 96.

. .- . ., .

little leaguers interviewed, 91 indicated that over half ortheir leisure.. . / .

tjpe was spent playing baseball.. Thus, organized sports Aw children may-actually reduce play- opportunities. 4

NJIn behailiotist terms, it has been shown repeatedly that Sudeest*IS

the best vehicle for continued -learning-. Ctucial attitudes _are being

developed toward- physical "ad-biVit3il.t. The Child Who continually- fails in...-:. _

motor sk =ills- -may lower his _level Of aspiratiOn.4_ r=elative to= _physical dev..

lopment. Level of a-spiration,_ -body image arlde selfimage".or self concept,. - 0 it-are.r elated- goncepta,_ each -contingent in- this time-p-eriod= on -peer group-

aoknOwLedgetent. The child -who is exp-osed- to- an -environment in- =which he

can't be successful '(such as happens -frequently in little league=)_,- is. -quite

likely to respond defensiiely and express hatred== for all physical activity.

Clearly, one of the TiO st condemning features of "little leap-Ilse' iS the

fact that the child Ito needs physical activity the most is often shunted

away from exercise byi ihe. competitive nature of the sport. Coaches of

Little le-ague often are not sensitive Ito -the needs of the little obese- =boy

or the frail child- who mo. -have had- virtually- a6 -exprience- in the =mdtor

ma=rm heeded for success-.

Z. "More highly Skilled athletes result. from thete types of --vrograma,"

The defense that more highly skilled players' are a result of highly

Page 9: & tlat it is socially - ERICCOMp_etition'has. beCome a primary value whioh operates in- many personalities as s-major drive, I have not charged= that sports have caused this -condition;

-7-

competitive sports for children. must be examined carefully. The following

statements should be prdfaced by the fact _that little literature is avail.-,,, it- .

zable to suppOrt or contradict the -authors' 'Opinions,

In certain sports such as iWimming,;_ gymnastics'", 'golf and ten anti -'

.- . .,cipation at an early age does appear to pay large dividends._

4.The. world

, . 4.. . . . . .

records and genereaL improvementa in play in theSe_ areas are- testament to. .

.-

the above statement; -but in team sportsI

such as -=baSebali and foettell on&. . . . ,.is:hard pr ,cessed to kind a relaiionship between ompetition n early ageat a

.. .:

and future success. Wliy the difference? First, childi-,en have always played. . '- I. . 7 . -

baseball and football in the local playground as op-posed to the More speci-. I

fic environment needed -to play tennis, swim; etc. Second, it is a mathe:

matical fact that there simply are not ,enough _qualified coaches to meet

the crunch of threemillion- boys ,playing` organi;ed .0Eurthermore,-_

-in contrast to age -coup programs which, are, often quite. luotatiVe to the.

=

= *--= =.;=

coacS- there is -no economic= incentive =to -getto -get the truly qua,lified coach to

-partIcipate in little.league baseball. =Even= if hie does, only the boys on

his.own team will be likely to benefit .which is in contrast to the afore-

mentioned age-group programs where a talented coach can reach hundreds of.

children.in a summer.

Still another common criticism from high school and= other coaches

aadolescents is that 'IA, the time they g6t to me thOy're 'burned' out_.-" The

young Man .who hhs been exposed to rigid authoritarian training- since the

age of three or four maY., have reached a saturation 'point especially when

he sees ,the 1)enefits of the social interaction available to his age group.( c-Thus for a latge number of such athletes early training often results in=

4

Page 10: & tlat it is socially - ERICCOMp_etition'has. beCome a primary value whioh operates in- many personalities as s-major drive, I have not charged= that sports have caused this -condition;

et

later hostility to the skills -which they -have acquiredf..

risally,, -it should be noted that- there are studies which- support the

hypothesis that significant physiological benefits result froM .eridurande-

training at. an early- age (=11,151. Thus_,_ Sport partiCipation requiring

great, lev,gla of working dapadity such as swimming and running may indeed4e

result in greater performance levels at maturity (if the invidual hasni;t

already given up because of the psychological and social problems attending-, -

Since sports such as baseball and fOetball do not

aerobic =capacity no- such -lien-efies_ could, -be attri=

such Crigo'rous 'training).

call for great levels of

bated to these sports (5).

3. "Organized sports*are safer and healthier . than=the. sandlot variety."

There is-considerable evidence to support the-conclusionthst highly

competitive sports dre Often harmful to both physiological and psychological

growth and development. With reppect to physical damage, the most widely

researched sport is that of baseball.- Adatts (7'-i2;3) _tia §= shown, that-the

excessive repetitive strain to the elbow in pitching by children of little

league age can produde severe bone and= jOin:t abnormalities. in a study of -, .

162 boys ages 8-14 (3), he was able to demonstrate such damage in all of

the ,V) pitchers and in. only a dmall percentage of t-he non,:pitching baseball

players or ai control grout, Slocum-and Larsen -C-261,,ilaVe isolated- a common_.

.-epipheseal injury -whin odours in- chp:dren- 9=15_, in- the -.knee atea-

tequit of landing from a jump such -as in- baSketball. ittise et al._ -(=20)),

have warned of the danger of fardiac contusions -resulting froM -spearing.._.. I ; 44 1 1.

in football. 13rogden et at., -MO and -Dotter t8)) have coined the tertha "little

lbaguert e'l_==bow" and_ le_agu- era_ shouId-er" to-d-escribe common injuries

Page 11: & tlat it is socially - ERICCOMp_etition'has. beCome a primary value whioh operates in- many personalities as s-major drive, I have not charged= that sports have caused this -condition;

found in baseball _players, Torg et al (28) recently completed a study.in, ,

whict the incidence of injuries in a league characterized by a lack of high

-9--

pressure were ftWer and less Serious than those occuring to boys subiected-

to the vigorous competition of traditional &tie League.", They summarized

this issue when they Concluded:

What then is the difference between pitching in the Little League ascompared to the Lighthouse program (non-competitive)? Having consideredall factors; we believe 'that the major difference is the circumstancesunder which the two groups participaie. Specifically, Little Leaguers must r

compete to, make the. team, must compete to play in each game, and are sub-jected to intense pressures to win by adult coaches and spectaiOrs. On -

the other hand, the Lighthouse Boys Club meMbers are automatically assignedto a team and must play at least three and one half innings of-each gameby Club regulations. The general attitude is one of-participation for thesake of recreatidn rather than competition (28). .

-

-4-

,Psychological damage is far more, iffieult to measure; but several

authorities (7,13) -have noted thatVhild normal game playingellows the

child to experiment-with his body and with _hisenvironment-within a "safe ",

ton=judgemental etvironment4 the child who "strikes aut"iih leOnt of theP

whole town- may be s biected to the. type Of ridicule he simply- is not eM0-.*

tionally equipped to handle.

PiaAet (I3) has actually- made a casethat

the child may be making moral judgeMents which

through -free =gate playing ,

contribute -to- the -develop,-

tent of the_pflperego, An example might be the case of pitch=ing more slowlyk f

i4 4

TO one who has little skill; a striking contrestto the-"min, at any-cost"

behavior 'so pervasive in competitive sports.

Recently Fried:Ilan has charagterized a behavioral characteristic which

seems to be a factor in the etiology of Coronary Heart Disease. "Type

behavior" is characterized-by excessive time urgency, drive and col petitive-.,

AASS4 Boyer C5) hat_aIludeq 'to the present topic in describing TypeA

Page 12: & tlat it is socially - ERICCOMp_etition'has. beCome a primary value whioh operates in- many personalities as s-major drive, I have not charged= that sports have caused this -condition;

* -10-

behavior as follows:

The CHD prone personality has btSen studied by Dr. Meyer Friedman. Ex -"cessive sense of time urgency, drive and competitiveness Type A behaviorpattern, tention-related risk_ In childhood it begins in schoolwits i unrelenting pressure from parents and teachers for high scholasticstanding and grade points. Time urgenc, competitive' striving and a demanding schedule of after school activities malie growing up a grim andjoyless time of life-. Up-fight children' are being raised by up-tight,parents who even direct the children's recreational act=ivities into np-. .tight games. Exemplel4of these up-tight games ere Little League Ba4Ealland Pop Warner Footbalf... These games at best are poo? fitness activitiesand contribute nothing to car'diovascular or Muscuilar endurance. Oost .ofthe time they are highly stress- producing because of the detOand 'by p,rentsto see their child win at any cost. Watching the emotionally chargcl .parentsat the usual Little League game explains how many children find physicalactivity neitlier reldicing_nor enjoyable. These highly competitive, stressful organized .adult, controlled sports ,programs for. Children _actually dis-courage the continuation of phytical fitness and healthful physical pursuitslater in life. It notnot rational to believe that we can taiseour Children=to be highly competitive=, hip,hly stressed and frequently >emotionally chargedup and expect them to reach maturity calm, ser9pe and at piece with themselveswith unscathed coronary arteries.

t1JoePatefto- the highly successful head foot coach at Penn State

was quoted recently as- follows: I

-Whatever happened to the -goo& tays:when_ if you felt like- .playing'baseball you would round -up your buddies,_ get a bat and ball arid would=_out and play. -What do we do -now? We dress-up our.kids in- uniformsgiiier,them professional requipthent, {tell them- where to play;_ when_ to play,_ organ,ite-..their games for them-, give them offiCials and-put them in the= andd -ofa cbaCh -Who doesn't -knoW= the 'first thing about tte sport -or what-' "s= -good -for-/n 8 year old-.

f"Children are going to have -to lean} =hot to-c-oMpeta; it it =better

to learn it ear=ly than leter---On in life.!"

to_This it _perhaps the most common of all the- arguinentt =used protote

"little leagueism.-" It is equivalent to thoughts oft-teaching a 2-yeai-old

to swim,by throwing him into an olympic pool or teaching =him to read.by

presenting-him with War _and_Seace. In other words, there- is -no acknowledge-; s

ment of principles of learning (shaping anc =reinforcement } -, of intellyctual ....(gradual assimilation); and of emotional, development (the gra5lual

e. x p e D i e ;a ge of stress to develop coping mechanisms),.all of which are well, -

Page 13: & tlat it is socially - ERICCOMp_etition'has. beCome a primary value whioh operates in- many personalities as s-major drive, I have not charged= that sports have caused this -condition;

A

time for normal Development. To the extent that a

!..r awn i to eaviranment which he finds irip'ossible to handle

t'e re3alaia. may e devastating. As he grows and mat:Jres he

=-1 v -(a-e with his physical limitations. Furthermore,

si-w ,.atarer, but if he is exposed to failure at an age

air (lane by the time he his "caught up." Finally_ to

is ta'a ir,g his free time to compete he may be robbed of

.e; e1 .ental dlvantages referred to earlier which may arise from

_rr- at ions

IT tLere was da opportunity to make drastic sc J.:al changes, perhaps

of childhood sports would be recommended. Speaking prag-

:lowever, it appears that childhood sports are culturally in-

present and will remain with us for some time. Therefore we

to at least minimize the damage being done.

e.aing with the research and thoughts presented in thi paper we

t3 nal,e the following recommendations which should be followed in an

a':tempt to mDrf fully safeguard the physical and psychological welfare of

t

I. Ever': league should have a physician who makes policy concern'lgmedical checkups, health hazards, physical and emotional developmentcf player, etc. he should be familiar with the psychological develop-ment of children and be able to advise coaches on such matter.

2. ,:oac:.es should be encouraged to develop skill and competencies whichw,la be of assistance in dealing with children to include: concepts in

deve:opment, Athletic training, first aid, exercise physiolcay,learning 1.,d skills in the particular sport.

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3. Our co'leges should undertake to offer courses appropriate to teachthe iforementioned principles to individuals of varying educational

backgrounds.

4. Physical ,:ations should be mandatory.

5. Sports assoc.LAted with heavy exercise should be preceded by a gradu-ated :7=-4 week conlitioning program to be supervised by a qualified

individual.

6. Programs shoilld wide and comprehensive to include:

a. both sexesb. a wide variety of individual and team sportsc. many teams ri

d. no exclusion (e.g. cutting) of eligible playerse. participation by everyone in a given percentage of every gamef. random assignment of players to teams

7. Mimicking of the styles of professional athletes (e.g. spearingfootball, unnecessary boarding in hockey, etc.), should be guardedF;i:nst by coaches.

S. :-_caches should encourage players to report elbow or shoulder pain.

9. Specific regulations should be instituted in given sports where

appropriate,a. 2,5':-Phall players should not be allowed to pitch baseball formcre than 3 innings per game.h. The curve ball in baseball should he outlawed.c. Thckle football should be replaced by flag football.

Lar-Pn and :'cMahcn (14) summarized a recent paper as follows:

Cnii.lren develop readiness for sports, as their maturation, agility,ar4d c-DrdivItion allow the-n. With supervision and direction, training andi-rx-.>>,r_> e-,_nt, and participation and self-discipline, they are going to1-onn Co enioy a 1-! %i of work and play, and thus enjoy life.

Page 15: & tlat it is socially - ERICCOMp_etition'has. beCome a primary value whioh operates in- many personalities as s-major drive, I have not charged= that sports have caused this -condition;

References

1. Adams, w T. "Bone injuries in very young athletes." Clinical Orthopedics,58,129, 1968.

2. . "Injury to the throwing arm: A study of traumatic changes, inthe elbow joint of boy baseball players.'" California Medicine, 102:2,127-132, I965.

3. . "Little league shoulder osteochondrosis of the proximal humeralepiphysis in boy baseball pitchers." California Medicine, 102:22, 1966.

4. Baldwin, Alfred L. Theories of Child Development. New York: Wiley and Sons,1967.

5. Boyer, John. -"Heart attack prevention starts with children." Journal ofPhysical .Education, 103-105, March :April, 1972.

6. Brogden, B. G. and Crow, N. E. "Little leaguer's elbow." American Journalof Roentgenology, 83,671, 190,

7. Devereux, E. "Some observations on sports, play acrd games for childhood."Paper presented at the Eastern Association for Physical Education ofCollege Women, October, 1972.

8. Dotter, W. E. "Little leaguer's shoulder." Guthrie Clinic Bulletin,23,68, 1958.

9. Eifermann, Rivka. Determinants of children's game styles. Jerusalem: TheIsrael Academy of Sciences and Humanities, 1971.

t

10. . "Social play in childhood." In R. E. Heron and B. Sutton-Smith,eds., Child's Pla'r, New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1971.

11. Ekblom, Bjorn. "Effects of physical training on adolescent-boys." Journalof ATADlied Physiologb 27:3, 350-355, 1969.ss

12. Erikson, Erik. Childhood and Society.. New York: Norton and Company, 1950,

13. ri.rrie, Dorothy. "Physical activities for children: effects and affects."Presented at AAEPER Rational Convention, Minneapolis, April, 1973.

14. Larsen, Robert and McMaha:.. "The epiphyses and the childhood athlete."JAMA, 196,99-104, 1966.

. 'bagel, John and H. Lange Anderson. "Pulmonary diffusing capacity and cay'output in young trained Noriegian swimmers and untrained subjects."Medicine and Science In Sports, 1:3, 131-139, 1969.

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1E. Opie, I. and Opie, P. Child.,en's Games on Street and Playa2L.__Indr. Oxford.Clarendbn Press, I969,.

17. Piaget, J. The M II:Judgement of the" Child. New Xork: Harcourt, 1932.

18. Rarick, G; L. (ea.). _zPhsicalActivi:t,HumazythdDevelan.ornent.New York: Academic Press, 1973.

19. Report of Committee on School Health. "Competitive athletics." Pediatrics,18,672-676, 1956.

20. Rose, K.D., Stone, F., Fuenning, S. I., and Williams, J. "Cardiac contusionresulting from2'spearing" in foothall." Archives of Internal Medicine,118, 129-131, 1966. 4

`21. Sadler, W. A. "Competition out of bounds." Presented at AAHPER NationalConvention, Houston, April, 1972.-= .

22. 'Sherif, M. "Experiments in group conflict." Scientific American, 2*--6,November, 1956.

/ 23. Scott, Jack. "Sport and the radical ethic." In G. MoGlynn, ed., IssuesfoT) Physical Education and Sports- Francisco: National Press, 1974r.

24. Skinner, B. F. Walden Two. New York: Macmillan Cp., 1948.

25. Skubic, E.. "Studies cf little league and middle league baseball." Reseal -AQuarterly, 27, 97-100, 1956.

26. Slocum, D. B. and Larson, R. L. "Indirect injuries4of the extensor mechanismof the knee in athletics." American Journal of Orthopedics, 6:248-53, 1964,

27. Sutton-Smith, B. and RosenLerg, R. G. "Sixty years of historical change inthe game preferences of American children.' In R. E. Herrdnand B.Sutton-Smith, eds. Child's Play, New York: Wiley and Sons, 1971.

28. Torg, J. S., Pollack, H. and Sweterlitseh, P. "The .feet of competitivepitching on the shoulder and elbows of preadolscent baseball players."Pediatrics, 19:, 1972.

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