The LAST DANCE with Toxic Masculinity; The Hope for the End to Inequity in NCAA Basketball.

By Jason Gonzalez and Dr. Thomas Orr

A recent Tweet containing a tick tok video from Oregon Star Sedona Prince (click here to view her bio) rattled the NCAA administration and the sports world by drawing attention to the perceived inequality of the opportunities and resources afforded to them by their schools and the NCAA. The point was demonstrated even further when compared to the male athletes competing in the same tournament. If a picture says a thousand words, her short video was a mouthful that is leaving the NCAA speechless. 

The differences in the weightroom and space allotted were clear and distinct. The site of a passionate and talented student athlete pleading for equal treatment resonated with NBA stars, coaches of girls youth teams, celebrities, politicians and the common fan. This personal testimonial, coupled with common complaints by athletes, coaches, fans and academics prior to the video is creating a hotbed of issues at a time when the NCAA and its member institutions are trying to celebrate the return and glory of March Madness and the biggest stage to showcase the excellence of our student athletes. Olympic virtues of fair competition, integrity, and ethical performances to inspire future generations are consistently being balanced with the socioeconomic interests of the NCAA, Corporate sponsors, and the colleges that seek to make a profit and benefit themselves. 

Two popular articles entitled, “NCAA March Madness drops the ball for Women’s Basketball with Sexism Outrage” and “How the NCAA Has Been Screwing over Women’s Sports for Years” are filled with criticism beyond the already incriminating title. In the NBC News article many specific problems are chronicled with pictures, quotes, videos and social media reactions that share frustrations towards the status of women’s sports. The NCAA becomes targeted by many arguments that are quickly backed up with quotes and more information brought into this comprehensive article. The second article and many others provide further evidence and accusations geared towards this concept. 

NCAA has a higher standard when it comes to fairness and equality as it relates to gender, because of their affiliation with the federal government and are also beholden to its members who have historically advocated for this critical social value. One particularly strong effort by the NCAA mentioned in Sport and Violence; A Critical Examination of Sport by Drs. Orr and Jamieson states, “The NCAA has initiated programs to improve the general population of athletes by having them attend “YES Clinics” in the town where the Final Four for sports are held. These clinics for large groups of athletes feature athletes attending the Final Four. In addition the NCAA rewards their athletes for being positive role models in their CHAMPS programs. (p. 132) The NCAA has several major prongs of their organization dedicated to inclusion and improving the athletic experience of minorities, which includes an Office of Inclusion.  

The debate on what the NCAA needs to go is now at a crucial point as the attention of the world is on the treatment of our female student athletes. It is imperative for the NCAA to show leadership and stewardship worthy of such a great and worthwhile cause. Professional basketball teams and leagues have had a very difficult time providing an equal playing court for female athletes, however this is one of the few places we can search for best practices and solutions to the problem. According to research into the WNBA the league has also been constrained by a need to produce revenue. The authors outline numerous limitations that WNBA teams have due to the lack of money being generated by each team as well as the league in general (Wakefield et al, 2018). Right now, sponsors like Dick’s Sporting Goods and Orange Theory fitness are offering to help out as a result of this event and provide resources as this not only creates an opportunity to do the right thing, but they are being recognized as businesses that care about women in sports. An international dialogue is raging as stakeholders search for solutions and remedies which include long-term funding. Taking advantage of this momentum and finding consistent and long-term sponsors will be paramount to improving the future of women’s sports. 

ALTERNATIVES TO A SPORT SCHOLARSHIP – RETHINKING THE FINANCING OF A COLLEGE EDUCATION

​As the new normal takes effect in our society as a result of the presence of COVID-19 and its various strains, athletes throughout the world must reconsider the pathway to a college education that may be influenced by a reduction in athletic scholarships in chosen sports, an ever-present online component to attain a degree, and the increasing lack of affordability of a traditional 4-year degree.  Those who are currently affected by the many restrictions imposed on campuses and within sport environments may already be making difficult decisions about how they will attain their degree with or without participation in a collegiate sport.  Others are entering the period of time when they may be considered recruiting material for the many programs that continue to be viable for the foreseeable future.  Younger sport participants may be denied participation in sports that become enjoyable and interesting pursuits.  Regardless of age or involvement, those who participate in sports and look toward securing financial support will find the path increasingly tortuous and difficult. In order to plan for future involvement, it may be wise to broaden the thinking of those who are focused singularly on the pursuit of the almighty athletic scholarship.  Herein are several thoughts regarding the planning for financial support of college education that may not require an athlete to compete for a full ride through sport involvement. Bradley differentiates the athletic from the merit scholarship as follows:

Sports scholarships and academic scholarships share two very important commonalities -- they're offered as a reward for superior performance, and they help to fund education. Sports scholarships are offered to athletes who excel in the athletic arena, while academic scholarships are offered to scholars who excel in the academic arena. However, there are some distinct differences. For instance, the level of objectivity in the selection process and the retention criteria are vastly different (1).

An article on the Varsity.com website points to the difficulty regarding getting athletic scholarship and/or merit aid (given to students with high grade point averages) as follows:

We believe the best path to success in the college selection and athletic recruiting process is to be the very best academic student you can be, the very best athlete you can be and then try to find colleges where those attributes will be a better fit. If you are able to find colleges off the beaten path that are trying to attract successful academic students and college coaches that are trying to attract good athletes from your region (yes coaches like to recruit in new or different regions), then you will increase your chances of receiving Merit aid and you will potentially increase your chances of playing meaningful minutes as a college athlete (2).

1. There are many other ways to pursue a college education and afford the costs. For example, as mentioned in an earlier blog, parents and guardians are wise to set up a college fund upon the birth of their children. Investing regularly and wisely in this fund can offset the fiscal challenges of a college education. These college savings funds can gain interest over the years and be very useful to pay for the many costs of attending college. If parents and guardians invested one half of the total funds set aside for their children’s sport involvement, the college savings fund may be enough to allow for the child to have many options for where to attend school.

2. Academic scholarships for good grades are much more plentiful than athletic scholarships, and there are many more varieties available for full rides or partial support. Many college scholarships are not awarded due to a lack of applicants, or many are easy to secure if grades have been reasonable in K-12.

3. Redesigning what comprises getting a good college education is also important. With the rise of online courses and the continuance of advanced placement courses in high school, students may be able to pursue part of their college education without actually having to attend a campus in residence. This may allow students to be employed while they simultaneously pursue 1-2 years of college, perhaps at a local community college or online with the campus where one eventually wishes to reside. The advantages of this arrangement are numerous: lower costs due to lack of residency fees, working while learning in order to save funds for eventual college residency, and being able to develop maturity while still in a support network of family, friends and community. Options for sport participation are not denied because a local community college may have sport participation opportunities, or one may participate in advanced levels of sport offered by clubs and agencies in the community.

Re-evaluating the path to a degree that is less dependent on a sport scholarship has many advantages:  1) It takes a great deal of pressure off the athlete, family, coach and others to win and succeed for a scholarship alone, 2) It resets the original purpose of a college education as EDUCATION, and 3) It may offset the many disappointments that occur when an athlete does not make the grade for an athletic scholarship.  

Granted, rethinking what comprises a well-funded college degree is in order. Difficulties with establishing new models of how to get a degree will certainly prevail; however, colleges and universities will also be adapting to the need to provide all students with an affordable path to a college education, and many changes are anticipated as we all adjust to a NEW NORMAL in sport and academic goal setting.

References

1. Bradley, K. Sports scholarships vs. Academic Scholarships.(2021) The Classroom (Retrieved02/22/21atfile://Sports%20Scholarships%20vs.%20Academic%20Scholarships.html.

2. No Author. (2019). Merit aid vs. Scholarship Money. Varsity Edge. (Retrieved 02/22/21 at Merit%20aid%20vs.%20Athletic%20Scholarship%20Aid%20%7C%20Varsityedge.html#. YDQQoi2cZBw

Initiation of National Sport Policy in the United States – Becoming a Champion

By Dr. Lynn M. Jamieson, Professor Emerita, Indiana University

The topic I am addressing concerns how sport programs are influenced by and regulated as a result of standards that are imposed by laws, regulations, and policies. Governance, or the way in which regulatory efforts are developed and implemented, is an important part of the sport system. Almost every sport in the world is affected by the way in which policies are generated from an organization involved with a single sport, such as USA Badminton, multiple sports, such as the National Alliance on Youth Sport, or a profession inclusive of sport, such as the National Recreation and Park Association. Further, governance organizations exist at a local, regional, national, and international level. Such organizations may or may not be directly affiliated with governments. For example, the Australian Sport Institute and the Australian Sport Commission is directly affiliated with the Australian national government out of Canberra. These have great influence on the organizations that exist at the state level, which then provides support for governmental, school, and club operations at the local level. In the United States, international and national sport organizations operate independent of national governmental organizations. Policies that generate from Australian national government directly affect the national, regional, state, and local levels; however, in the United States, such policies generated at the governmental level have no direct effect on national, regional, state, and local organizations. One recent and potential exception in the United States model is the recent development of a national youth sport policy out of the Department of Health and Human Services. This policy is gaining traction as the first sport policy developed at a national level. The policy will have a positive effect on all youth organizations as enabling, but not mandatory, legislation. To date, since the development of the policy, approximately 70 organizations have become Champions of the National Youth Sport Strategy. We are proud to be considered Champions in this effort.

Notwithstanding, problems arise in sport when there appears to be limited policy direction. In looking at many sport organizational documents, it appears that policies and attendant consequences are often poorly stated or absent. Recent issues with USA Gymnastics points to years of failure to face sexual assault of participants. It took the gymnasts themselves to face their nemesis in order to secure resolution. Since this widely reported issue, many sport organizations are writing stronger policies about safety of athletes. And the USA Gymnastics case is the main point – failures to establish strong sport policy can often be the root cause of why violent episodes occur. 

Since 1984, I have been interested in studying how other countries respond to sport development.  My initial experience with this occurred at an international sport symposium sponsored during the Los Angeles Olympics.  Representatives from 17 countries participated in this event and shared various aspects of sport development in their respective countries.  This particular event emphasized “Sport for All”, a concept initiated by Pierre de Coubertin in 1909.  As the first leader of the modern Olympics, he indicated that sports should not only be for the elite, but it also is a responsibility of every country to make sport experiences accessible to all individuals.  As such, sport governance extended to the full range of sport participation, and all countries were encouraged to develop sport programs at the national level that encourage mass participation and supported efforts to offer sport at the local level to all. Through an international study of sport policy conducted by Pan and Jamieson (2000), 84 countries responded to share the nature of policy development in their respective countries. From 2000 to 2016, an intensive on-site interview process yielded information from 13 countries and online viewing of country policy directions gleaned many documents developed by an additional 20 countries with respect to sport policy. It was found that many countries have current sport policies that govern the general participation in sport, and these were gained by conducting research on the needs of the populace, designing sport strategies to influence sport development at the local level, and to establish national policies that governed these activities.  In some cases, such as in Sweden, local sports occurred as the result of a massive volunteer effort to engage people in being active in local sport clubs. In other countries, multi-level national, state or provincial, and local entities delivered program support at schools, governments, and club systems.  Support came in the form of regulatory and organizational information, facility development, and training efforts. 

Policies that have been developed include several categories of regulatory information such as methods to reduce sport injury and unhealthy practice; organizational guidelines for sport programs; standards associated with those who coach, officiate, play, volunteer, and administer sport; eligibility to engage in sport; acceptable sport behavior and consequences for those who violate policies; mechanisms for addressing due process for those involved in a sport conflict; financial support mechanisms; training guidelines for those engaged in sport leadership; the role of volunteers and other constituents; special needs of target populations; facility standards; risk management, and many other factors.  If such policies are not clearly stated, chances are that issues involving sport-related violence will be more prevalent.

The United States does not have a comprehensive sport policy that provides direct governance according to the aforementioned policy list; however, the influence of international, national, state, and local sport organizations are rich resources for adhering to sound policies at the community level.  Further, the National Youth Sport Strategy is establishing an admirable grass roots approach that will allow for greater governmental influence and support for sound policies affecting youth sport development in the United States. This is an auspicious start for improving sport in the lives of all youth who choose to participate. Stronger governance of sport means safer and more effective sport programs.  Rich resources exist from many countries, and the more individuals who pay attention to effective policy directions the greater the improvement will be in the future.

We, at the Center for Sport Policy and Conduct are proud to be considered Champions of the National Youth Sport Strategy and will be working to help ensure that this national direction influences an improvement of sport program nationwide.

References:

Jamieson, L. M. & Pan, Z. (2000). Government policy on Sport for All: Developed and Developing Countries. Journal of the International Council for Physical Education, Recreation, Sport, and Dance, 32(4), 16-20.

Fun and Games

As a young boy growing up, my life was consumed by games. Some of my most memorable summer evenings were when we could organize a whiffle ball game in the alley which included the dads of some of us neighborhood guys. While we all wanted to win, at the very foundation was the element of fun and having an enjoyable experience. Oh, how times have changed.

Attend just about any little league game or grade school basketball contest and you will be hard-pressed to find the fun factor. Instead, you will be exposed to overbearing parents, coaches who are trying to win at all costs, officials who are berated for nearly every call, and little kids who are feeling the weight of the world on their shoulders trying to meet the expectations of all involved. Youth wrestling tournaments are even more complex and I have often seen way more tears of frustration than smiles of satisfaction.

I understand that society has been accused of coddling kids and that we live in an age where it seems like everybody gets a participation trophy. I do think kids need to learn at a young age that losing is part of extra-curricular activities and that there is nothing wrong with losing as long they gave their best effort. Unfortunately, we have become obsessed with what we determine to be success. Keep in mind that we are talking about kids under the age of 12 who are still learning the fundamentals of their sport.

Let’s face it, in every contest there is going to be a winner and a loser. If our measure of success simply boils down to winning, there are going to be a lot more examples of failure than anything else. Is it any wonder why there doesn’t seem to be much fun at youth sporting events?

Life is not all about having fun, but regardless of your occupation or vocation, at the very foundation you have to enjoy what you are doing. Individuals will never reach their full potential if they don’t. And in the case of young athletes, they will likely have a miserable experience or eventually burn out. At the very least, they will have a warped sense of success. At the very worst, they will suffer from low self-esteem because they will be led to believe that they are a failure.

Trust me, the situation only escalates as children grow older and the stakes (think potential college scholarships) became much greater. While most youngsters likely dream of becoming a professional athlete someday (like I did), in reality, sports were never intended to be a war-zone to determine the survival of the fittest, especially for little kids. Man, what I wouldn’t do to be able to organize one of those whiffle ball games in the alley right about now.

Check out more about securing this book in our book section or directly from the website below:

https://theparenttrappedwithin.com

-Dave Vilhauer, A resident of South Dakota with 39 years of experience in media. He started writing as a junior in high school and has collected many accolades since then. In 2002 he was selected the South Dakota Sports Writer of the Year by the South Dakota High School Coaches Association. then again in 2008 by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association, now known as the National Sports Media Association. He currently is the director of New and sports Information for Hub City Radio. Along with all of that Dave is also the author of his very own book ‘The Parent Trapped Within.’

Preventing Conflicts in Sport Participation

Dr. Lynn M. Jamieson 

Background

Addressing the subject of how to avoid conflicts in sport, particularly among participants, is a bold task to undertake.  There are so many ways that have been reported where conflicts exist, that it is often too easy to presume that sport itself is rife with these conflicts and therefore should be addressed with an exaggerated amount of control to handle the sport problems that arise.  This paper addresses what mechanisms should be addressed to avoid many of these conflicts, and notes that the ultimate value of sport participation is in promoting health and wellness, and quite often, serving as an instrument of intervention and peace.

Two Youth hockey plays engage in “Lockerboxing.” An age old tradition in Hoskey.

Types of Conflicts

There are many types of conflicts.  As Orr and Jamieson (2020) (1) point out, conflicts arise among teammates, rival players and teams, between officials and players, fans, supervisors, volunteers, and many others.  These conflicts may result in fights, intimidation, coercion, hazing, vandalism, mob action, verbal and physical abuse, and criminal behavior.  Once an incident occurs and is analyzed and resolved, it is often noted that such actions could have been prevented.  While it is inevitable that sport participation may result in exposure to violence, it is also recognized that the majority of experiences are positive and noteworthy. Conflicts arise in every sport at every level in any country, as noted by the article “Managing Conflict in Malaysia” (1).

The very nature of sport involvement and its network of players, coaches, officials, fans, and family consists of thousands of interactions through practices, games, and social interactions. These interactions should be anticipated and players, coaches, officials, parents or guardians, volunteers, fans, and organizers must operate consistently to learn what is expected, what the code of conduct entails, and what the system will be to resolve the conflict. All who participate should know how to report a conflict, or if one occurs, how it is to be handled.  The National Alliance of Youth Sports (nays.org) organization has made great progress in providing participating communities with all the materials needed to address a consistent message about how to organize properly, and how to address within team conflicts. 

Two players on the same team attack each other.

Second, the types of conflicts outside of the player realm but within the sport environment must be addressed through an aggressive effort to educate every segment of the sport environment, and the message needs to be consistent throughout the process of providing sport experiences.  To this end, two major points of progress have been made: first, the establishment of the National Alliance of Youth Sports under its founder Fred Engh, and the development of a National Youth Sport Policy through the Department of Health and Human Services. While these are admirable efforts and finally poised to influence how we deal with youth sports, we also must take into account that sport violence is a much broader issue involving people of all ages, occupations, and backgrounds; therefore, more policy development is surely needed to provide a consistent message to mitigate sport violence at all skill levels, for all people, in all circumstances.  In order to do this, we must recognize that the very acts defined as sport violence permeate our whole society, and as such represent a social issue. Our awareness of this issue is the responsibility of every citizen regardless of occupation, and this awareness coupled with organizational action will go a long way to curtail violent acts in sport. The following suggestions are made in order to suggest that sport violence may be simply mitigated by planning ahead and enforcing consistent standards in the sport environment. The suggestions center around preventive measures, consequential action during a sport experience, and systematic approaches to conflict resolution.

Prevention

The first strategy in prevent conflict is to conduct adequate advance planning for all events.  This includes appropriate procedural guidelines for risk management including safety and security, facility care and maintenance, and program implementation.  One area, for example, addressing potential hazards that can cause injury, if properly handled, can prevent injuries and annoyances over unkempt facilities.  Another area, guidelines for participant conduct, if properly shared, will reduce the number of instances that arise because there are insufficient ways to address conflict when it occurs. An example of the breakdown of facility and program guidelines occurred in the well reported conflict between the Indiana Pacers and the Detroit Pistons at the Palace Arena (2).  Fans who had been drinking heavily and not warned or supervised by facility security personnel became embroiled in a player conflict that erupted due to fans being located so close to the playing court and the player entering the seating area. In the postmortem following widespread reporting of the incident, it was apparent that there were no security personnel assigned to the seating area, and therefore, fans were able to misbehave and not be ousted.  Better facility planning and security assignments may have resulted in less conflict and better resolution of player misbehavior.  In fact, since the “Malice at the Palace”, the NBA instituted new rules for player and fan conduct and security oversight that improved the overall experience for players and fans alike.

Consequential Action

The second strategy involves establishing direct and meaningful consequences to actions that precede potential violence.  Sound codes of conduct that depict what will happen once the code is violated should be published, shared, and posted.  When issues arise, prompt enforcement of code violations, taking into account fairness and equity for those involved, should take place.  When people know that there are consequences to violent actions, situations are usually vastly reduced. 

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Systems of Conflict Resolution

In addition to properly planned and prepared facilities and events, and the existence of sound policies that address all aspects of participation in sport, there needs to be a sound system of handling actions that respect the rights of individuals involved. If a conflict ensues, this system provides for a violator and victim to be heard according to due process, so that facts regarding the incident are collected in detail and a hearing is held to consider what consequences, if any, need to be applied.  Many conflicts may be resolved within a sport organization by detailing facts and holding hearings to weigh actions.  In addition, serious criminal offenses will be referred to law enforcement authorities for civil action.  It is very interesting to note that in many professional sports facilities, there are holding cells that unruly fans are sent to during a game, and then they are released after the game is over, unless law enforcement measures require movement to a civil judicial process.

Staying on Top of Conflict

Regardless of the type of system selected, every sport program needs to address a way to reduce conflicts through proactive processes such as preparation for sport involvement, handling conflicts when they occur in violation of a conduct code, and ultimately providing a system for conflict resolution in matters that involve further investigation.

Of course, while conflict occurs in sport, the topic for another article will appear that identifies the role of sports in conflict resolution and peace-making. It is well to close by indicating that while sport has very visible issues with conflict, it also has many more benefits than problems.  The point of this article is to indicate that conflict can be managed, and issues may be resolved as long as sport organizations address fundamental organizational management.

References

(1)   Orr, T. J. & Jamieson, L. M. (2020). Sport and Violence: A Critical Examination of Sport. Champaign-Urbana, IL: Sagamore/Venture.

(2) Yusof, A., Omar-Fauzee, M. S., Abdullah, M. N. H., & Shah, P. M. (2009). Managing conflict in Malaysian sports organizations. International Bulletin of Business Administration, 1451-243X (4), (http://www.eurojournals.com/IBBA.htm).

(3) Abrams, J. (2012). The Malice at the Palace. Grantland Press Archives.

The Complete Fan

While much fan behavior is absent during the coronavirus epidemic, it is probably a good time to explore what makes a good fan and fan base.  I am reminded of my family’s devotion to the San Francisco Giants – a devotion that started when the Giants were based in New York.  Coming from a “baseball” family which included Charles “Cuckoo” Jamieson, a former Washington Senator and recent posthumous inductee to the. Cleveland Indiana Hall of Fame, the Jamieson side of my family was a loyal fan base to the New York Giants.  My brothers and me, as little kids, remember my grandfather Jamieson, brother of Charlie, regaling us with baseball talk.  He also was a coach of the Chevy Red Sox, a AAA baseball team out of Paterson, NJ, that played in Eastside Park, where Larry Doby began his career. My father played on that team, and his sister Marilyn was the team mascot.  Baseball was everywhere with Major League Baseball teams based in New York (Yankees, Dodgers, and Giants), later Mets.  The reality was that my father was such a fan that he actually moved our family to California not long after the Giants moved to San Francisco. 

He and my mother and many family members remember times when they would go to spring practice in Arizona, and take in many 3-4 game series while visiting San Francisco, a practice they continued until they were into their 80’s. I also remember their individual closets of clothing with a special section of Giants swag, an entire orange and black section of each closet.  I also remember times when I would call them, and they were too depressed to talk after the Giants lost.  In my mind, this behavior was and is what I would call true fandom.

Willie Mays statue outside AT&T park in San Francisco.

Fast forwarding to today, I am wondering what it takes to be a true fan?  At the present time, we are blocked from enjoying many sports that rely on spectators to develop an exciting atmosphere.  What exactly IS the atmosphere we miss – taken together there is the anticipation of attending a sports event, there is the movement among crowds that precedes the start of the game, and also sampling of FOOD through glorious smells and tasting your favorite treats (mine consist of a stadium hotdog and a beer).  In addition, there are many sounds, fans cheering, announcers enthusiastically describing play, the sounds of play, and the ultimate roller coaster ride to a win or a loss.  So much is missing as we hopefully creep back to the possibility that we may experience this again.  Now we view sports on flat screens, the seats taken by pop up cardboard fans, the announcers sound flat and can barely rouse enough enthusiasm to entice a cheer.  It falls flat.

In addition, all forms of sports betting ads are vying for the original slots that led up to a sport contest.  I wonder if sport betting is replacing the thrill of attendance at one’s favorite game. The sheer lure of these ads seems worrisome.  Are people started to gamble to take up the void left from the incredible amount of time that is involved in planning and attending a favored sport event?  What exactly is filling this void?  Hopefully, most fans are able to try new ways of using their free time.  Judging from widely reported use of parks and other outdoor venues, people are gaining an appreciation of those experiences that do not require a major time investment required to be the type of fan that spends a great deal of time on investing in a favored sport. 

Another observation is that maybe, during this trial period, it would be prudent to examine what makes the best sports fan, and what behaviors have gotten out of hand. There are well-documented incidents that show fans in a very negative light, such as times where fans have gotten into fights before, after, and during a contest.  In addition, incidents such as throwing bottles and debris on a field, or engaging in abusive behavior with players, referees, and other fans do not reflect well on the reputation of the sport.  Maybe such reflection will allow the sports world in its entirety to reconsider measures to prevent sport violence within and outside of fans and other sport representatives.  A simple adjustment of having fans be socially distant may herald the end to mob behavior and conflicts that result from too much crowding.  At the very least, our ability to return to sport events will rely on many new measures to be considerate of ours and others” safety.

In sum, to be a fan is a wonderful experience. Becoming a sports fan begins in childhood and is influenced by generations of people who invested in a favored sport and carried on traditions enjoyed by an increasingly wider family. In that regard, fans will return to enjoy their passion. Hopefully, a return to viewing the sports we love will also ring in a new era of thoughtfulness and enjoyment.

Sports as affordable opportunities for participation

By Dr. Lynn M. Jamieson

Being involved in sports is not just a matter of buying equipment and heading to an open field, court, or other playing area in one’s neighborhood.  Maybe sport interests start there, but they are only brief starts for anyone who wants to learn the skills and become more proficient in developing a sport interest.  Gone are the days when the nearby “sandlot” could produce Major League Baseball stars regardless of their socioeconomic level. Also, school-based or community-based neighborhood programs are virtually non-existent and have been replaced with programs that require transportation to a center or complex in order to take lessons and get involved in league play.  In addition, the cost to enroll in even a starter instructional program may not be affordable for all people. 

According to a survey conducted in 2016 by Ameritrade of 1001 parents with children involved in sports, 60% of the respondents had a level of concern for the cost of participation. It was found that 63% spent $100-499 per month for their children’s sport participation, and 18% spent $1000 or more per month.  Further, approximately 60% of the respondents indicated that they needed to be more aware of the financial cost and impacts on their overall financial condition. (1).

Cost issues are also reflected in a survey conducted by the Aspen Institute regarding youth sport participation.  It was reported that while parents seem to be willing to pay a considerable amount of money for an array of 21 sports that averaged $693 per sport annually, parents in lower income brackets found that their child was forced to quit due to prohibitive costs of participation.  Overall, it was also found that on average, children quit sports in great numbers by age 11, down two years from previous surveys (2).

Studies also show that parents and players want their children to have fun when they participate in sports, and many feel that this is lacking as sports become more and more competitive, and travel takes up much more time.  As a result, the dropout rate for travel sports is much higher, and parents seek recreational sports offered locally that are either free or offered at low cost.  For example, the rise of skateboarding and bicycling are evidence that players are choosing lower costing sports.

What is most disturbing is that the investment in sport may not yield the intended results of gaining a better and more-skilled player, because of the time commitment and travel features.  In addition, the stress of playing at higher and higher competitive levels is not for the faint of heart, and often players become dissatisfied and discouraged instead of enjoying the opportunities that travel sport allows.  Further, due to the high dropout rate, may skilled players no longer are moving up the success ladder of these sports, and it becomes harder and harder to sustain a good base of skill to feed these upper level teams. 

Participation in sports is important, but it does not replace the need for families to establish a budget and choose activities that are affordable and sensible.  Unfortunately, many families do not spend as much time on their financial planning as they do with their involvement in sports (1).  As a result, financial pressures may affect an entire family and cause a great deal of unhappiness. Further, the quest for an eventual athletic scholarship for college often negates the possibility of saving money for college or investing in getting good grades so that academic scholarships are available.  If families would invest half of the funds they spend for sports in a college savings account, the pressure to gain athletic scholarships would disappear.  For example, if the average family spending the average of  $100-499 per month noted earlier would invest one half of that per month  ($50-250) in a college savings account from the time the child is 6 until 16, a range of $6000 to $30,000 would be saved by the time the child is ready for college.  This figure does not include accrued interest over the life of the college fund.  Also, if families placed a higher priority on good grades instead of as much time for travel and other time pressures, other scholarship opportunities would emerge.

It simply makes NO sense to invest the amount of money in sport participation when the dropout rate is so high, and the benefits are so low.  Such investment should be completely planned and revamped, so that families don’t suffer the consequences of investing in something that does not ultimately benefit the child.

In future blogs, the issue of the economic divide between those who can and those who cannot afford to participate in sport will be further discussed.  This will include the fact that many potentially skilled athletes simply cannot to participate even on the instructional level of sport because fees and charges are simply too high.

References

(1) TD Ameritrade Investor Survey. (2016). Parent Perspectives on the cost of competitive youth sports. (Retrieved 08/22/20)

(2) The Aspen Institute. (2019). Project Play:  National Youth Sport Survey. (Retrieved 08/22/20)

Sport Policy and Radical Injustice Have a Long History

Black Lives Matter and the protests to gain greater equity and inclusion in society are on everyone’s mind as we share and listen to the divergent opinions on the topic in the United States. Mike Trico, NBC Sports Analyst has called the current professional sport game boycotts around radical injustice “the largest, most widespread day of sports activism that our country has ever seen.” https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.mediaite.com/sports/nbc-sports-mike-tirico-on-nba-mlb-and-wnba-strikes-over-jacob-blake-shooting-largest-most-widespread-day-of-sports-activism-in-us-history/amp/

But, professional sports professionals, collegiate athletes, and recreational sports professionals have always led society in change and social policy. By now, we all remember the difficult but necessary contributions Jackie Robinson (https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/robinson-jackie ) made in breaking the color line in National League in Major League Baseball.  And, alumni from Indiana University know and are proud of George Taliaferro (https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/02/26/black-history-month-george-taliaferro ) who was the first Black player drafted by the National Football League after becoming an All-American rusher at Indiana University leading IU to their only undefeated Big Ten Conference championship. 

Indiana University also figures prominently in leading change in collegiate basketball.  Bill Garrett (https://www.si.com/college/indiana/basketball/indiana-honoring-bill-garrett-building-long-overdue ), now with a Indiana University sports facility named after him, was the first Black athlete who regularly played and started in the Big 10. He played for Hoosier coach Branch McCracken who started Garrett thereby breaking the ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ to not play Black athletes in Big 10 basketball. And there are countless examples of the role individual sport volunteers played in promoting sport participation for Blacks and others at the recreational level that are unknown.  One such example,  sort of lore to some people who remember was Walter Jamieson.  As a Paterson NJ park commissioner, Jamieson (related to big-league star Charlie Jamieson) started Midget League Baseball, where a kid showed up at his Paterson house and came away with a bat, a ball, and a glove with instructions to show up for coaching on Saturday. Legend has it the first Black baseball player in the American League, a Paterson resident named Larry Doby (https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/larry-doby/), got his start in baseball this way.

These changes in sport, local and national, helped to promote other changes in our society and laws with goals to promote greater economic and social equity among Blacks and other minorities. They reflect the larger role sports at the recreation and amateur elite level played in changing societal policy, law, and norms including:

• Parks, as designed early in the U.S., had a goal of building space for all members of the community to interact and mingle with each other (https://www.centralparknyc.org/blog/peoples-park-design)

• Recreation professionals celebrate the role of promoting social equity in access to recreation and sport for diverse populations and the benefits of their participation is a key tenet of the recreation and park profession

• Government policy around the globe promotes sport and access by underrepresented populations as a tool for building common values around a safe and civil society

In the end, there are critical roles for sport policy in every countries policies and society.  Most country’s have a central sport policy.  The decentralized approach to sport policy in the United States however, with over 130 national sport governing bodies, makes unified policy around promoting social equity and diversity through sport difficult. Research has shown that sports programs with large volunteer leadership in sport policy as in the U.S. can make change slow for diverse and underrepresented populations. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1441352318305813

The question becomes, for professionals in sport and recreation, as well as parks and public lands professionals, how to promote social change around equity regardless if it comes slowly in sport for various reasons.  In the end, having the long term view that outcomes in promoting opportunity and equity through recreational sports programs will eventually create real societal diversity, equity, and inclusion change.  The opportunities that professional sport activism is creating the need to be followed with sincere community dialogue that includes facilities, program, and policy development that builds on the current sport activism.  We owe it to all the professional and recreational sport leaders who have advocated for real societal equity, diversity, and inclusion change in the past.

How COVID19 has and will affect sport involvement in the future.

According to the United Nations,

“To safeguard the health of athletes and others involved, most major sporting events at international, regional and national levels have been canceled or postponed – from marathons to football tournaments, athletics championships to basketball games, handball to ice hockey, rugby, cricket, sailing, skiing, weightlifting to wrestling and more. The Olympics and Paralympics, for the first time in the history of the modern games, have been postponed, and will be held in 2021.” (1)

 Before winter and spring of 2020, it would have been easy to write about how current health considerations may affect sports involvement.  Issues like heat and weather-related events, sports injury, blood, and water-borne pathogens, and others would fill pages of how to plan for and mitigate these occurrences.  Such is not the case with the current pandemic that is sweeping across the globe with seemingly wild abandon.  In this case, all sports involvement has to be re-created, re-examined, and the result is that many tried and true procedures for mitigating health challenges are simply thrown out the window.  This pandemic requires that every possible surface be continually cleansed with antibacterial agents, and people need to continually be aware to wash, prevent contact with others within six feet or more of each other, and mask up.

How do sports survive under the demands of mitigating the transmission of the virus?  Even with the current protocols, the virus continues to affect many gatherings; therefore, it is absolutely necessary to take a step back from the sport in total and examine what the best course of action may be.  Our best examples involve how professional sports have reorganized – shorter season, less travel, keeping distance, masking, cleaning all surfaces.  At the time of this writing, many seasons have been canceled, postponed, or minimized.  Likewise, recreational and elite sports for those in early childhood through high school must also be curtailed until there is a feeling of safety and security surrounding the resumption of play.

What long-term effects are at least envisioned as the pandemic continues, even if it lessens with the discovery of vaccines and other ways to mitigate its spread.  At the risk of creating controversy or at least vigorous discussion, I am making predictions even admitting that we really do not know enough to plan the future of the sport in a sound and efficacious manner.  My thoughts are just that – Food for Thought – and hopefully, we will see our way clear within the next year or two to modify sport in a way that is beneficial to everyone.

1.     The economic fallout of many cancellations of high-level sports in every country in the world will have far-reaching effects that will dramatically transform the live experience of viewing to digital viewing opportunities that involve a charge.  People will buy tickets to view live-streamed and other experiences in order to keep up with their favorite leagues and teams. Related to that, online betting will increase, and that market will prosper. 

2.     Players will elect to change their sport pursuit to that of local and community offerings that may lower the appeal of some of the more popular sports.  For example, one may change from a team sport to an individual sport in order to be able to train more flexibly.

3.     People will choose activities that conform to the best health guidelines where it is easy to use masks, access sanitary facilities, and prevent transmission of infectious diseases.  Outdoor activities that avoid crowds will replace mass events in order to protect and be protected.

4.     Health concerns about the long-term effects of COVID infection will be of continued concern.  For example, doctors have alluded to the potential increase in blood clots and myocarditis in those who have survived the disease.  This concern will lead to more players opting out of seasons and being careful about the resumption of the sports they were involved in.

5.     As higher-level competitions decline, lower-level uses of playing areas and facilities will be available, and leisure service agencies will take advantage of the increased availability of arenas, fields, and courts and other facilities that were previously used only by those who reached a higher level of skill.

6.     More attention will be given to making sports opportunities accessible to all regardless of economic level or skill. 

7.     Home-based activities will continue to increase as schools continue online learning, and parents/guardians must fulfill the physical activity and outdoor learning gap by taking children to parks and playing areas. This will necessitate the reuse of facilities and areas otherwise used for highly organized leagues.

8.     Travel sports programs will continue to decrease due to the uncertainty of the use of public transportation, accommodations, and food services. This change will result in greater local league development in nearby facilities.

9.     Due to changes in employment status, many people simply will not be able to afford the recreation services they paid for before the pandemic and will elect to either program their own experiences or take advantage of more reasonably priced programs in their community.

10. Agencies and businesses that provide sport and recreation experiences in communities will need to completely revamp their offerings to include a wider set of social needs such as having community areas and facilities as immunization sites, increasing social services in areas of need, and reinvigorating local and easy to access recreation experiences.

Again the United Nations noted the effects of COVID on the decrease of sports events as follows:

“In addition to economic repercussions, the cancellation of games also impacts many social benefits of global and regional sports events, which can cement social cohesion, contribute to the social and emotional excitement of fans, as well as their identification with athletes leading to greater physical activity of individuals. Sport has long been considered a valuable tool for fostering communication and building bridges between communities and generations. Through sport, various social groups are able to play a more central role in social transformation and development, particularly in divided societies. Within this context, sport is used as a tool for creating learning opportunities and accessing often marginal or at-risk populations.” (1)

References

(1)  United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (2020). The impact of COVID-19 on sport, physical activity and well-being and its effects on social development.  (Retrieved 8/1/20 at un.org).

Covid and the future of Sport and Violence

A youth baseball team poses for. team picture without masks.

With the vagaries and challenges of the COVID19 pandemic and its surges currently affecting every aspect of people’s lives, it is an appropriate time to rethink many aspects of our lives.  In this blog, I am discussing what I believe is a real need to REEXAMINE youth sports, particularly those that involve expensive seasons and travel.  This is not the first time that there have been voiced concerns regarding youth elite sport that involves travel.  In fact, Tom Brady stated his concerns about it with these words: 

“Youth sports, and what I remember from being in youth sports, everything was really localized. There were no travel teams. My parents always exposed us to different things, different sports. It was basketball when it was basketball season. It was baseball when it was baseball season. I didn’t play football until I was a freshman in high school. A lot of soccer. There were some camps, but I just played in the neighborhood in our street with all the kids we grew up with. It’s just different now, and I’m experiencing it with my own kids with all the organized activities that you put them in. It’s just hard, because all the parents are doing it, it seems, and the competition feels like it starts so early for these kids.” (1)

The sport of Hockey presents difficulties when it comes to social distancing.

In order to define exactly what I mean about REEXAMINING youth sports, it is fitting to provide a perspective on what the current picture was of youth sport before the pandemic hit.  For every possible sport in the United States, there appears to have been a basic level of sport offered to help kids learn basic skills and enjoy a modicum of game play as these skills develop.  We see these types of sports originating in schools and park and recreation departments, youth serving not-for-profit organizations such as the YMCA and Boys and Girls Clubs, and private organizations such as a local gymnastic club.  From the beginner level, there is a progression to intermediate and advanced skill development in the formation of teams and leagues and competition.  What seems to have accelerated over the past 20 years are highly organized team-based programs for youth, featuring tryouts and high fees, and parents and guardians have gravitated toward these team-based competitive programs with an eye toward the potential that their child will gain easier access to high school and college sports as well as the possibility of becoming an Olympian, a professional sport hero, or a similar achievement.  At the very least, the prospect of a scholarship to pay for college expenses is intoxicating, and therefore, it is felt that if their child invests in this sport at an early age and gets involved in travel competition, they will be set for life.

Unfortunately, the rise of the attractiveness of travel-oriented sports has caused the basic physical development of youth to decrease for a number of reasons.

1.     Travel-related sport TAKES TIME away from a kid’s ability to just play and examine many physical activities that will develop strength, flexibility, endurance, and aerobic capacity.   By participating in a single sport to meet all of the requirements of travel, a participant may not develop some skills essential to being a healthy human.

2.     Travel programs are COSTLY.  In the newly released 2nd edition of Sport and Violence: A Critical Examination of Sport (2020) (2), Orr and Jamieson note the expense of a simple travel program for ONE sport as over $1000 per season.  Often travel programs extend much beyond one season, so that investment can double or quadruple for just one child.

3.     Often travel teams compete during many games in a season.  In one case, a travel hockey team of 8 and 9 years old had 64 games on their schedule involving a great deal of travel, not to mention an exhaustive number of games for that age group.

4.     Travel often involves driving long distances, but also includes flying.  Due to the strictures imposed by COVID19, such travel may be restricted, or if continued, the disease may spread.  At the very least, travel may need to be restricted to home team competitions and very little travel.

5.     Travel often does not mean that a player gets to play more.  In one experience, a family traveled 6 hours for a weekend tournament, paid for three nights at a hotel, spent three days eating out, and the player played only 30 SECONDS per game!  After that experience, the participant enrolled the following season in a house league that did not travel and played a significant amount of every game, raising his skill level to be eligible to play on a high school sport club.

6.     As a result of the intensity and possibility safety concerns with travel sports, many youth drop out very early and discontinue sport due to discouragement and stress.

Considering safety, economic, and developmental factors, it is my opinion that travel programs should be seriously re-evaluated, and many should cease the extent and geographical range of competitions.  These programs should be replaced with community-based skill development programs that involve local competitive experiences and home-based skill development that support practices and games. 

I know my suggestions may appear draconian in nature; however, the new National Youth Sports Policy, published by United States Health and Human Services supports such re-examination, and as stated within this framework:

“Enjoyment or fun is one of the top motivators for youth sports participation; and lack of enjoyment is one of the most frequent reasons given for dropping out of a sport. Having fun has been associated with intrinsic factors such as being a good sport, trying hard, and learning and improving, as well as external factors such as positive coaching and parenting, game time support, games, practices, team friendships, team rituals, and swag (i.e., team clothing or trophies). For some youth, negative experiences with bullying or hazing can contribute to lack of enjoyment“

References

Brady, T. (2015). The trouble with travel sports. (Retrieved from https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/10/05.

Orr, T. J. & Jamieson, L. M. (2020). Sport and violence: A critical examination of    sport. Champaign, IL: Sagamore and Venture.

U. S. department of Health and Human Services. (2019). National Youth Sport Strategy. Washington, D. C.: U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, 109 pp.

Prepared by Dr. Lynn M. Jamieson, Professor Emerita