Rethinking youth sports - cooperative games; includes related article on using the research - Research Update

Parks & Recreation, Dec, 1997 by Georgianna Ramsey, Bryan Rank

Cooperative games can be beneficial to the professionals that facilitate this type of play. For example, individuals working in settings where morale is low and threat of violence high -- mental hospitals, camps, highly competitive companies, certain schools or YMCAs -- could utilize cooperative games and activities. Cooperative games can help motivate and teach staff that aggressive behavior and winning is not always as important as believing in oneself and performing to the best of one's ability.

Conclusion

Aggressive behavior and violence in youth sports are of concern for the leisure professional. Through cooperative play, games, and activities, the introduction of competition can be balanced so that children understand that participation does not have to include winners and losers. Although the price of violence may be high, it does not have to be promoted through youth sports. A combination of cooperative and competitive games is a viable option that should be utilized whenever possible.

References

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Fluegelman, A. (1976). The new games book. Garden City, New York: Headlands Press.

Fluegelman, A. (1981). More new games. Garden City, New York: Headlands Press.

Grineski, S. (1989). Children, games, and prosocial behavior: Insight and connections. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, 60, 20-25.

Kohn, A. (1992). No contest: the case against competition (rev. ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

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Milton, B., Cleveland, E., and Bennett-Gates, D. (1995). Changing perceptions of nature, self and others: A report on a park/school program. Journal of Environmental Education, 26, 32-39.

Orlick, T. (1978). The cooperative sports and games book. New York: Pantheon Books.

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Orlick, T. (1982). The second cooperative sports and games book. New York: Pantheon Books.

RELATED ARTICLE: Research into Action: Providing a Balance in Sports Programming

Research Into Action is published monthly by the Society of Park and Recreation Educators, National Recreation and Park Association. As an accompaniment to "Research Update," its goal is to turn research findings into field action by highlighting management strategies. Founding editors are Dr. Ruth Russell and Dr. Daniel D. McLean, Department of Recreation and Park Administration, Indiana University.

Introduction

The aggressive nature of youth sports is becoming a potential detriment to the positive social development of youth in America. The carryover of aggressive behavior attributed to participation in youth sports programs is causing some to question the value of youth sports. This month's Research Update suggested that cooperative games were a viable alternative to the highly competitive youth sports programs that have become predominant in so many communities. This report does not propose the dissolution of youth sports programs, nor does it suggest how the programs can be better organized -- rather, it suggests alternatives to a steady diet of competitive youth sports programming.