Years later, when his two nephews came to him dejected over not being allowed to play with a group of older boys, Stotz had a flashback to that day in right field. He excitedly began describing his idea to the boys. They asked Uncle Carl if he thought people would actually come watch them play, and whether there would be a band, like the Williamsport Grays had at their games. From that grand and innocent notion, we have come down to the tennis dads and swimming moms who become so involved in their children's athletic lives that they take the fun out of youth sports. There are many ways that adults do this.
Parents push their kids to ever greater heights without considering what is best for the child.
In its most extreme form, children may be forced to train or play when injured. Many children, hungry for love and approval, go along with the program. Ryan's father, Bill Jaroncyk, a former University of Southern California defensive back, started his son playing baseball at age 5, and encouraged him to keep playing even when Ryan protested that baseball didn't have enough action for him. Ryan tried to quit baseball as a high school junior, but his parents wanted him to continue. One way is to ask them.