Youth Development in Sports and Recreation - Article Example

Youth Development in Sports and Recreation Abstract This paper is based on youth development and more specifically on leading a team/group. The main aim is to provide a way in which a leader can promote youth development through games and recreation. The task involves creating a journal that focuses on key aspects in the development of young people through sports and recreation. The paper provides the reader with tips for leading a group before beginning a game, in front of the group, and during the game activity. A major consideration in this case is youth development through physical, education, and recreation in which the Youth Development Contextual Foundation is brought in. This provides support, opportunities, and programs that facilitate youth development. The other points addressed include keys to quality youth development, some background information regarding the contribution of Jean Piaget as a key player in youth development, Gothia Cup youth soccer experience, and developing talents and dreams in kinds. The paper also provides things one need to do as a leader of a group as well as aspects of a responsible sport program. 1.0 Introduction to Youth Development Generally, youth development is an important practice in the society. Young people need to be motivated to act in the right way and make their live better. Essentially, youth development is done in through three major ways. These include physical development, development through education, and recreation. The Youth Development Foundation is mainly meant to provide opportunities, support, and programs that instill development among young people. A number of principles need to be applied in youth development. One of the principles is to appreciate that young individuals are assets in the society but not problems requiring fixing. It is also important to move beyond “deficit-based models” into models focusing on developing youth capabilities. As a leader, it is good to base the provision of support opportunities, and programs on a vision of a fully functioning as well as capable adult. Again, one should move beyond thinking in terms of “either/or.” Other principles include focusing on developing a wide range of knowledge, skills, and behaviors, involving adults from the family and community in fostering development, supporting the youth in being essential players in their own development, and designing youth supports, opportunities, and programs deliberately. These principles are initiated alongside bringing programs to scale and sustaining supports and opportunities over time. Moreover, it is always important to utilize the features of a positive recreational setting. Some of the features include physical and psychological safety, Supportive relationships, appropriate structure that involve rules and expectations, Opportunities, opportunities for skill building, and integration of family, school, as well as community efforts. The main idea in this case is to make the youth a priority in development. 2.0 Tips for leading Your Group 2.1 Before beginning the Game Before the start of the game, a leader needs to have adequate knowledge of the game by having played or seen it. This would make the leader realize and make decision on the game rules before speaking to the group. To accommodate the group, there need to be some game variations in mind. Time is an important factor and there is the need to assemble all critical equipment before starting the game. To visualize the entire program, planning for the group member is an important idea, which should incorporate reviews from the team member in whereby any questions are clarified. 2.2 In front of the game As the leader of the team, one needs to be always in the front of the team. The leader needs to always initiate new ideas by getting the attention of the group. This could happen before any formal speaking. As the group leader, it is always good to give directions and understand the best position when addressing the group. Again, generating some interest on the game activity is the key idea to a winning team. A demonstration as well as encouragement in any way possible would be a great idea. By this time, each team play has a clear idea of the game and every member has a motive for choosing to be a soccer player. This aspect implies that issues of safety should be always prioritized (Smith, 2014). 2.3 During the Actual Activity In any physical game, accidents are prone to occur and thus safety has to be a major consideration. A key obligation as the group leader is to make the necessary adjustments and lead the team in both practice and all the workout sessions (Smith, 2014). The group leader has to lead by example such as showing interest and dedication to the task. Communicating with the players throughout the game task is very essential. The leader need to be attentive and constantly speaking out any faults noticed about the team players. The leader needs to observe forthcoming punishments during the game and act accordingly even if it means seeking for a substitute. The team leader may not be the best player, but he/she should be able to handle the group. Besides, he/she should be a good listener to the group members and act accordingly if need be. In any case, the team members have to understand that their efforts are valued by their leader. At any given time, the leader should understand that the group members are youth and have a quest for youth development. The leader should thus instill the key aspects to quality youth development at any cost. Smith asserts that, “There is no magic formula or short cut to successful player development.” He goes on to point out that “coaching at youth levels is all about working with players to improve performance, not about recruiting players to build teams and win championships.” 3.0 Keys to Quality Youth Development Youth development can be achieved in various ways. Such ways could include hands-on activities, appropriate adult mentors, as well as community service. Games have been a major way of steering development among the youth. Smith (2014) points out a number of a number of considerations for youth development with respect to the US soccer. These include “Availability of Appropriate Facilities Coaching Philosophy; performance, before outcome U6-14, Utilization of Small-sided games (i.e. Spain), Qualified Coaching with ongoing Education, Individual, Team, & Club development, and Comprehensive Age-Appropriate Curriculum” (Smith, 2014). Typically, games facilitate youth interaction and it generates understanding among the players. Promoting a positive youth development and planning quality experiences among young people is challenging without the depiction of good leadership. Soccer is one of the most popular games in the world with every young person having gone through the game experience or watched the game being played. The key to this game is to nurture young talents and promote sports philosophy (Smith, 2014). Games usually enhance socializing, which is a key aspect in promoting youth development. Again, young people learn how to follow simple rules and instructions. This practice could make them develop future skills of respecting laws and regulations in the real world. Besides, the game could develop into a fulltime career in which case the youth could develop into economically stable individuals in the society. From this perspective, the young people in the soccer team would develop a feeling of being safe both physically and emotionally. Most youth would have the feeling of belonging and ownership thereby developing a strong self-worth. Through the nurtured talents, they would have discovered their strengths and develop quality relationships with their peers and adults. They would be more open to their problems and develop strong values that could make them feel proud and accountable. The ultimate achievement is the expansion of the capacity to enjoy his or her life and understand that anyone can achieve success with effective planning (Smith, 2014). 4.0 Background Information Jean Piaget (1896 - 1980) Jean Piaget was one of the key people who enhanced youth development in the society. He has worked on behaviors in living organisms and developed biological explanation of such behaviors. He tackled something about youth development in sports and recreation. In this case, he developed four human development domains, which include effective domain, cognitive domain, motor domain, and physical domain. The effective domain is attributed to social and emotional development while the cognitive and motor domains are attributed to intellectual and movement developments. Physical development on the other hand is based on growth as depicted by strength, stamina, and flexibility among other aspects. In essence, findings by Piaget emphasize on intelligence and behavior in that they result from a combination of biological processes, evolution, environmental simulation, and chance. 5.0 Gothia Cup Youth Soccer Experience The Gothia Cup Youth Experience significantly promotes youth development. Taking part in the cup means that the young participants gain adequate opportunities to the enjoyment of some great experiences in new places. Such tournaments enhance social interaction with people of various cultural backgrounds. The game starts with an opening ceremony, which is itself very entertaining and unforgettable. Besides, being the world’s best tournament makes the participation significant in the lives of the participants. Interaction with over a thousand teams from about 75 nations enhances international relations. 6.0 It is all about the kids! Involving kids in games is very vital to the development of their talents. Children usually have dreams, which need to be achieved. Achieving such dreams is only through support from leaders. Some kids are so smart that they can do whatever is done by adults in a better way. This aspect has been seen in a kid who could perfectly act the moves of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” In yet a different occasion, a five-year-old kid with leukemia has been supported by the US president to achieve his dream of becoming Batkid. Miles Scott has always wanted to be a superhero, but his health complexion as a cancer patient seemed to deter his dreams. This happens to one of the many occasions in which kids could gain adequate support from leaders and able adults to achieve their dreams. At least this kid would feel important and loved despite his health problem. 7.0 Things to do As the team leaders, a coach should consider options in the case of complex situations. The DeKalb, I11, High School basketball team should not have happened. Travelling for long hours and then playing the game immediately is exhausting and it could make the team lose the game. An option could be to avoid travelling during the same game day, but rather travelling early enough to allow resting and perhaps some practice before the game starts. It is also good to gauge the strength of the opposing team and working hard to win the game. Besides, unfortunate happenings should be dealt with effectively not to interfere with the team performance. It is always good to have confidence just like Womack said, “We maybe don't have the best basketball players in the world, but they go to class and take care of business.” 8.0 Responsible sport program Leaders, associations, and parents should take responsibility for their children’s development especially through sports. Programs that support these responsible individuals are vital for youth development in general. Coaches in particular should be responsible by understanding how best to deal with the young players. Taking ideas from the children’s parents could provide the coach with insights about the players from an individual perspective. To be considered responsible, the coach needs to be strict. He/she should not be soft or a source of empty and unearned praises. He/she should not entertain making fun by anyone. As a coach, one needs to be difficult, challenging, and ready to win at all cost. The coach should focus on ensuring the safety of players, promoting education as well as character development, coaching on the game mastery, having emotions towards the game and encouraging the players to love the game, and more importantly, living and coaching by honoring the game. Reference Smith, M. (2014). US Youth Soccer Player Development Model. 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