what are the most pressing issues in youth/amateur sports today?
In recent months we have covered a huge range of stories regarding youth and amateur sports in this country, and there’s been a real depth and seriousness of these issues. In fact, it’s been extraordinary and at times, really mind-boggling, as to what we’ve talked about.
It’s very clear that the last few years have presented all sorts of new controversies and decision points that parent, coaches, and athletes have never had to think about ever before. So I asked on Twitter this past week for feedback as to what WFAN listeners feel are the most pressing issues are, including:
The growing lack of spectator civility at HS sports events….to not only college athletes but even HS athletes who can now sign NIL deals for as much money as they want…to college coaches who, for some reason, continue to behave poorly and treat their athletes in disgraceful and disrespectful ways…..to sports parents who feel they are entitled to try and intervene on behalf of their athletes with HS coaches….to travel and club programs which still are not overseen by any kind of governing body…. to club/travel/AAU coaches dismissing the HS coach as if they are irrelevant — as well as these club coaches giving kids false hopes about “next level” playing….
The ongoing concern that only the elite athletes are catered to at the youth level, which pushes out the average athletes….there are continuing “pay to play” concerns… the rising worry that too many officials are walking away and no longer working the kids’ games, due to pushy coaches and obnoxious parents….to the growing popularity of videogaming while sports like baseball continue to decline with kids….to the national angst about what to do regarding trans athletes, e.g. why so many parents feel it’s wrong for a transgender female to be allowed to compete against a natural born female athlete…and of course, how our kids, coaches, and parents have had to scramble and endure during the Covid crisis over the last couple of years, including cancelling seasons, moving seasons, and everything else we had to do to allow our kids to play sports.
This is just a sampling of the topics we’ve discussed on the show in recent months, and to that end, I thought that on today’s Sports Edge show, I wanted to do a survey of sorts…to get your thoughts on what we really need to focus on so that the next generation of athletes grow up in a world of solid principles when it comes to playing sports. There are some great callers. Listen here: The Sports Edge with Rick Wolff