...watching a little league game.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4556244/

• Reward your child whether the team wins or loses.
• If you have a complaint or concern, don't raise it in the middle of a game.
• Applaud when either team makes a good play.
• Praise effort.
• Respect the referee’s calls.
• Talk to your neighbor during games (don't get too caught up in scores or statistics).
• Ask your child, ‘Was it fun?’ before ‘Did you win?’

Heck - doing any 2 or 3 of these will make kids everywhere much more likely to participate in sports. When are parents going to get a clue?

Great reading. Thanks!

When I used to be a parent: [*]<s>Reward your child whether the team wins or loses.</s>[*]If you have a complaint or concern, don't raise it in the middle of a game.[*]Applaud when either team makes a good play. [*]Praise effort. [*]<s>Respect the referee’s calls.</s>[*]Talk to your neighbor during games (don't get too caught up in scores or statistics).[*]<s>Ask your child, ‘Was it fun?’ before ‘Did you win?’</s>[/list]

Used to be? :eek:

Dang! You mean you don't have to be a parent forever? Shoot, those older kids of mine are gonna be in for a rude awakening tonight. Thanks mick. :D

Sadly, it's hard to see even one of these displayed at a rec game nowadays.

I wouldn't even mind, "You were trying to make ten good rebounds. Did you?" I think for a parent to push a kid a little to improve and to work hard at something is okay. It's just that when winning is everything, there's a problem. I feel the same way when a team is winning by 25 or so and the crowd doesn't want the second string put in, or they boo when the second stringers make some mistakes.

In my opinion: Winning is underrated.

Please expound...

wizard,
Though, in polite circles, there is much to be said about having fun, participating, good sportsmanship, teamwork, manners, sacrifice, and fitness, with respect to athletics, once any/some/all of these characteristics is coupled with winning the pleasure of sport is exponentially greater.

Winning is very, very good; losing is not.

mick

Ok, um, "winning" is sort of the process of accumulating more points than your opponent in some sort of contest. In basketball, points are awarded (most often) for putting the ball through a metal ring. Whichever team is awarded the most points by the end of the normal playing time is declared the "winner".

This is, of course, slightly different in golf, where the players are trying to accumulate fewer points (strokes) than their opponents. That is, of course, unless they're using the Stableford scoring system.

Something is "underrated" when most people do not recognize its true value. For example, a cold Diet Coke after a game is underrated by Dan. He thinks beer is better, if you can believe that.

I don't even want to get into what the definition of "is" is.

Does that help? :)

No, smart#ss.



[Edited by wizard on Apr 16th, 2004 at 09:17 AM]

:D Just trying to be of service!

I totally agree. That's the goal. That's the balnce that is needed.

But when winning overshadows individual development (which is what happens in most cases), that's when there's a problem. Kids develop at different rates. The worst kid on the team in 4th grade could end up making the high school team. Most coaches live for today and don't worry about preparing the players for "real" games.

Ok, um, "winning" is sort of the process of accumulating more points than your opponent in some sort of contest. In basketball, points are awarded (most often) for putting the ball through a metal ring. Whichever team is awarded the most points by the end of the normal playing time is declared the "winner".

This is, of course, slightly different in golf, where the players are trying to accumulate fewer points (strokes) than their opponents. That is, of course, unless they're using the Stableford scoring system.

[/B][/QUOTE]Does anyone else find it, uh well, ironic that a BoSox fan is trying to explain "winning"? Seems to me that that's kinda like an anteater trying to explain quantum physics.

Does anyone else find it, uh well, ironic that a BoSox fan is trying to explain "winning"? Seems to me that that's kinda like an anteater trying to explain quantum physics. [/B][/QUOTE]

Well, they are almost as good as the Tigers. :rolleyes:

Re: wizard, you are very special.
 

Mick, I think the "xxxxxxx" comment was directed at my post, not yours. I ended my wildly entertaining comments by asking "Does that help?"

wizard, was subtly telling me that my comments did not address his main concern. I don't think that particular comment was meant as a judgment on you.

More like a priest giving marriage counceling. I know what it is, just never experienced it.

Well, they are almost as good as the Tigers. :rolleyes:
[/B][/QUOTE]Geeze, Mick, give 'em a break. I honestly think that the Tigers are finally on the right track. They seem to have a plan now, at least. Couldn't say that the last coupla years.

Re: Re: wizard, you are very special.
 

Thanks, Chuck,
Regardless, I read his post before he edited it.

Oh, kinda like Dr. Ruth giving out advice on sex. (shudder)

[Edited by Jurassic Referee on Apr 16th, 2004 at 10:17 AM]

"Oo-oo-oo, I'm GOOD!!" Don't you believe her, JR?

Oh, kinda like Dr. Ruth giving out advice on sex. (shudder) [/B][/QUOTE]

"Oo-oo-oo, I'm GOOD!!" Don't you believe her, JR?
[/B][/QUOTE]Well, I'm trying to be kind about this, but the woman is 3'14" tall and looks like a toad. Kinda like a female Chuck, come to think about it.

Here's one for your buddy, Mark. Can you picture Dr. Ruth in a thong and fishnets? I just did. And I went blind.

Chuck, we need to get you some counseling for this one. :p

Does anyone else find it, uh well, ironic that a BoSox fan is trying to explain "winning"? Seems to me that that's kinda like an anteater trying to explain quantum physics. [/B][/QUOTE]

It could happen...(I mean the anteater physicist of course)

http://www.ps.uci.edu/physics/antlecturer.gif

Does anyone else find it, uh well, ironic that a BoSox fan is trying to explain "winning"? Seems to me that that's kinda like an anteater trying to explain quantum physics. [/B][/QUOTE]

It could happen...(I mean the anteater physicist of course)

http://www.ps.uci.edu/physics/antlecturer.gif
[/B][/QUOTE]I humbly bow in respect to your amazing <b>gif</b>-t.

It could happen...(I mean the anteater physicist of course)

http://www.ps.uci.edu/physics/antlecturer.gif
[/B][/QUOTE]I humbly bow in respect to your amazing <b>gif</b>-t. [/B][/QUOTE]

I kinda had a head start.

UC Irvine has excellent engineering, physics & material science departments.

They also call themselves the Anteaters.

First, I'm betting on the anteater, not the Bosox fan.

Second, I think that the "winning doesn't matter" school of thought is missing something, but in youth sports, the "winning is the only thing" school is also missing something. Balance is truly the key. But lets not pretend that kids don't know or car about the score.

We had a youth soccer league where we didn't keep official scores. We had about 10 players a team and ran the games 4v4 on two fields side by side, to give more playing time and touches. The result was that players would switch between the two fields based on who was wanting to come out, who was ready to go in, etc. Didn't matter. Kids knew the score on both fields, and yes, they cared.

Where you can go wrong is if you use short-term strategies to win that hinder long-term player development. If you develop players properly, you will win, but it will take a little mor etime sometimes. Over time, you and your players will be more successful. It doesn't have to be a choice between wins and development.

Re: Re: Re: wizard, you are very special.
 

My apologies. I DID edit after realizing the sacastic remarks was from someone other than who the question was directed to.

Re: Re: Re: Re: wizard, you are very special.
 

YU.P.

Coach,
My point entirely. Kids want to win. Parents want to win, as well. But winning 4th grade basketball could mean you have one player who can make a steal then make the layup. But if that player doesn't learn how to use his teammates in the halfcourt, how to create his own shot, work with teammates to beat the press, the 4th grade championship is his highlight.

Coach,
Where I'm at, I see a push by parents to play more and more games? Do you see the same? I'm totally against this. Bad individual habits and team mistakes get imbedded when a team plays 3, 4 or more games without practices to fix problems. This is one reason that I've backed off 15+ years of coaching (I still have my daughter's team) and more officiating.

I wish you'd been around when my daughter was playing....

juulie
Not only would I have had to be coaching girls ball then, I would have had to change Washingtons :)

wizard
I coach a team that, by virtue of being in an AAU club, plays an insane amount of games. We played about 80 per year before they reached HS this year, with about 2 practices per week over an 8 month period. Whenever practice time dips, playing level dips as well. I think we learn a lot from playing a lot of games in the spring season, but only if we are practicing in between to address weaknesses.

And I tried to run a fall of "practice - no play," parents strongly vetoed it. They wanted their kids in a league. So I still did player development, ran no offense and man defense only, no press, and we predictably lost all but 2 games (how'd we win 2 - it's a miracle!). But we are a lot better now, because we spent the fall learning how to play basketball. What a concept.

Coach,
I have NO IDEA how you played so many games in a year, with girls! My experience has been that boys play mostly what is in season. But many girls are in two different sports not to mention dance, etc. at the same time. Some can handle the load but most just get by. Good luck!

Not sure where you are, but round here girls play starting in September (fall leagues and a couple tournaments), continue through winter with school teams (HS and some MS) and travel leagues (MS and younger), then start AAU in the Spring. When my team was in MS, we did about 20 games in the fall between league and three tournaments, 25 games in the winter (league play and playoffs) with my girls also playing 8 MS games, and 40 games in the spring/summer. Last year we went to a national tournament in the summer as well.

Lots of ball. But we did run two practices per week and spent loads of time on fundamentals. I tend to focus on how to play the game rather than how to run plays in games.

Sounds like you're not competing with the "dreaded' soccer. That's a year-round monster!

As a Mariners fan, I personally believe that winning is WAYYYYYY overrated this year...(very heavy sigh)...

As a resident of the DC area (home of the Capitals, Wizards, and Redskins - listed in no particular rank order of rankness), I share your opinion of winning. If we waited for wins to buy a paper, we'd read the sports section once every two weeks - and thats only if two teams are in season at the same time.

If your Deadskins didn't play the Cowboys twice a year, you might actually win a game. Boys own the Skins!:D:D

Red Wings move to Round two.
#3 Pistons start playoffs today.
Lions get #6 pick next weekend.
Tigers are 7-4.
:)

Believe me, I wish I was back in Detroit. Didn't even get the Wings game on ABC here - had to watch the hated Devils go down like the dogs they are.

Lah, me, Rock. We're only 10 games into the season. Nothing serious ever starts until September 1st. You know that. Leave the <i>angst</i> to the BoSox fans. Hell, the Yanks are sub-.500 right now. Do you see them panicking? Weeeell,maybe if they lose today, they might. Of course, all George'll do then is something like go out and buy the K.C. Royals, and then sift through them to see what he needs on an interim basis. Or maybe move up Randy Johnson's purchase a month or two.