Its mission is to reintroduce respect for the game and to redefine what it means to win, says Syer. Many parents harbor hopes that their child's athletic prowess will produce college scholarships, Syer says, so the stakes are high. In addition to her work with the PCA, Syer plays field hockey, coaches an elite field hockey team, and is the regional coaching director for field hockey for the U.S. Olympics development program in the Western states. Her experience has convinced her that the culture of youth sports needs some hard lessons in plain old-fashioned courtesy and good sportsmanship. They think it's fine to stand there and scream at the official, where if you saw the guy in the parking lot, you'd never think of yelling at him.
Parents reflect their values in the way they talk to their kids about sports.
They forget to ask if the child had fun, or if the team worked well together. Winning is almost beside the point, says Syer. Learning, making mistakes and being part of a team are what really matters. Your mother was right, after all. A teacher and a journalist, Dianne Lynch is the author of Virtual Ethics.