The Dark Side of Children’s Sports in Idaho

Many of us grow up playing sports. It teaches children the importance of hard work, discipline, hand-eye coordination, foot-eye coordination, athletic ability, and teamwork. Playing sports is good for children, even if it is for only a season or two to see if they like it or not. Many of us grew up playing it and while most have fond memories, some hated it and quickly found out sports was not their thing in life. Nowadays, odds are you are watching your children play, and while it should be a fun time for the kids, there is a dark side to youth sports in Idaho as well. 

The Dark Side of Youth Sports in Idaho

Kid sports are supposed to be fun and teach kids important values that sports teach, and while some parents believe in the participation trophy era and playing for fun, some believe it is only about winning and nothing else. While most kids want to win, they also want to have fun, and it is the parents who seem to care more than their children. Through playing and being around many sports in my life, there is one sport in particular that seems to bring out the worst in parents and that is youth baseball. Idaho is a big baseball state, and the parents can be a huge problem when it comes to certain teams. More parents get kicked out of baseball games than any other youth sport, and the problem isn't going away. 

Bad Coaches and Parents in Idaho Youth Baseball

There are different types of leagues when it comes to baseball. Some leagues are for fun and teaching and then there are leagues that are competitive and cost money to be in, typically known as travel baseball and softball. Some leagues hold tryouts and kids have to be selected, whereas other leagues have kids randomly assigned to teams or placed to play with a certain friend. In travel ball, coaches train their kids and treat them like athletes who one day hope to pursue baseball, whereas recreational leagues are more about teaching fundamentals and getting familiar with the game. Some coaches and parents have taken it upon themselves to cheat and bring in players who aren't eligible for recreational league baseball, as well as hand-pick their team instead of the common draft other teams hold, and refuse to allow girls on their team when most are intergender teams. 

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While kids in these fun leagues often care more about what snacks they get after the game or what friend is on their team, some parents and coaches are deciding to use this league to teach their kids unsportsmanlike behavior, embarrass other kids that are learning, and break rules to boost their ego when they should be coaching a travel ball team instead. Sadly, far too many parents and coaches can't accept they didn't have what it took to become a pro athlete once upon a time and are using their children to try and live the dream they failed to succeed. The only ones suffering in these instances are the kids, and the parents and coaches are sadly the reason behind it and are the dark side of youth sports. Let the kids play and have fun, instead of making it about yourself.