By: Darrin Lowe

Important facts on Youth Sports

69% of girls and 75% of boys in the US participate in organized team sports

30-45 million kids ages 6-18 participate in one school or community based
program

70% of children drop out of organized sports by age 13 (middle/high transition)

150 out of 1 million high school football players make it to the NFL

2 out of every 10,000 basketball players make it to the NBA

Sources:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/373329-how-many-youth-participate-in-sports-
in-the-u-s/

http://freedom.mysdhc.org/guidance/information/From%20High%20School%20to%2
0Pro%20Statistics.pdf


Varsity Model: Exclusion
As children grow older, the spots for competitive teams
get smaller.

Provides the most elite players, but most students are
excluded from participation

Most prevalent in the United States

Number of
Spots on Team
Age
Elementary
College
Middle
High
Professional
Advantages for the Varsity
Model
Competition
It gives the coaches the best team to work
with
Shows how professional sports work
Causes the player to want to work harder to
achieve that goal
There are alternatives to varsity sports:
intramural sports and rec leagues.

Why is this good?
How College and Professional sports work
- Only take the best players
- Only the people who are 100% serious and
committed will have a fighting chance
- Limited spots early on show that you have to
be more competitive to get spots on the team.
After being cut, the student will want to work
harder to achieve a goal
- Teaches students how to be more competitive
- The opposite effect occurs more often

Disadvantages for the Varsity
Model
Creates an elitist group
Destroys teen self-esteem
Puts too much emphasis on winning
Causes teens to specialize in a sport
and a position too early on in their lives

Impact of Exclusion on Teens
Teens self esteem is developing the
most at this stage
Deemed not good enough to the
standards of the high school.
- Does this mean they cant try again
next year?

"I think that not making the Varsity
team drove me to really work at my
game, and also taught me that if you
set goals, and work hard to achieve
themthe hard work can pay off."


Inclusionary System in Europe
Allows for adolescences to continue participation
in a sport in a widely accepted club program.
Sports clubs are run by the community and not
the school
Club sport: The more people they have the more
teams they can have.
Skill level: A,B,C, and D teams

Inclusionary System in New
Zealand

Mainly the same as Europe for club programs
More opportunity in high school
- Many more sports are offered than in the US
- 70-80% of students would be participating
in a high school sport
- No player is cut from the team

Reference Page
http://www.livestrong.com/article/351762-statistics-on-kids-
involved-in-sports/
http://www.theamateurathlete.net/post/44166227024/an-
improved-youth-sports-system-for-north-america
Introduction to Physical Education, Fitness and Sport book