MINIMIZING DROPOUT RATES IN YOUTH SPORTS

The purpose of this paper is to express my views on ways of lowering dropout rates among participants in youth sports. I would take a multi-pronged approach that would involve the following three areas: coaching education, parent education, competitive infrastructure.
Coach Education:
According to Pugh, DeFrancesco, Gilley, and Heitman (2000) the reasons that motivate elite baseball players to participate are to have fun, challenge their abilities, and have social interaction with their peers. The first two items on this list are directly influenced by the coach of the team. If the coach is knowledgeable of ways of making teaching activities fun and productive for players, it logically follows that the players will be more apt to remain engaged in the learning process. If the coach is knowledgeable of how players learn skill development, he will employ these methodologies and the players will have a greater chance to succeed. Many sport specific national governing bodies have a well structured coaching education program. Many state soccer associations, for example, require coaches to attend coaching educational forums and licensing programs to ensure that player development improves and that coaches are better equipped to play their part in the process.
Many youth coaches in the United States are parental volunteers that are donating their time to ensure that their children have a positive experience while playing. Of these volunteers, most are improperly equipped for the task before them. Usually they are unaware of and uneducated in the coaching methodologies or philosophies that have been proven to be effective in developing youth players. Requiring them to attend coaching courses exposes them to what they will need to know, and thus improves the overall experience of the players.
Under the direction of a knowledgeable coach who understands the technical, tactical, physical and psychological needs of the players, players are more apt to stay involved in the sport because they are developing as athletes and enjoying the process. Players that are able to meet the demands of the game find it to be more fulfilling and enjoyable. They feel that they are having a greater impact on the outcome of the game due to their own skill and expertise. Again, it is the coach who has the greatest impact on how the player develops in all areas, which effects the level of each player’s satisfaction and therefore their likelihood of staying involved in the sport.
The knowledgeable coach is also able to keep the goals of the team developmentally appropriate. He understands the place that competition and skill development have in relation to the needs of the players. Thus, the players are not burdened by inappropriate pressure to win.
Parent Education:
Similarly, parents need to be educated. Again, according to Pugh, DeFrancesco, Gilley, and Heitman (2000), educating parents on appropriate behaviors related to sport performance is a critical aspect in the development of the youth athlete. A casual observation of parent player interaction in youth sports will lead the honest observer to recognize that there is a large amount of “coaching from the sidelines” that goes on during youth games. This cacophony of information often disrupts the thoughts and enjoyment of the player. Performance thus declines, leading to more frustration and less enjoyment for the players. The abuse that is directed towards opposing players and referees by parents, is not only as another distraction for the player, but it serves as a poor role model for the youngster.
If the parents are educated on the specifics of how these behaviors impact the player, they are more apt to refrain from the negativity, and let their children just enjoy the participation. This, in turn, leads to greater retention of the player in the sport.
 
Competitive infrastructure:
To improve dropout rates, I would protect the infrastructure of the playing/training environment. Administrators, coaches, and parents need to focus on maintaining a “player development” model when making decisions that will impact each child’s participation. Too often, decisions for the team or player are made based on the adults’ convenience and desires rather than what is best for the players’ development. The following items all have a direct impact on player development and thus enjoyment and retention. : training / game ratios, the number of games that are played in a year, the number of tournaments that are played a year, starting times for games / practices, being allowed to “play up a year” to obtain appropriate competition, roster size, and using modified rules for the younger ages. The players’ environment needs to be appropriate to their ability level, both physically and cognitively. If there is a mismatch, the players will not benefit as much as they can from that environment. We need to give each player the optimal chance to learn and progress. Anything else will negatively impact their willingness and ability to maintain participation.
Summary:
In summary, I would take a three pronged approach to increasing player retention. It would involve coach education, parent education, and infrastructure. All three of these items interact and have a synergistic effect on the player’s enthusiasm for participation. The efforts in each area put the players’ developmental needs first and foremost. This is a healthy approach to the problem.