Who's protecting the children?

Park and recreation professionals have the responsibility to educate volunteers who work with youth sports programs.

By Michael Pfahl

As a former parks and recreation director, I experienced a myriad of emotions when dealing with youth sports. I found myself trying to deal with what I felt recreational youth sports should be and with what was actually occurring.

Background

In July 1981, I was introduced to the National Youth Sports Coaches Association's (NYSCA's) program. Fred Engh, president and chief executive officer (CEO), made a presentation at the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association conference. He was describing my feelings perfectly.

It was so exciting to learn that I wasn't the only one who thought youth sports were out of control. It was also comforting to know someone was finally organizing an effort to do something about it.

There is no question this wasn't going to be easy; however, if our profession would unite its efforts, we could substantially re-route the course that youth sports is taking in America. The NYSCA is doing just that.

Taking action

We meet so many in recreation who are experiencing the same myriad of emotions when discussing the topic of youth sports. Frankly, it is no wonder. It becomes very frustrating to be held both

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legally and morally responsible for programs over which we seem to have no control.

The truth is that we do have control. We do have the capability of influencing youth sports leagues. We can combat the frustration we feel when we see the "recreation" being left out of youth sports programs. We just need to know how.

Many recreation professionals mention how they spend hours on the phone listening to complaints about the way different leagues are run. Generally, their response is, I agree with you, but you will need to talk with the league board of directors; I can't help you. This obviously adds to their frustration by admitting to the fact they have no control over programs for which everyone assumes they are responsible.

If we step back and look at the problem objectively, we realize that behavior must be changed to correct it. This can only be accomplished by an educational process.

Volunteer education

For the most part, volunteers who spend their leisure time working with kids in sports want to do a good job. Oftentimes, though, their only benchmark of experience and knowledge came as a result of their own participation. This could have been 20 years ago or more.

What we tend to see is a reenactment of a win-at-all costs attitude, along with an unsafe, uneducated approach to coaching. This, again, is not to say that these adults don't have good intentions; they are just in need of knowledge and guidance.

If not the parks and recreation professional, who is best equipped to provide this guidance? If not the parks and recreation profession, who stands the most to lose by doing nothing?

Special protection

Legal liability is a buzzword that tends to get the attention of recreation providers today. There is no question the city or county that issues facility permits for organizations to conduct programs should be concerned.

Leagues are also concerned, spending a substantial portion of their hard-earned revenue on league insurance. They are usually required to also name the city or the county as an additional insured, again protecting the city from a possible lawsuit.

This is all important, but who is protecting the children? This may sound like righteous rhetoric, but it is a question that must be asked.

Isn't it true that insurance, lawsuits, negligence, preponderance of the evidence, documentation, etc., are resulting symptoms of a condition known as irresponsibility often brought on by a lack of knowledge or understanding? Countless hours and resources are spent dealing with symptoms. If half as much time was spent on the cause of problems associated with youth sports, the outcome would be a far more positive experience for all involved, particularly for the children.

By making both parents and coaches aware of their responsibility to children in sports programs, we can substantially reduce the causes and the resulting symptoms of the problems. The NYSCA was established to do just that.

Education in a non-threatening environment can best change behavior. When parents and coaches learn the true meaning of recreational youth sports, and the difference between these programs and programs that cater to the elite athlete, we can make a difference. Do you believe, as we do, that the bottom line of youth sports in America is fun and participation? If so, you must realize that this can't happen without the recreational professional.

Without the involvement of recreation professionals, the parents and coaches are virtually handicapped in receiving the necessary guidance. So, as the saying goes, "The buck stops here." The NYSCA can provide the recreation profes-

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Managing the risks

When we look at the day to day responsibilities associated with our positions in recreation, all that we do is important to improve the quality of life. However, it pales in comparison when we take a hard look at the problems created by a negative youth sports experience.

We have the responsibility to educate and guide adult volunteers in youth sports. We must train parents as well as coaches to be good fans and supporters of the program in which their children are involved.

If insurance is the motivation to become involved in the NYSCA, then so be it. However, nothing can substitute education as the best way to manage risk. To prove the point, more than 110,000 coaches have been NYSCA certified since 1981. There have been no claims filed against the liability policy NYSCA provides to the member coach. This is a great testimonial to education and training as a means to manage the risk.

When the recreation professional educates the adults, and the adults educate the children, the result is more often going to be positive. Then we can in good conscience answer the question, Who's protecting the children? with a resounding, I am.

NOTE: For additional information regarding the NYSCA of Illinois, contact Larry Piekarz, State Coordinator, NYSCA of Illinois, Bloomingdale Park District, 172 S. Circle Ave., Bloomingdale, IL 60180. Phone (312) 529-3650.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Michael Pfahl is the national executive director of the National Youth Sports Coaches Association.

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