Why Johnny Hates Sports: Why Organized Youth Sports Are Failing Our Children
Engh, a longtime activist in youth sports, argues that children should be allowed to have fun and learn the fundamentals of the game without the pressures of overzealous parents, coaches, and administrators looking to mold the next Ken Griffey or Kobe Bryant. He calls for a return to fair play, teamwork, and enjoyment, a novel idea in these days of pushing children to achievements beyond their years. The author offers examples of how pressuring children, whether intentional or not, can prove disastrous on the field. Perhaps worse is the loss of sports as a healthy outlet to kids who are turned off by bad experiences at an early age.Johnnyis full of anecdotes about oblivious coaches more interested in winning than protecting the youngster's fragile body and ego and parents living vicariously through their progeny. Every parent who has a child involved in youth sports, or who is thinking about it, should read Engh's book as a reminder that the phrase is "play ball."Ron Kaplan--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.