Youth in Sport - Keeping Kids in The Game | Hugh McDonald | TEDxLangleyED

Hugh's talk will exhibit both his love for coaching and that of sport. He will share his growth from a ""win-at-all-costs"" coach that took the experience away from the kids, to a parent and coach who values giving all children the opportunity to learn, grow, compete, and keep on playing.

Hugh will get you to question as a parent, coach, or educator some common practices that are accepted in youth sport. He will get you to wonder what these practices are doing to the mindset of young athletes. Hugh will also have you think about some simple things that can be done as a parent, coach, and educator to reverse the trend and to get kids enjoying the game and wanting to participate in sports longer.
Hugh is an intermediate educator with 15 years of experience with the Surrey School District and has resided in Langley, British Columbia with his family for 8 years. Currently he teaches Grade 6/7 students at Fraser Wood Elementary. Hugh earned his Masters of Educational Leadership degree through Simon Fraser University and his teaching degree from the University of British Columbia. He is the Past president and vice-president of the Surrey Elementary Schools Athletic Association. Hugh coaches a variety of sports in schools and now has started coaching his kids in soccer and baseball in the community of Langley. Hugh's interest areas include youth in sports, coaching, passion based learning (Genius Hour), leadership, and the power of a growth mindset. He is a proud husband to Denni and Dad of Cole and Danica.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@megansampson5445]

Some key points- placing a child in a specialization or one sport at a young age/ all year round practice, can lead to overuse injuries because kids will be using specific skills/movements for specific sports. Rather multisports at a young age is more beneficial when there is a focus on having fun and encouraging kids to sample sports and develop different skills. A multisports approach at a young age will more likely have greater advantages and benefits for kids in the long run.

[@dds505]

bless dis man hes nervous asf

[@pyguy9915]

I dunno, this is how I talk to everyone, even my dog

[@SheepofChrist818]

My Sports and US Society class brought me here.

[@gerrycrowley8611]

"Magic is believing in yourself. If you can make that happen, you can make anything happen." -- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe My Take - Coaches have the power to create that magic in every kid. You can also destroy that magic. It all depends on your reason for coaching kids.

[@danreed7622]

This message was brought to you from the bench. Holy smokes....

[@pastortim9490]

😔

[@vincecairo]

Hahahahahahahhahahahhahaha AHAHAHHAHAHAHHA HAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAAHHA in a way he's right but we need 2 league's 1 for I need my kid to work hard train hard and get to "the" league. And 1 for we just want you to be happy parents that would be the solution

[@ogjoec]

@@vincecairothey have travel and rec ball already

[@meghna391]

I love this

[@CoachDomCosta]

Much needed and spot on!!!!!!!!

[@ChrisWejr]

Great message... attaboy!

[@jepcote]

Please establish credibility in the description or in the video before arguing. I am looking to understand what is the environment I can push to get high school student get to their full potential.

[@peterpanico701]

excellent message

[@CrowdPleeza]

Something that can complicate a kid's experience with a sport is starting a sport late. Starting a sport late can make that sport more complicated. I'm talking about starting a sport where they're 3 or 4 years behind most other kids their age. By the 3rd or 4th year of a sport it's no longer geared for beginners. The coaches won't be handling that sport as though they're dealing with beginners. If a kid does want to get involved in a sport and they're 3 years behind they need to try to get a few months of preparation from an experienced person before actually starting that sport. So try to get a kid involved in a particular sport when other kids their age tend to start. This will help them to develop in that sport in a more normal way with the other kids.

[@irongutsspeedshop3334]

Let your kids decide what they want to play and win, and give them the fair resources to compete on a level field.

[@winstonjen5360]

And if they don't like sport?

[@winstonjen5360]

@@irongutsspeedshop3334 Did you let them choose not to play a sport?

[@winstonjen5360]

@@irongutsspeedshop3334 If they attempted suicide from boredom, would you still make them "play"? Sport is boring. Why do you think Tiger Woods makes so much money.

[@rethalee845]

You should expose and teach a kid all possible sports then thats when they can choose, Otherwise they will never choose.

[@richardblazer8070]

Kids don’t decide what to win, they have to actually work for it. Most kids have no idea what they might be interested if they aren’t introduced to it until they’re older and now face a barrier because they are behind.

[@samowins9931]

I understand your message but you should always push your kids. The drive to be the best on and off the field will stay with them longer than any game. It's a life long lesson that some kids need to be taught how to over come and achieve. Bottom line push your kid's to be the best because life is full of competition . There are some who over coach their kid's. Teaching them to try to become perfect in all areas is impossible! But the practice of trying to be perfect is the best work ethic!!!!! Pushing them to be the best will be ok because they will teach them self's to love the game!!!!!!!

[@ChrisWejr]

The challenge is finding the sweet spot between not pushing enough and pushing too hard. Kids need that nudge for sure but when it becomes about the adults rather than the kids, then we have gone too far.

[@thecohenclan7590]

I agree with you! As kids get older and older, the competition gets tougher and tougher and it gets ruthless unfortunately. If a child is really bad in a sport and struggle it is not fun regardless of how you teach or tell the child. Is it fun to strikeout all the time, is it fun to let in the winning goals all the time, is it fun to miss a shot all the time or the slowest on the team fun, their are so many things to do for our children, from the arts, music, dancing, sports is really tough and very competitive regardless if you do rec or comp or travel, it is very tough, they quit because they didn't have the passion and wasn't fun to be bad, why do we need to create conditions to be average or below??? I am all with having fun, but there also must be coaching, teaching, mentoring, building long relationships with your teammates. It is apart of life to win and to win at all costs sorry to say, but that is life and reality. Everyone wants to win and be the best regardless if you are 4 years old or 18.

[@irongutsspeedshop3334]

The crazy cohen Family my parents forced me to play sports. I hated them, and i sucked badly... well, I am in fact great at other sports such as cycling... and motor sports! And math competitions... I can do extreme endurance events with stride.. but they forced me to play ball sports which I never scored a goal or a point.

[@20n30somethings]

As long as you’re doing it too!❤

[@AM-nl9hg]

Love this message and follow it. My only question… concern is when the kids play against other players or teams and loss, terribly. I coach 3rd grade and in our league, some teams loss 40-5, 35-1 etc.. it’s very hard to have fun and enjoy the game when you’re on the other end of something like that.

[@lindseykelderman7718]

I agree with you about how it is not fun for kids, or anyone, in that matter, to lose by an extremely large amount. When this happens, the environment of the sport tends to become unhealthy, and the kids don’t want to play because they aren’t having fun. My suggestion would be for the team who is losing by a lot to find a new league that matches more to their skill sets. This will allow the kids on that team to still participate in their sport, but they will be able to compete and have a good, competitive, and fun environment instead of having a losing, and a hate-filled environment. Another possibility would be for the team who is winning a lot to leave the league and join a league that is more competitive and matches their skill sets. This could mean that team signs up to play against older and more experienced kids. Overall, by having one of these teams leave, it will eliminate kids quitting sports due to not having fun and getting beat. Sports are a fundamental and vital part of every childhood and as a society we need to make sure we are taking the correct steps to keep it a healthy yet competitive environment for kids.

[@AM-nl9hg]

@@lindseykelderman7718 I appreciate the reply and agree. It's school ball so there is no opportunity to move leagues... it's based on districts. When a team is up by 30+ the scoreboard is turned off but that's about it. Again, agree with healthy, fun and competitive environments.

[@kalebbaker2023]

This guy rode the pine

[@charlieancich6967]

With that stutter for sure

[@PROMAXOIMACEDONIA]

Yeah and what about us the people that we have dedicated our lives to become Olympian’s or to create olympians to represent their countries ?i understand your point that’s for sure but I also grew up in an competitive and serious sports environment. I’m healthy ,I believe successful and very loving and caring. I stayed in sports as an athlete for 25 years and as a coach so far 13 years and even when I was overwhelmed I was trying to find by my self the solutions and that made me a strong and independent person since the age of 12 that I moved alone in the Olympic training center without my parents . I had 500 team mates from different sports in there all of us feeling the same way about it one sport was our thing and it was making us happy it was giving us joy and meaning to live and try to become the best athletes in the world .the joy was coming from the company ,the everyday eating together ,the once in a week movie night with the National team or even playing guitar and sing all together after 7 hours of practice in the same sport all year round for 8 years non stop all preparing for the next worlds or Olympics or international meets. We became stronger people ,we became self motivated ,we learned how to earn what we want and get what we deserve to have .....I see my athletes now and they have everything in the plate ,things that for us to have we had to earn them ....I’m sorry brother but I do care about kids loving sports and live their life healthy through it but I am also somebody who lived a healthy and tough but happy life through one sport and I still love it big time . Yes not everybody is made for the Olympics or to be in the top of the world .....but let me tell you that ,not everybody is not made for that too.... Love your elementary school approach but there are people out there,kids like me,and we are many .....that we were or are 4 or 5 years old and she. We watch the great athletes our dna says I can beat them one day,I can be one of them the way that your dna says I want to be an elementary school teacher ,and that makes me really happy for you but also what I was born to do as well as the kids like me were born to do is not what u describe .with all the respect ,u should touch that subject too cause I really wanna hear your thoughts God bless

[@jordanfoley7835]

Not everyone is Olympic materialmaterial, not everyone keeps up with their sport and hobby when they finish school. There are a lot of factors.

[@gabbysingh624]

Your written English needs improving. Very difficult to follow your points.

[@Hernandez2192]

Exactly.. cookie cut logic isn’t how it works… I took the good and disregarded the bad.. overuse injuries are a sign of poor coaching and poor body maintenance.. To keep kids i the game .. I personally believe that they should get good at the sport… they fall away when they can’t compete.. The game is fun.. realizing your aren’t as good as your competitors isn’t..

[@mr.berlingo8211]

I never "understood" sport, neither of my parents (nor any close relatives really) were sporty. If schools are to take sport seriously they need to inspire unsporty kids by taking them to some events and establishing an enjoyment in achieving basic skills.

[@richardblazer8070]

Isn’t that what gym, outdoor days, peers, and parents are for?

[@kallen5623]

Well said

[@mishasumi6827]

I love Tedx talks. It is a place where people with no credentials and accomplishments can find a forum and speak about any topic as if they have credibility.

[@scottytpancakes8553]

There's no long term correlation between youth sports and success in life.

[@sinistavoicez]

Thanks for explaining why I despise my Sun's approach to athletic activity.

[@jerimeemoses7664]

There is no blanket answer for everyone. There are elite kids that can, want to and should spend there time on one sport. There are kids that love multiple sports. There are some that want to try many sports. There are some who could care less and are just there to play. And then there are some that really care about getting better and learning how to be the best. You're only speaking on one portion of the sports. Obviously you weren't the best player growing up which is okay. But because of that you shouldn't generalize that ALL kids should look at sports a certain way.

[@singularitynow93]

If you want kids to stay in sports, kill video games and social media. That simple. The quick endorphin rush from screens will surely beat out the hard-earned satisfaction gained from athletics. In any sport, there is down time. There is waiting. There is moving off the ball. All BORING compared to video games and screens. This is why U.S. surfing has fallen away from top tier dominance. Kids don't want to sit around in a lineup and wait for waves that may get snaked by other bigger surfers. Why do that when Grand Theft Auto can simply be turned on and rocked effortlessly. It is why the USMT can't qualify for the WC. If you want your kids to play sports, do them a favor, ban the screens, folks. BAN THEM. Tell them, go outside and play.

[@vincecairo]

I feel you.... But esport are also considered sport..... Some parents are just happy that their kid is just doing something....... If u have 2 league's this problem can be fixed al the super sayan kids can play together and all the mmmm'm.... Less sport oriented kids can play together......

[@alexandersams7796]

He doesn't specify age of youth. Ten year olds are different than high schoolers.

[@megansampson5445]

Youth in my opinion is like 12 and under... that is a great time for focusing on multisports, sampling new skills, and just having fun. I think by 13, that is a good time a child starts developing an idea of whether they themselves want to specialize in one or two sports because they love it not because it is expected or forced upon them by a parent. By that time public schools are also offering clubs in things like track, hockey, swimming, basketball. It would be pretty difficult for a student to focus on a bunch of clubs. But by that time they will have at least appreciated a love of all sports and have a better idea of which one they want to pursue??? just my idea??

[@jbullm]

we need to teach our kids in a new way, they dont need to be specialist at early ages, they need to learn a lot of sport skills, as many as possible, and that only can be reached in the practice of multiple disciplines

[@winstonjen5360]

Or you could stop forcing your kids to learn sport and get them to learn something useful. Something like algebra.

[@joek5078]

@@winstonjen5360 Hopefully, the kid isn't being "forced", but enjoys the sport. There are studies that show that kids who play sports are better students and ultimately more successful later in life. There are a lot of really valuable life lessons from sports, not to mention the mental and health benefits.

[@winstonjen5360]

@@joek5078 That’s nice. But it’s basically impossible to be an Olympic athlete and win a Nobel prize for math.

[@jjgems5909]

@@winstonjen5360 or they can learn both because both can be beneficial.

[@winstonjen5360]

They won't have time to do both. There's only been one person who's won both a Nobel prize and an Olympic medal.

[@Rozenxz]

I feel like there was a lot of good info here but for some reason I found it hard to retain all that knowledge. Also why does he look like he is about to cry.

[@Shatder]

Bro Really made a meme "WhEn Is YeLlInG nEsCaRy"

[@dametal-man6613]

Bench this guy.

[@ryanwetzler4524]

How many of your kids were/are elite level athletes?There are no elite level gymnast who do multisports, none.

[@alexcasciani26]

Don't know about gymnasts, but how about Lebron james, russell wilson, patrick mahomes , bo jackson, jim brown to name a few. I think it's a little unfair to say that elite level athletes don't do multisports

[@jeppep95]

the point of sports shouldn't be to make elite level athletes

[@hishamnilai5878]

elementary school approach that creates mediocre sportman. A dozen of Gold Medallist in Olympic Tokyo 2020 are below 14 years old. Michael Phelps train everyday since child.

[@cruelsun9243]

Of course, kids can get injured. They can get injured just running around in the house, or.....praying around outside. When you put a child in a sport (sports are expensive these days), and after tje child says 'I love bball or soccer' for example, but they admit they'd rather play video games than train for 30 minutes at home? I have a problem with it. For me ita not about winning, it's about personal progress. Why do you want to play? How good do you want to be. Why are you mad after a loss? Do you think you gave it your all? If you don't practice and study that sport, this is the result, so what are you going to do now? After all that you see frowns and poopy pants look. Who is it on then?

[@killerpawn80]

This guy sounds like he wants to cry! Needs to speak with more confidence when you're trying to get your point across.

[@vincecairo]

We don't know what he done before let's focus on he's vision on this topic.... Witch is very interesting....

[@toppermoore1925]

where are this guys nuts

[@JP-mp2vj]

WTF??????

[@answrtomeb8076]

U wont reach elite level Unless its year round , or unless ur really talented

[@ogjoec]

Best players in all sports play multiple sports. So no, not quite

[@dusty8954]

I hate sports

[@juanitavanderaa7384]

Kid's don't play sports because the computer games and cellphones, tablets find that more entertaining...So coaches won't be necessary anymore because Kid's find computer games have captivated this new generation of kids....and then those that do at the games the Parents take it more personal and start arguing with other parents in the Kid's games and then fear to see their parents getting into an altercation because they lost the game or a slower kid that made them lose the game..so Kid's woukd rather not play sports because of the parents and the pressure...sports is not fun anymore for them.

[@amalmiju2317]

ted audience came a long way from not laughing at any joke to laughing at any minor idiotic gesture

[@laurencearena3332]

not that useful

[@twelveoneprojects2249]

This is soft.