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Why Kids Quit Playing

June 15, 2005

Though sports like football see tremendous growth each year, kids all across America are quitting sports more than ever before.

Though sports like football see tremendous growth each year, kids all across America are quitting sports more than ever before.

Though sports like football see tremendous growth each year, kids all across America are quitting sports more than ever before.

Here are the reasons:

BOYS:

  1. I was no longer interested.

  2. It was no longer fun.

  3. The sport took too much time.

  4. The coach played favorites.

  5. The coach was a poor teacher.

  6. I was tired of playing.

  7. There was too much emphasis on winning.

  8. I wanted to participate in other non-sport activities.

  9. I needed more time to study.

  10. There was too much pressure.

GIRLS:

  1. I was no longer interested.

  2. It was no longer fun.

  3. I needed more time to study.

  4. There was too much pressure.

  5. The coach was a poor teacher.

  6. I wanted to participate in other non-sport activities.

  7. The sport took too much time.

  8. The coach played favorites.

  9. I was tired of playing.

  10. Games and practices were scheduled when I could not attend.

Source: Overview of Youth Sports Programs in the United States; Institute for the Study of Youth Sports; Michigan State University.

This article was reprinted with permission by the National Alliance For Youth Sports. More information can be obtained through their educational on-line program, which is available at https://www.paysonline.org/.

Your participation and membership helps support youth sport parent education nationwide, which further benefits our mission to keep youth sports safe and fun for children.