“CTSA is concerned that youth sports has become too focused on winning at the exclusion of the
child’s well-being,” said Ron Stratten, CTSA chair and vice-president of education services at the
NCAA. “Youth sports offer children wonderful benefits, including fitness and character development.
But we are concerned that issues, such as early sports specialization, poor sportsmanship and overinvested
parents seeking sports scholarships, are threatening to undermine the positive experience of
youth sports.”
CTSA’s report card (attached at the end of the release) included two Ds, one in the category of
“Parental Behavior/Involvement” and one in the area of “Child-Centered Philosophy,” which focuses
on the child’s perspective of the experience. The panel issued a C- for the “Coaching” category, a C+
in the area of “Health and Safety” and a B- in “Officiating.”
“The 2005 Youth Sports National Report Card should serve as a wake-up call for all Americans,” said
Congressman Mike McIntyre, a U.S. Representative from North Carolina’s Seventh District. “We
should, can, and must do better to provide a positive environment for youth sports. Their character,
safety and future depend on it.”
Dan Gould, director of the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports, Michigan State University, released
the grades issued by the national expert panel, which was composed of youth sports leaders, authors,
sociologists, sports psychologists, coaches and parents. “One of the biggest issues in youth sports
today is the professionalization of children’s sports,” said Gould, noting that this occurs when adults
take a professional sports model and impose it on children’s activities. “Examples of this professional
model include adults pressuring kids to win at early ages, along with single-sports specialization and
year-round training at an early age.”
Clark Kellogg, CBS Sports basketball studio analyst, offered a unique perspective on CTSA’s efforts.
“Because sports participation can have such a positive impact on young people, it’s extremely
important that parents and coaches keep the games in perspective and the interests of the participants at
the very top of the priority list,” Kellogg said. “Unfortunately, there are a growing number of examples
where that is not the case. As one who has enjoyed the benefits of athletic participation, and as the
father of three young athletes, that is terribly disheartening to me. And it needs to change. I welcome
the opportunity to be part of the process to help parents and coaches be the role models they can be and
should be for youth in sports.”
CTSA board member Judy Young, vice-president for programs, American Alliance for Health,
Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), focused on the resources CTSA has
developed to improve the situation. “CTSA has developed several resources to help youth sports
leaders and parents address the challenges facing youth sports,” Young said. “Those resources include
a parent’s guide and community report cards that can be used by parents and youth sports leaders to
evaluate their own youth sports program. We know that many organizations are working hard to
change youth sports for the better, and CTSA would like to bring attention to their efforts.”
The Citizenship Through Sports Alliance is committed to promoting positive behavior in youth sports
by harnessing the collective resources of major U.S. sports organizations to provide practical and
proven tools for parents and coaches in youth sports.
The members of the CTSA are: National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); Major League Baseball (MLB);
National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA); National Hockey League
(NHL); National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS); National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
(NAIA); National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE); National Junior College Athletic Association
(NJCAA); and National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).
