Competitiveness in Sports

Demias Jimerson 

Back in September, in a town named Malvern, Arkansas, an 11 yr-old sensation, Demias Jimerson, was told that he could not score more than 3 touchdowns if they are winning by 14 points or more. This 11 yr old runs all over the competition, one game he scored 7 touchdowns. As a result, the principal enacted the "Madre Hill" rule, which limits the scoring of Jimerson to no more than 3 touchdowns when team is leading by at least 14 points. The principal supports her decisions by saying that it is detrimental to the development of other players. Basically, Jimerson takes the snap, runs around, and scores every play he has the ball. Her justification claims that other players are not getting the development of skills from this situation.Do you feel that this ruling is right? Why or why not? Should they just move Jimerson up to the Jr. High level (the rule only exists for 5th and 6th grades)? Here is the article, with a news clip about the situation.....
http://hotair.com/archives/2011/09/29/11-year-old-football-star-told-not-to-score-too-many-touchdowns/

Youth Sports

Youth sports is becoming more and more popular both across the US and world. Parents and coaches are pushing their children harder and harder to become elite athletes in his/her respective sports. We have all seen video footage and news stories about parents getting out of control at youth sporting events. What affect does this have on the child? Are parents and coaches "stealing" the youth out of children? How should such situations be handled?

Here is a clip of several different on-field encounters between coaches, parents, and young athletes. One clip shows a brawl occurring over differences about an umpire's ruling. 

It is the job of coaches and parents to prepare children in all aspects of their lives. Examples like the ones in the clips are sending the wrong message to children as to how people should act and handle certain situations. One clip that will be posted at the end shows two youth football teams being banned from postseason play because of parents involvement with brawl. The kids are the ones who suffer after all that hard-work, not to mention their love for the game. Are we not supposed to teach the youth how to be model citizens? How to respect one another? How to walk away from encounters, such as the ones that occurred?


Youth sports is all about developing a young athlete by both enhancing his/her athletic skills and building character. When coaches and parents act out of control and take the game too seriously, they are sending the wrong image to children. Not only that, but kids are even getting abused by coaches and parents. Take this article, for example, a 10 yr old drops a pass and suffers a broken arm at the hands of his own coach.


   In the article, Fred Engh, president of the National Alliance of Youth sports, expresses his concern and desire to push for mandatory training for parents and volunteers who wish to coach. Should this become a national thing, or should individual states and/or leagues decide on this issue? http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=95678&page=1 





I feel that there should be a nation-wide, mandatory training for any individual who wishes to coach youth sports. This training should be completed every 3-4 years. We need to have coaches that we can trust to teach kids the game, and how to act as righteous, respectful human beings.


Here are some more clips of parents, coaches, and aggression at youth sporting events.....