Leagues about kids

I have noticed that the morale of recreational players who have participated in local Pee Wee League basketball has waned in a major way. The decline in enrollment for youth sports across the board has been consistent over the last few years. And it’s sad.

There are many factors that could be attributed to their sudden disdain for Central Arkansas Pee Wee Ball. For example, practices such as using volunteer coaches who stress winning over development, allowing some coaches to refrain from coaching lesser-skilled players, and encouraging AAU-level teams to compete intact and therefore dominate beginner teams.

What message is this sending to the kids who are playing in what is supposed to be a recreational league? Why are coaches and parents who consistently verbally and physically attack officials being allowed to remain but any volunteer coach who dares to question these unfair practices is shown the door? At this level, recreational sports should be exactly that—for skill-building and fun.

Many of the successful Pee Wee leagues in the Central Arkansas area (Greenbrier, Cabot, St. Joseph,

to name a few) do not allow teams to remain intact and dominate year after year. They hold drafts before each season to ensure a sense of fairness and integrity for all.

When these program directors realize that these leagues are about the children and not about their egos, perhaps you will see more participation. Until then, don’t count on it.

Don’t get me wrong; some of these problems will always be prevalent in recreational leagues because of the “win at all costs” mentality that has become so popular in today’s society. But if parents would stop supporting programs that refuse to hold themselves to higher standards, it would hit them in the wallet where it hurts.

Our kids deserve better.

MARK CAUL Conway