From the Sports Desk

with Carey Phillips: 07/26/01

A national pilot program being implemented by the Jackson County Recreation and Parks Department is aimed at stemming that behavior on the local level.

Actually, it's leadership already provided by the Rec Department that resulted in the local agency being selected for the Youth Sport Parent Education Program, which is funded by the National Football League and the National Recreation and Parks Association.

The program is being developed by N.C. State University. It will also be tested in Raleigh, Burlington, New Bern, Wake Forest, Edenton and Cumberland County as well as sites in Virginia, Maryland and Missouri.

Jeff Carpenter, director of the local Rec Department, said his agency has worked hard for 15-17 years to have a youth sports education program. He was the first certified youth sports instructor in the state.

"The National Recreation and Parks Association has worked hard to implement a national parent education program due to some things that have happened in youth sports," he said.

National and state organizations familiar with that work led to the Jackson County Rec Department being chosen for the pilot program.

"We're very excited to be part of a national effort," Carpenter said.

Michael Hopkins, youth athletic coordinator for the Rec Department, attended a recent seminar in Raleigh to learn about the program. He said the emphasis will be on parents who are new to the Rec Department programs with children ages 5-6. The program will be implemented here in the youth soccer program. Details have yet to be worked out.

The seminar was attended by several professional athletes. Carpenter said the support of the NFL should help make the program a success while also helping football from the youth level up. "We want to develop self-esteem and confidence," Carpenter said. "We want everyone who comes through our program to have a great experience."

Carpenter said after the Rec Department implements the program it could be expanded to other local organizations such as Jackson County Youth Sports and Jackson County Little League. Some elements of the program are likely to already be in place by the Rec Department. For instance, parents are required to sign a code of conduct.

Some of the problems the program is designed to avoid would be between parents and umpires, coaches and umps and coaches and other coaches. Carpenter said one of the saddest things he has seen is parents berating their own children. That will also be emphasized in the program. "One of the best things is to go out and have a Coke and let the child talk about it when he's ready," Carpenter said.

His philosophy of youth sports is to build a strong base of participants. As they get older, those who want to advance to the next level will put in the time and effort needed to improve. Occasionally, that rare elite athlete will emerge.

"Competition can be bad or good," Carpenter said. "It's a gauge."

Research shows that the vast majority of children who participate in sports drop out by age 13, a fact that Michael Kanters, director of the Youth Sport Parent Education Program, believes has much to do with their parents' attitude towards the activity.

"Clearly the actions of many parents indicate a growing problem," Kanters said. "A parent education program has the potential to both minimize the negative impact of inappropriate parent involvement and teach parents how to help their children get the most out of their sport experience.

Kanters notes that while a positive youth athletic experience can improve children's self-esteem, perceptions of their physical abilities, interpersonal skills, stress-coping skills and attitudes towards physical activity, a negative one can do just the opposite.

"The NFL's involvement in this program supports their vision of establishing a collaborative approach to improving youth sports at the grass level," Kanters said. "A positive youth experience will ultimately impact a child's decision to stay involved in sports."

Back to Sports: 07/26/01.