I was never a big reader of SI, but I just might have to start. Especially when it comes to reading some of the back issues. I found some online references to articles that were written by Rick Reilly on youth sports. The articles remain timeless, informative and introspective on the world of youth sports and on how both the kids and their parents deal with and view sports.
Back in 2000, Rick wrote an
article about how parents in Jupiter, Florida had to attend a gathering, view a video and sportsmanship and then agree to a code of conduct, all so that their child could play sports in the Jupiter association. This was a brilliant notion and it has grown in leaps and bounds over the last several years as many other programs for a variety of sports have emerged. Yet still there are several programs out there that do not do this and need to. We still see parental "craziness" far too often. Go to
www.youtube.com, or any news channel website and you'll find loads of stories about parents taking youth sports far too seriously and causing some real trouble.
Read the article at
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/magazine/life_of_reilly/news/2000/02/22/life_of_reilly/, it is worth the time.
