Main Line today | interview
Why Kids are Abandoning Organized Sports
Recently, CEO of Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer, Chris Branscome, was interviewed by Main Line Today about why children are abandoning organized sports and the issues causing this decline. “In almost every survey that’s done, the lead reference just about every time is that it’s not fun,” says Branscome. “Kids say they don’t like the yelling they hear or the pressure they get from parents and even coaches.”
One of the ways to help ease the pressure on youth soccer players was to standardize and adjust the tryout period. A tryout initiative was created so clubs would not host tryouts before May and the end of league play. It started with eight clubs, but there are now well over 70 clubs signed on. This allows for players and parents more time to pick a team rather than deciding in the winter or during league play, who they’d like to play for next year.
Also, in the interview, the U.S. Soccer grant was highlighted where Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer can provide more coaching education and training for coaches. These training courses can help coaches learn how to deal with aggressive parents on the sideline, creating a balanced schedule for the children and how to properly operate a club.
For the full interview, click the button below:
Main line today | Interview