This provocative critique of the youth sports movement examines the various issues surrounding children in sports and provides a plan for reform based on a change in philosophy and practice.Many American children spend more than 20 hours a week in organized sports, forgoing free time and unstructured recreational activities for the rigors of training and competition. This book offers a comprehensive critique of the youth sports movement, pitting the reality of adult-run sports programs against the needs and interests of children. It examines whether the tradeoff of "normal play time" for structured sports activities teaches discipline and leads to stronger character development, or if the pressures of the game, the physical strain of practicing, and the general overscheduling of children's lives have eroded the benefits associated with playing sports.Educator and former coach Steven J. Overman contends that youth-based sports programs require a radical change for the well-being of the young participants. The book explores the various problems in organized sports, including stress on the family, physical health hazards, violence, emotional duress, elitism, and hyper-competitiveness. Incorporating the perspectives of coaches, athletes, parents, physicians, and social scientists, the narrative scrutinizes the role of adults as promoters and coaches and concludes with a discussion of current and needed reforms.

1 Introduction to Youth SportsWhat Motivates Youth Sports Participation?Do Youth Sports Develop Character?2 Youth Sports for AdultsThe Adult Takeover of Children's SportsThe Youth Sports Coach, for Better or WorseThe Commercialization of Youth Sports3 The Child Athlete's FamilyThe Youth Sports FamilyThe Sports Parent: Soccer Moms and Dugout DadsAre Youth Sports Overpriced?Youth Sports as College Prep4 The Child Athlete as Miniature AdultThe Hurried Child AthleteToddler SportsThe Child Athlete as SpecialistThe Overscheduled Child AthleteSports Camps and Academies5 Youth Sports May Be Hazardous to Your Child's Physical HealthUnnecessary Roughness: Youth Sports InjuriesViolence in Youth SportsDo Youth Sports Promote Unhealthy Eating?Do Youth Sports Promote Fitness?6 Youth Sports May Be Hazardous to Your Child's Emotional HealthThe Youth Sports Athlete under StressYouth Sports and the Shaping of MasculinityYouth Sports as Child AbuseQuitters Never Win: Burnouts and Dropouts7 The Toxic Elements in Youth SportsYouth Sports as DrudgeryYouth Sports as Child LaborWinning Is Everything: Competition Out of ControlYouth Sports as Elitism8 So You Want Your Son to Play FootballA Portrait of Youth Football and Its DownsideYouth Football Coaches: Amateurs and AbusersBigger Is Better: Overweight PlayersNo Pain, No Gain: A Plague of InjuriesDoes Playing Football Promote Bad Behavior?Do You Want Your Son to Play Football?9 Concluding Thoughts: Reform or Re-FormNotesIndex