I talked with yet another parent last week who, along with their spouse, was shocked by the behavior of parents during their son’s first experience with Little League baseball. There were parents coaching from the bleachers behind home plate. Parents and coaches putting way too much importance on winning and setting the expectations for what the kids were able to do—or should do—much too high.  

These parents, both former athletes, decided it wasn’t the kind of experience they wanted for their son and got out. I applaud their decision. It is not an easy thing to do when it appears everyone around you thinks differently.

But do they, really?

I was in a college business class the first time I heard about the 80-20 rule. Vilfredo Federico Damaos Pareto, an Italian philosopher and economist first formalized the concept when he observed that about 20% of the pea plants in his garden generated about 80% of the healthy pea pods. He made similar observations in business—20% of companies were responsible for 80% of production; 20% of the people owned 80% of the land.

His observations can be summarized as: 80% of results will come from just 20% of the action.

There are many ways to apply the 80-20 rule to sport, but when it comes to how our current youth sports system evolved, I suspect it was just 20% of youth sports coaches and parents who created what is now a $19 billion dollar industry, and they’ve been driving the youth sports team bus ever since. 

I wonder what would happen if fewer people got on that bus?

What would happen if a different 20% of parents of young kids scaled back on youth sports? What if they selected non-traveling sports experiences for their kids? Pushed back when recreational seasons overlap each other? Started their child’s sports sampling mid-elementary school instead of pre-school?

Like all businesses, the youth sports industrial complex is built on supply and demand. Over the last 20 years the supply of facilities, tournaments, and specialists helping kids become good athletes has increased dramatically.

I also learned in marketing classes that you can create demand by selling benefits. Or by creating fear of missing out (we didn’t call it FOMO back then.) The youth sports system has thrived because of both kinds of selling points:

• Kids need to be active; they’ll learn about teamwork.

• If you don’t start them now, they’ll be left behind later.

But consumers are also warned “caveat emptor” or “let the buyer beware.” It’s always good practice to evaluate the costs and benefits of our choices, whether we are buying an expensive product, a high-end restaurant experience, or enrolling our children early and often in sports.

Many parents question the youth sports system and feel they are trapped—you’re in or you’re out.

I wonder what would happen if those parents worked together to create a different youth sports culture. What if the parents and coaches of the youngest children said no to the current drawbacks and yes to what is good about sports?

Could our youth sports culture evolve into something better?

There are no guarantees, but we have already seen the power of what 20% can do.

There are credible, non-profit organizations working to improve youth sports—you’ll find some of them on my website. Parents, coaches, and community recreation centers can find many resources to guide and support them.

It’s something to think about, because not everyone wants to get off the bus, they want to get on a different one.

 READ MORE

How kids' sports became a $19B industry, by Rachael Vasquez, Wisconsin Public Radio, August 30, 2022.

The 80/20 Rule and How it Can Change Your Life, Kevin Kruse, contributor, Forbes, May 7, 2016.

Resources for Parents and Coaches at christinehawkinson.com

Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash