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NAYSI News FYI:
Tuesday, November 28, 2000

Number 425
© 2000 NAYSI

• Ask Jack at www.NAYSI.com . . . and more
• Team Sport Numbers
• See the September 2000 issue of Sport Scene on line.

Ask Jack: I play baseball in an adult league and I love coaching children. My question is, do I play with the kids that I coach as I coach, or should I just coach them? Is it better to show them that you can do it or do you tell them how to do it? I like to lead by example, will that work as a coach? D.C. on 11/17/2000

Jack sez: I believe that active coaches are more able to understand what they want their players to do than are non-participants. Your particular question presents some interesting situations.

There are times where you can jump in and play with the team. It will be a huge benefit for the players to see how to perform selected skills. You will be their instructional video.

However, you should look at playing from a teaching point of view. Once they see how you actually perform a skill (e.g., fielding a ground ball), what further benefit will it be to them for you to be a player on the field.

After several opportunities, they will certainly recognize that you are well skilled. There will be no need to prove that over and over. In fact, it could become a problem with the spectator parents, for instance.

I would suggest that you use your talents in baseball to demonstrate the skills correctly. You can test their hitting skills by being a challenging but not overpowering pitcher. Apart from that, let the kids play and you coach from on the field and the sidelines. In doing this, you will be a more astute observer and fixer.

For more answers, see Ask Jack and our FAQ at www.NAYSI.com. Search the NAYSI home page at www.NAYSI.com to find answers to the question you may be too darn shy to ask.

Hint: Never try to keep more than 300 separate thoughts in your mind when swinging at a golf ball.

Team sports in America

Participation in teams sports is declining. Participation in organized team sports is increasing. This is one of the major findings in a new SGMA report, "U.S. Trends in Team Sports."

"It's clear from our study that casual players drifted away from team sports in large numbers during the 1990s but that most team sports have maintained or increased their population of core participants." said Gregg Hartley, SGMA vice president. Annual national studies by American Sports Data indicate that only one major team sport, soccer, attracted more participants in 1999 than in 1990.

Community-based youth leagues and high schools report substantially increased participation over the same period. The National Council of Youth Sports estimates that 46 million young people took part in its members' programs in 1999, up from 44.9 million in 1997. Boys & Girls Clubs of America reports that the number of youngsters involved in its sports programs nearly doubled between 1994 and 1999, from 1.2 million to 2.3 million.

OTHER KEY TRENDS OF THE 1990s:

• The number of girls on high school teams increased 40% between 1990 and 1998.

• Spontaneous, non-competitive alternative sports, especially inline skating siphoned players away from team sports. In 1990, there were 4.7 million inline skaters; in 1999, 27.9 million.

• Soccer became a major team sport in the U.S. The number of frequent (52 times a year) players rose 41% during the 1990s, from 2.7 million to 3.8 million. The number of high school players rose 65%. Play in U.S. Soccer Association programs rose 65%.

• Basketball became America's favorite team sport. In 1990, almost as many people played softball and volleyball, but by 1999, basketball's 39 million participants made it by far the most-played team sport and one of America's most popular sports activities of any kind. The SGMA team sports report is free to members and may be purchased by non-members. Go to:

http://www.sgma.com/research/2000_research/team_sports_report2000.html

This email is a free informational service provided by the North American Youth Sport Institute and sponsored in part by Dinn Brothers Trophies at www.DINNtrophy.com or telephone at 800 628-9657 and www.scratchers.com, a fundraising company.

For a variety of resources for coaches, teachers, youth leaders, administrators, club staff, and youth work professionals, see the award winning www.NAYSI.com. It features Ask Jack, FAQ, Sport Scene, KIDbits, Technical Support, training services, NAYSI On-Line Course, and much more. Click on the media page for biographical information.

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Thanks for visiting www.NAYSI.com.

Regards,
Jack Hutslar, Ph.D. [founder and CEO]
North American Youth Sport Institute . . . est 1979
4985 Oak Garden Drive
Kernersville, North Carolina 27284, USA
336 784-4926, 336 784-5546 [fax], Jack@NAYSI.com

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