Why Johnny Hates Sports

All across the country, a growing number of children are dropping out of organized sports--not because they don't like to play, but because the system they play in is failing them. Written by one of this country's leading advocates of youth sports, Why Johnny Hates Sports explains why many of the original goals of youth leagues have been affected by today's win-at-all-costs attitude. It then documents the negative physical and psychological impact that parents, coaches, and administrators can have on children, while providing effective solutions to each of the problems covered. Why Johnny Hates Sports is both an exposé of abuses and a call to arms. It clearly illustrates a serious problem that has plagued youth sports for too long. Most important, it provides practical answers that can alter this destructive course.

Over twenty years ago, Dr. Lauren Bradway discovered that all children use one of three distinct ways to grasp and remember information. Some learn best through sound and langua≥ others, through visual stimulation; and others, through touch. In this unique book, Dr. Bradway first shows you how to determine your child's inherent style. She then aids you in carefully selecting the toys, activities, and educational strategies that will help reinforce the talents your child was born with, and encourage those skills that come less easily.

Sports violence, according to National Collegiate Athletic Association, is a behavior that aims to harm another player as a primary goal. According to a NCAA Social Environments Study, 45 percent of men and 29 percent of women are willing to do whatever it takes to win, and more than a fifth of men believe winning is more important that good sportsmanship. This accessible edition examines the issues surrounding violence in the world of sports and provides an overview of the topic. Readers will be inspired to think critically about topics such as the reduction and prevention of violence in sports, violence perpetrated by nonathletes such as spectators and coaches, and the relationship between competition and aggression.

This provocative critique of the youth sports movement examines the various issues surrounding children in sports and provides a plan for reform based on a change in philosophy and practice. Many American children spend more than 20 hours a week in organized sports, forgoing free time and unstructured recreational activities for the rigors of training and competition. This book offers a comprehensive critique of the youth sports movement, pitting the reality of adult-run sports programs against the needs and interests of children. It examines whether the tradeoff of "normal play time" for structured sports activities teaches discipline and leads to stronger character development, or if the pressures of the game, the physical strain of practicing, and the general overscheduling of children's lives have eroded the benefits associated with playing sports. Educator and former coach Steven J. Overman contends that youth-based sports programs require a radical change for the well-being of the young participants. The book explores the various problems in organized sports, including stress on the family, physical health hazards, violence, emotional duress, elitism, and hyper-competitiveness. Incorporating the perspectives of coaches, athletes, parents, physicians, and social scientists, the narrative scrutinizes the role of adults as promoters and coaches and concludes with a discussion of current and needed reforms.

Violence is considered an acceptable and sometimes desirable part of many organized sports. Hard hits are praised in football and hockey, and boxers are idolized for being able to knock out their opponents. What kinds of implications can the normalization of violence have off of the field? Readers are presented with examples of sports-related violence and various theories for why violence among athletes is so prevalent. Presented alongside the unbiased narrative are quotes from athletes and other experts, detailed charts, and engaging sidebars that encourage young adults to think critically about this serious issue.

"Instilling the gift of laughter as a lifetime tool for success"--Cover.

As a youth sports volunteer, you should get used to wearing many hats, for you'll be not just a coach, but also a teacher, friend, and confidant. Coaching can be rewarding, but if you venture into the season unprepared, the role can be a frustrating one. Enter Your First Coaching Book. Created by The National Alliance For Youth Sports, it provides valuable tips on how to encourage fun and good sportsmanship, maximize basic skill development, deal with inappropriate behavior from players and parents, and prevent injuries by maintaining high safety standards. Whether you're a first-year coach or a seasoned veteran, the children on your team will remember you and their sports experience for the rest of their lives. Your First Coaching Book will help ensure that these memories are happy ones.

This work examines American sport from its traditional roots to the influence of the 1960s-era counterculture and the rise of a post-Cold War ethos that reinterprets competition as a relic of a misbegotten past and anathema to American life.