Joe Zamora Rhetoric 16 April 2002 The Rise of Violence in Youth Sports           Children's sports have become notorious for their excessive violence.  Not only does violence occur on the field with participants, but also off the field with parents. Some object to the abrasive mentality surrounding children's sports and opt for a less violent, friendlier repertoire, which places emphasis on the values of sportsmanship and good character rather than winning.  Others claim sports serve as a lesson in competition that will benefit the children throughout their adult years.  Despite the controversy, there is simply more violence involved in children's sports than there should be.           The fundamental goal of a child's participation in sports is to learn to work with a team to realize a common goal, achieve and maintain good health and have fun in the process. The Journal of American Fitness states it is important for a child to enjoy sports and take an interest in the maintenance of their health because if an individual is active while young, chronic diseases can be prevented in the future ("Child's" 30).  Also, The Journal of Clinical Pediatrics found participation in youth sports could result in higher scores throughout a child's school career ("Adolescents").  Parents often overlook these important benefits in favor of keeping score and driving their children to win.  This is apparent at just about any youth sports game where parents can be seen freely shouting scathing remarks to individuals on the field.           While it is important to emphasize sportsmanship in youth sports, it is possible to over protect the children.  Tamala Edwards wrote of school districts in Texas, Virginia, Maine, and Massachusetts, where dodge-ball has been outlawed because of its overly aggressive nature.  Critics of the game support the idea that it is nothing more than larger, stronger children overpowering the smaller children. The children in these districts, however, report that dodge-ball was fun, and will be missed.  The negligible amount of violence arising from the children during game play is inevitable and generally innocent; some sports should be allowed to remain as they are.  It is the violence from the parent spectators at children's sporting events that actually harms the children.  In a study conducted by Richard Lau, it was found a child's behavioral patterns are most directly affected by parental example (240).  The study suggests repeated viewings of parental violence may cause the child witness to act in a similar fashion as they mature (243).  This means as children watch parents insult the referee and argue with other parents over the validity of a play, they are learning how to function in society.  What these children are learning is how to solve problems with verbal and, perhaps, physical assault.  This is a lesson that ultimately benefits no one.           Not only can violent actions of parents at youth sporting events bring about sub par standards of behavior, they can also affect children in the classroom.  Research by Doris Entwisle stated that children generalize praise from their parents and allow it to raise their self-expectations in unrelated academic areas (257).  When a child feels a lack of positive evaluation from the howling audience at their sporting events, they can acquire a negative assumption of their abilities.  Studies showed perceived success in a specific area, such as sports, increases a child's potential to succeed in reading and language courses (262).  Also supporting this idea is research by Saundra Murray Nettles which stated a parent's evident lack of support during a child's performance could have a negative psychological affect on the child, including "self esteem issues and overall lower academic performance."            A common argument is the violence surrounding children's sports is an essential part of development and a lesson for life.  A writer for Sports Illustrated, Rick Reilly, said youth sports provide "one of the first opportunities in life to figure out [whether you are strong or weak] and how you're going to deal with it" (qtd. in Edwards).  The Canadian Center for Teaching Peace, however, states while it is true that sports can be a tool for teaching children what lies down the road, many coaches hinder this benefit by focusing too much on winning ("Sports").  By focusing more on the score than on the children themselves, coaches can actually increase the amount of violence that occurs on the field.  Researcher Jeffery E. Nash established that the mindset of the coaches during games can set the tone for violence on the field (229).  With terms such as "playing with authority" being thrown around during practice, children get the idea that winning is everything and violence is an acceptable means to an end (231).  Teaching coaches how to lead the children may be a way to limit the amount of violence that occurs during games.  Success should be measured by how well a child responds to the team environment, not by how many games are won.           One of the more alarming cases of violence at a children's sporting event is seen in the case of Thomas Junta.  According to William Nack, Junta was convicted of involuntary manslaughter after he killed coach Michael Costin in a bitter dispute (86).  A much larger man than Costin, Junta reportedly knocked Costin down, pinned him to the floor with a knee on his chest and began to beat his face (86). Junta then proceeded to bang Costin's head against the floor until it became disfigured and unidentifiable; both men's children witnessed the event (86). This epitomizes the need for the reduction of violence at youth sporting events.  "In my years as a hockey coach, I have never had a problem like the one that tragically took the life of Michael Costin," commented David Senninger.  Senninger, a hockey coach himself, went on to say few districts in the past have had to involve the police in matters of parental violence.  Many who are involved in youth sports have sadly adopted the assumption that such violence will not occur again.   The death of Costin should invoke a reality check in the minds of those who say the spectators of youth sports are not too violent.           While the case of Thomas Junta is the most recent, and perhaps most gruesome example of violence in youth sports, it is certainly not the first.  In a little league game in 1999, a man coaching his son's team repeatedly punched the manager of the opposing team and was convicted of felony assault (Nack 87). In 2000 one man was sentenced to thirty days in jail for assaulting a sixteen-year old referee, and another man faced punishment after he punched a fourteen-year old soccer player in the face (87). Also last year, police had to become involved in a riot which erupted at the end of a football game involving eleven to thirteen-year olds (88).  And lastly, a Pennsylvania policeman was convicted of corrupting a minor when he paid two dollars to a little league pitcher to hit a batter with a fastball (87).  The list goes on, and the violence and corruption continues to become more barbaric. The children themselves have responded to this trend of violence with unequivocal clarity.  A recent study by Michigan State University reported that "of the 20 million American kids who participate in organized sports, starting as early as age four, about 14 million will quit before the age of 13 . . . mostly because of adults [who] have turned the playing of games into a joyless and negative experience" (qtd. in Nack 88).           There are several practices that can be put into effect which would inhibit the further occurrence of violence in children's sports.  Swimming instructor, Melinda Shmitt, found after parents showed up at practices with stop-watches, yelling for the kids to swim harder, the only solution was to ban parents from the pool deck (94).  This is a great example of how to send a message to parents of participants that vulgar and violent behavior will not be allowed to take place at their child's event.  Charles Bucher wrote, in sporting events "violence [should] be abhorred, particularly because it interferes with proper play, detracts from excellent player performance, and is barbaric in nature" (221).  Strict penalties imposed on the players for participation in violent practices, such as the exchange of points, or a time out from the game, would be a great deterrent for those who might otherwise be tempted to become violent on the playing field.  Perhaps the most effective solution, however, would be a collective change in attitude among individuals involved in organized youth sports.  Bucher offered these words in regard to the demise of excess amounts of violence in children's sports:                     The real and best solution, however, to the problem of violence is a change in attitude                     on the part of all persons concerned.  The ideals of playing within the spirit as well as                     the letter of the rules, defeating one's opponent when at one's best, and having respect                     for the other player will, if subscribed to by professional and amateur players, coaches,                     spectators, sport entrepreneurs, and the public in general eradicate violence from the                     playing fields and sports arenas in the United States. (221) Indeed, if there is to be a reduction in the amount of violence surrounding children's sports, great change will have to be made, and priorities will have to be reexamined.            While there are pronounced benefits for children who participate in youth sports, the level of violence associated with them is appalling.  Both on and off the field, violence continues to become a mainstay of children's sports.  This is unacceptable and should be stopped before it is allowed to flourish.  Excessive violence in youth sports is harmful to children.  Knowing this, it is imperative that actions be taken to eliminate it. Sources Cited "Adolescents and Sports:  Risk or Benefit?" The Journal of Clinical Pediatrics 39 (2000):           161. Bucher, Charles A. Foundations of Physical Education and Sport.  St. Louis: Times Mirror/           Mosby, 1983. "Child's Play." The Journal of American Fitness 10.4 (1992): 30-34. Edwards, Tamala M.  "Scourge of the Playground." Time 21 May 2001: 68. Entwisle, Doris R.  "Raising Expectations Indirectly." Social Forces 57.1 (1978):  257-264. Lau, Richard R. "Development and Change of Young Adults' Preventive Health Beliefs and           Behavior:  Influence from Parents and Peers."  Journal of Health and Social Behavior           31.3 (1990):  240-259. Nack, William.  "Out of Control."  Sports Illustrated 24 July 2000: 86-96. Nash, David E. "Learning From the Pros:  Violence in Youth Hockey." Youth & Society 13.2           (1981): 229-244. Nettles, Saundra Murray.  "Understanding Resilience:  The Role of Social Resources."  The           Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk 5.5 (2000):  47. Senninger, David. "Commentary; Most Youth Sports Fans Don't Resort to Acts of Violence."           Los Angeles Times 26 Jan. 2002: 3. Sports:  When Winning is the Only Thing, Can Violence be Far Away? Canadian Center for           Teaching Peace. 10 Jan. 2002. 15 Mar. 2002 <http://www.peace.ca/sports.htm>.