Children, Sport and Socialisation

1
Children, Sport and Socialisation

• (Chps 4 and 5, Coakley, 8th Ed 2004)

2
A Few Questions on Children and Sports

• Why do children play sports?
• Why do children drop out of sports?
• Why do children play organised sports?
• When are children ready to play organised sports?
• Should children play organised sports?
• Why do children choose recreation sports?
  (in line skating, skateboarding, BMX cycling
  etc)

3
Origin of organised sports

• During the later part of the 19th C sport
  activities were seen as having an influence on
  young males behaviours
• It was hoped that organised team sports would
  positively affect boys from working class origins
• Sports would also turn middle and upper-class
  boys - with feminised ideals in such households -
  into strong assertive men
• At the same time girls were taught homemaking
  skills that would allow them to be good
  nurturers, mothers and homemakers (not sports)

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• The 1950s and 60s saw the babyboomers move
  through childhood and with it increased organised
  sports programs
• Parents also entered the scene at this point
• Fathers became coaches and administrators
• Mothers washed the clothes, worked in the
  canteens etc (Clear gendered divisions of labour)
• Up until the 1970s girls sports were largely
  ignored
• The 70s and 80s saw a rapid growth in sporting
  programs for girls (links to feminist movement)
• Participation in organised sports for boys and
  girls is a taken-for-granted part of the process
  of growing up in western culture
• Whether this is right or wrong and to be
  contested is an issue that needs debate

5
Parents, Families and Childrens Sport

• The biggest single influencing factor on
  childrens participation in sport is families and
  parents
• Family life has played a major role in the
  construction of organised sports
• And, the society in which a family exists impacts
  on whether sports are played and what sports are
  played

6
Five relevant issues relating to families

• One
• The number of families with both parents working
  has increased dramatically since the 1970s
• This has created a demand for after school
  activities with sport socially recognised as fun
  as well as values laden (ie build character,
  morals, discipline)

7

• Two
• Notions of a good parent have changed since the
  early 1980s
• For many parents today a good parent is one in
  which their childrens activities, whereabouts
  and behaviour is accounted for 24 hours a day
• Organised sports play a major role within this
  ideology as they are controlled and led by adult
  coaches
• There are predictable schedules and measurable
  indicators of accomplishments
• Child success is an indicator of good parenting
  for the parents and meeting their responsibilities

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• Three
• There is a growing concern that child controlled
  activities can cause trouble (ie skateboard
  subculture) - in its extreme form, threats to the
  social order
• Organised sports keep children occupied and under
  control of adults

9

• Four
• Many parents see the outside world as dangerous
  for their children
• Organised sports are perceived as being a safe
  alternative
• This is despite increasing knowledge of coercive
  coaching and the predatory nature of some coaches

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• Five
• When children state that they want to be a
  gymnast or swimmer or cricketer the parents will
  often seek out organised programs
• Elite level sports have heightened peoples
  awareness of organised sports as a part of
  culture
• Children watch sports on TV, read about them in
  papers and hear about their wealth and status
• Therefore children see organised sports as a
  means by which peer and parental approval can be
  gained

11
Current trends in childrens sport

• Organised sports have become increasingly
  privatised ie sponsored by private and
  commercial organisations (NAB Auskick, Milo
  Have-a-go-cricket)
• Increasingly organised sports are placing
  emphasis on the performance ethic ie skills are
  evaluated with the notion of progression
• There has been an increased level of elite sport
  training facilities dedicated to developing
  highly skilled, specialised athletes
• Participation in alternative sports is increasing
  (unstructured, participant controlled sports)

12
When should children begin organised sports?

• Readiness theories are all available from motor
  learning, physiology, psychology and sociology
• Sociologists would identify that at around 8
  years of age children begin the cognitive and
  social abilities to be able understand complex
  social relationships that exist in sport - but
  not fully developed until 12 (watch 8 y/os play
  football)

13
What are the family dynamics associated with
organised sports?

• Often organised sports can unite family members
  in supportive ways ie working towards a common
  cause (surf lifesavers)
• However, some parents can become too emotionally
  involved thereby affecting the children to the
  point where
• The child may quit sports
• Fear criticism from parents
• Fear they will be treated like elite athletes if
  they are extremely talented, instead of little
  children

14
Recommendations for Change

• Firstly, we must recognise that alternative
  sports are also highly worthwhile for children
• Adults must be supportive of childrens
  involvement in informal and alternative sports
• Adults must guide and yet not control
• Such environments arguably do require guidance to
  minimise issues of sexism, racism, homophobia,
  stigmatisation and marginalisation

15
Changing Organised Sports

• Increase Action
• Increase the amount of activity carried out for
  children
• Reduce playing size
• Increase goal size
• Emphasise offensive rather than defensive play
• Modify rules

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• Increase personal involvement
• Limit or eliminate sitting on bench
• Rotational systems
• Field positions
• Batting line-up
• Bowling changes
• Fielding positions

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• Create close scores
• For the good of the game and to keep children
  interested close scores is a key issue
• Most adults will be reluctant to intervene
• However, these notions must be explored and
  pursued

18

• Maintaining friendships
• Organised sport needs to be within the context of
  friendship both in ones own team and the
  opposition
• Adults/coaches should encourage this as it
  fosters cooperation and social skills necessary
  for the broader society