[Alberta's Child]

As someone who has coached both children and adults in sports, I would say that the focus on the "PC wimps" aspect of this overlooks a much bigger issue.

This problem didn't start when we allowed ourselves to let a "PC wimp" mindset to take over our youth sports. I'd say the problem started when the whole idea of adults coaching children in organized sports began in the first place.

I saw a fascinating interview with Wayne Gretzky a few years ago. He was careful to be very diplomatic and spoke highly of youth hockey coaches in general, but he was also pretty open about his opinion that the countless hours he spent playing hockey in his own backyard were far more instrumental in his success than any "youth hockey coach" was.

[SamAdams76]

Bobby Orr played hockey on frozen ponds from the age of 5 with little or no adult supervision. By the time he played his first organized hockey with actual coaches, I think he was 14, but was already playing at a superstar level.

I think there is something to be said for just letting the kids play and staying out of it.

[Textide]

Good point. I wasn't a great soccer player, but I attribute what little success I had through U19/high school to the pickup games among friends. 2 v 2 against a brick wall and juggling practice opened up the game. Organized, coached practice sessions were dull and unpleasant in comparison, which I guess plays into your point.

That said, there are fundamental rules of discipline (run 4 miles today for fitness....nah, there's no coach, not today), positioning (I like to play center forward...but so do most of the other players. Who wants to be a midfielder that runs miles every game?), and team management (pick a starting lineup. Decide on substitutions) that just can't be performed by children.

Ideally, kids would like the game enough to want to play it on their own.

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

I saw a fascinating interview with Wayne Gretzky a few years ago. He was careful to be very diplomatic and spoke highly of youth hockey coaches in general, but he was also pretty open about his opinion that the countless hours he spent playing hockey in his own backyard were far more instrumental in his success than any "youth hockey coach" was

Gone are the says when young boys could gather together, pick leaders, form teams, establish rules, and play a pickup game of baseball or hockey for fun. Years latter IO went to watch a friend's son play in little league baseball. I was astonished when I saw a coach screaming and berating a player.

I see no fun in adult supervised sports, only indoctrination. Boys are not learning skills to organize themselves, they need a governing body to play. Self reliance is not treasured.

[OldNewYork]

Worth remembering.