Description
Book SynopsisThe Adulteration of Children's Sports explores current behavioral and physiological research about how children's organized sport has changed; how adults' goals and needs are at the heart of those changes; and the consequences of those changes on children's enjoyment of sport and on their autonomy, creativity, and moral reasoning outside of sport. Adult introduction of early competition, extrinsic rewards, early sport specialization, and year-round participation has thwarted children's intrinsic motivation and contributed to children's attrition from sport. Kristi Erdal explores concerns about the future of sport itself, as adult-mediated selection practices whittle down young athletes earlier on shakier criteria. Parents' and coaches' complicity in these practices, however, is based on intermediaries poorly interpreting (or ignoring) the research literature. Thus, the final chapters of this book are about translating the research into applied ideas for change. Erdal provides an essent
Trade Review“In The Adulteration of Children’s Sports: Waning Health and Well-Being in the Age of Organized Play, Dr. Kristi Erdal writes in a clear voice and thoughtfully digests the scientific literature on children's sport, raising important questions and offering concrete guidance for parents, coaches, educators, and sport administrators.” – Britton W. Brewer, Ph.D, Springfield College -- Britton Brewer, Springfield College
"What an eye-opening book. In The Adulteration of Children's Sports, Dr. Erdal clearly explains the latest research—hers and other scientists'—about how today's intense, competitive, over-organized and ‘adulterated’ approach to children's sports is failing so many of our children and having a rather unfortunate effect on the behavior of parents and coaches too. Helpfully, she also offers practical and scientifically valid suggestions for improving how we recruit, coach and encourage young players. Essential reading for parents, coaches, researchers and, really, anyone involved with children's sports." — Gretchen Reynolds, The New York Times -- Gretchen Reynolds
Table of ContentsChapter 1: Definitions and History Chapter 2: The Positive Impacts of Organized Sport on Children Chapter 3: The Negative Impacts of Organized Sport on Children Chapter 4: The Myths Adults Believe about Specialization Chapter 5: Have Adults Already Impacted the Future of Sport? Chapter 6: The Parents of Children’s Organized Sport Chapter 7: The Coaches of Children’s Organized Sport Chapter 8: The Future of Children’s Organized Sport About the Author
