Image of youth sports takes another hit

Youth sports experts say that reactions are rarely this extreme but that thousands of coaches nationwide put unwelcome pressure on children.

Fred Engh, founder of the National Alliance for Youth Sports and the author of Why Johnny Hates Sports, says many children complain of psychological and verbal abuse by coaches. "Every time ... we have competition, you're going to raise the emotions," he says.

A few communities require both parents and coaches to sign codes of conduct. Others, such as St. Mary's County, Md., threaten to kick out leagues that register a lot of complaints about adults.

"We have seen an increase in the volatility," says Phil Rollins, the county's director of recreation. A postgame brawl there in November prompted the county to institute background checks and mandatory training for coaches as well as parental contracts.

"It's not out of control, but it's over the top," says Shane Murphy, a psychologist in Trumbull, Conn., and author of The Cheers and the Tears: A Healthy Alternative to the Dark Side of Youth Sports Today. He and others say youth sports are often too parent-focused and emphasize competition over skill-building and fun. Many European nations, he says, don't even put kids in competitive soccer, for instance, until age 13. "It's not so much that we have crazy parents. We have a crazy sports system."

He teaches a sports psychology course at Western Connecticut State University, and he asks his 18- and 19-year-old students about their experiences. "I'm always amazed," he says. "At least half the class will say, 'It was very negative because of my coaches and adults.' "

Key Words JEFF: Skill-Building and FUN.....

You need to wake up JEFF!