Positive Coaching Alliance Connector

Thanks for all the great questions and answers that continue to pour into "Ask PCA." You are helping thousands of coaches and sports parents help many more thousands of youth and high school athletes.

Here is this week's question, followed by a link that lets you comment on the "Ask PCA" blog, and beneath that, PCA's answer to last week's question:

"After my daughter's basketball team (12U) played in the Nationals, several families pulled their daughters from the club because coaches were extremely harsh and loud when they fell behind in a game and then they upped the cost, saying they were now the "Elite Club" in the area. My daughter is now with a club that isn't as competitive, but whose coaching staff embraces PCA and believes in skill development more than win/loss stats. The problem: our daughter wants to return to her old team. She says she didn't mind getting yelled at and she misses her friends. The old club wants her back and says they would waive her player fees. Should we let her return or encourage her to give her new team more time?"

-- Anonymous

Click here to answer this question on the "Ask PCA" blog.

Following is last week's "Ask PCA" question and PCA's response:

"Is it normal, productive, healthy or wise to have a 6th grade boy's basketball team review their game film? Our coach seems to think so. We already practice twice a week and have a game on Sundays so this would essentially be a 4th weekly team event. The nature of the team is travel so they are playing in a 'competitive' environment."

PCA response by Eric Eisendrath, Lead Trainer-New York

There is nothing wrong with occasionally watching film in order to show
the kids some pointers (plus kids like watching themselves play), but at
this age it should focus on showing positive things players are doing.
As any of us who remember first seeing ourselves on video can attest, it
can be a bracing experience to have other people critique our performance on film.

Coaches should also set clear expectations for an Emotional Tank filling atmosphere in watching film. Players should be reminded before the session that they're watching film to get better and they should focus on filling each others' E-Tanks.

That said, given the fact that this team already practices twice and plays once per week, this fourth weekly team event seems a bit over the top. One of the biggest problems that plague youth sports, and travel teams in particular, is the notion that they are the "lowest division of the NBA!"

They aren't. They are 12 years old. Basketball is not their job. Having them involved four days a week runs the risk of burnout, which is happening far more frequently each year, along with a staggering rise in overuse injury, up 75% in the last 15 years. The environment being "competitive" does not necessitate an almost full week commitment at the age of 12!

So often, coaches who are overly focused on winning use a "competitive environment" to justify their loss of focus on more important aspects of youth sports, such as having fun and learning the game and life lessons. A "competitive environment" that neglects these more important values is adult driven -- not kid centered -- and likely will negatively impact your child's overall enjoyment, rather than delivering the "benefits" of extensive film study.

To read all responses to the previous "Ask PCA" question -- "Too Young to Watch Game Film?" -- click here.

Ask PCA your youth sports coaching and sports parenting questions, at AskPCA@positivecoach.org.