Check out this brief video clip of the talented football prodigy Demias Jimerson. A little league football rule has been instituted to prevent him from scoring more than 3 TDs in a game due to his total dominance.
To me, this is an example of the “wussification of America” (an expression coined I believe by Brother Steve’s colleague Matt Labash – who wrote a hilarious article a few years ago on this very subject). KIDS NEED TO FAIL. It is important for a child’s development to win AND to lose. I hated losing when I was a kid but losing helped teach me how to win. When I was facing a known dominant player in youth sports, I was inspired to try harder and to push myself to do more to help my team. This is how I got better.
This kind of rule will likely have the opposite effect from what is intended. Instead of the kids leaving the field with their self-esteem 100% intact (as the rule makers hope), the kids on the opposing teams will miss out on the chance to challenge themselves against the best while entering the game feeling lame because the rules had to be changed due to their anticipated suckiness.
packergeeks 
September 30, 2011 at 4:53 pm |
This kind of stuff really makes me angry. It also back fires – kids are not stupid they get when they are being coddled and it does not help with self-esteem. Case in point:
My son plays hockey. When he was a first year Mite, his team played in a tournament. Three games over two days. It was a lot of fun but his team got their a$#es handed to them. They knew they lost all of their games, their not stupid. At the end of the tourny, they got medals for sixth place. At first my sons was happy because in his mind (and in the mind of all rational people) getting a medal means you won something. Then he looked at me and asked, “how many teams were there?” I said, “6.” He said, “you mean they gave us a medal for coming in last?”
He has never trusted the value of an award since. Anytime he gets a medal or a ribbon or anything else, he asks if it is a “real medal.” The kid is confused about when to be proud.
October 2, 2011 at 5:34 pm |
that’s exactly the kind of crap that ticks me off too Joe. Ridiculous. he’d get that medal eventually – and then it will really be worth something.
October 2, 2011 at 6:58 pm |
I disagree. This kid is 11, he has plenty of time to score. If he can really score every play, the game becomes silly and pointless. So, let him get his 21, then let the other kids play. Kids on both side will have more fun if the game is not a blow-out. And this kid can play other positions too. Make him a blocking tight-end. Or, move that kid up another level. Kids play up all the time, why isn’t he?
This starts to change soon enough, but pre-high-school sports should be about playing hard with balanced teams as much as possible.
Last year on my son’s soccer team we had two dominant scorers, and I told both that after two goals each, they could only assist. Even if they had a break-away goal, then had to make some moves with the ball and find someone to pass to. Made them better players, made the other kids on my team better, made the games more fun for all involved.
That challenged everyone on the field more. I made the game harder for them, that’s not wussification. (We lost one game, and when it was clear we were facing a hard team, we took the rule out.)
Most youth sports have mercy rules for a good reason. I don’t know what league that is, but Pop Warner has a mercy rule. Really, why doesn’t that kid find a more competative league?
And coaches and parents complaining is lame. Really, what are they loosing? The team is undefeated.