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Kids and the Statistics for Cutting

From Emily Petrik:

My name is Emily Petrik, and I am involved in soccer, x-country, and at the moment I am involved in speech. I want one of my events to be persuasive. I plan on doing my speech on kids at young ages being cut from clubs and activity. I want my speech to include statistics on how often that happens and to how many kids in various clubs. Possibly even what that does to the kids self-esteem and whether most kids stop trying or end up in the end proving everyone wrong and being way better than everyone in the end. If you wouldn't mind helping my in some of these areas I would very grateful. You don't need to go out of your way to help me but if you know some useful facts that would be awesome. I am from Bismarck, North Dakota and we have a horrible problem with cutting kids because of shortages of money and pride too. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Answer: The subject of your speech is very broad and, as described, quite general. In addition, let me say at the start, that I know of no statistics that are kept by youth associations on cutting or for that matter, on the number of kids who tryout for various sports teams. I do have opinions on the subject that I will get to.

In order to help I need to narrow the field a little bit. For example, how old are the kids you are considering? 12 years old or younger, or teenagers? The situation is different depending upon the age of the player.

I assume your question relates to competitive/traveling teams not recreational teams since recreational teams typically do not cut players.

Most youth sports for young children (about 5, 6 or 7) are, or should be, recreational (i.e. all participants who want to play are assigned to a team). No one is cut or excluded. These programs usually have a mandatory playing time rules. Most children in this age group should be playing in recreational programs. I would also recommend "rec" programs over "traveling" programs for most kids up to 12, 13, or 14. Beyond that we're into middle school and high school and most of those are highly competitive and include tryouts.

I would estimate that perhaps 75-85% of the youngsters in 5, 6, 7 age group play on "rec" teams where cutting is not common. There are, however, parents who want their very young child to play in highly competitive programs and for that reason associations may offer "traveling" teams as well as "rec" teams. Many, but not all, traveling teams require that players tryout and only the better players are selected. One notable exception, Pop Warner Football, a huge program featuring thousands of "traveling" teams from across the country, does not permit try outs. In most traveling soccer and baseball programs that I am familiar with, players try out for the team. Still the number of selective travel programs in the 5, 6, 7 age is probably small, perhaps 15-25% of teams available. The number of competitive travel type programs increases, however, in the older age groups.

Also in the older age groups, the number of rec teams decrease because the number of athletes decreases (see the sports participation triangle shown below). So cutting is more of a problem for older kids. There aren't any as many options for them.

Statistics show that more than 70% of the kids who play youth sports drop out by age 12 because of demanding coaches, extreme focus on winning, they aren't playing and because the sport is no longer fun.

I should point our that abusive and overzealous coaches can be found in either rec or travel programs.

Kids sports (all ages) should be all about fun, participation and skill and social development. Most children can benefit from participation in a good recreational program and do not need the highly competitive situations found in most traveling programs. As kids grow and mature they should be playing regularly to develop skills, not sitting on the bench which is what happens to so many kids on traveling teams. Even if they make the team (do not get cut) unless they are among the best players, they participate very little. Most kids (and their parents) that do not participate after making the team are very unhappy. Kids that get cut are unhappy because they have been rejected, and few kids (like most adults) can handle rejection well. It is best to avoid the problem.

For this reason, I believe parents usually make a mistake by allowing or forcing their child to play in a competitive/selective program. The player may have a better chance to develop and continue his or her interest in the sport if playing recreationally. Then when reaching middle school or high school he or she will have developed skills needed to play in the more competitive situation.

In summary, the best answer I can give you regarding the question of cutting is this:

	Players should play a sport for fun and skill development. They should play in a situation that affords this.
	The number of competitive programs in which players are selected increases as the players get older. Younger players should not be put in situations where participation is based on performance. Avoid selective programs. Keep participating in open or inclusive programs to continue skill development instead.
	Unless the player is clearly and *significantly* better than most players his or her age, he or she should *not* tryout for a selective team but should play in a recreational league. Parents, however, may not be the best judge of their child's ability and should seek qualified advice.
	In the age groups of selective teams are dominant, I believe that relatively few players are cut. The bigger problem is for the ones who get selected but don't get to play. On a team of, say, 30 players perhaps 40 try out and only 30 are selected. Which means that 10 are cut. But of the 30 who did make the team only 10 or 12 get significant playing time. The 18-20 other players sit on the bench. That's a bigger problem. Those players should not have been selected nor should they have tried out.

Selective programs exist and will continue to exist because some parents/kids want them. Youth associations should encourage players (and their parents) to participate in programs that are inclusive, as opposed to encouraging participation in so called "prestigious" selective programs. Parents may have over-rated opinions of the child's ability and don't always make the best choice by opting for the "prestigious" travel team. Furthermore if an association offers a selective program, an inclusive type program should also be offered for those who don't make the cut.

I hope this helps you. Please write back and let me know if I can be of further assistance, and how your speech went.