One of the great divides in youth sports is the divide between why kids say they play, and why parents and coaches think they play! Lucky for us this issue has been studied numerous times, all over the world, by institutions of higher learning. The results are quite profound. Check out my latest video to learn more.

According to the University of Notre Dame, kids play because:

• Its Fun!
• They Like Learning!
• They Like Being with Their Friends!
• They Enjoy the Excitement of Competition!

Why do they quit?

• Criticism and Yelling
• Boredom
• Emphasis on Winning!
• Lack of Playing Time

Notice that your kids do not play to win, but they may quit because of an emphasis on winning!

The most amazing thing I have found is that these statistics not only apply to recreational athletes, but elite amateur and professionals as well. Listen to the video to hear about the findings of Dr Dan Friegang, Sports Psychologist for US Soccer, USA Hockey, and US Skiing. His findings are amazing!