So I thought for my last column (KidsPost ends tomorrow), I’ll write about what I’ve learned about children’s games.
● Children should not play a single sport all year before high school. Young athletes should play a variety of sports so they can have fun and avoid burnout and overuse injuries.
I’m not the only one saying this. The American Academy of Pediatrics – a respected group of children’s doctors – advises against specialization in sports. Parents and teachers should listen to them.
● Kids don’t have to travel to far away tournaments to have fun. If you don’t believe me, think about what the kids are saying.
A study by George Washington University identified 81 factors (called fun determinants) that make games fun. They asked young athletes to rate how important each factor was to their enjoyment of playing organized sports. Players rated “playing in tournaments” and “traveling to new places to play” as the 58th and 71st most important determinants of fun.
● Kids and their parents need to be more realistic about the chances of getting a college athletic scholarship. My son is the head baseball coach at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Parents often asked him, “How good would it be to play Division I baseball in college?”
Liam explained that high schools usually have about 16 players on their baseball team. Only 3 percent of high school baseball players go on to play in college. Less play at the highest level (Division I). “So,” Liam told the parents, “your child has to be the best player in almost every sport he plays.”
It’s the same with most games. I don’t mean to discourage anyone, but it’s best to enjoy your teams and games now and not focus on playing in college or the pros.
● Be grateful. Children are lucky to play and have fun. So be sure to thank your coaches, referees and all the parents who brought snacks.
Following that piece of advice, I want to thank the folks at The Washington Post for letting me write for KidsPost. I hope we’ve helped some kids become lifelong readers.
Finally, I want to thank all my editors and especially my current editor, Christina Barron. They are all first class professionals.
My final advice to all my young readers? Keep reading and play ball!
Bowen is the author of 27 sports books for children ages 7 to 12. His next book — “Off the Bench” will be published in March. Find out more at fredbowen.com.
