Has youth contact sport had its day?

Lukey23

Yes i feel that junior sports clubs in Australia are dwindling because of the funding going towards establishing the league. The biggest ones that are going around are now University and School sports where they will start looking for people to get into their team for recruitment.

pickle

It is probably going that way.If taught safe contact especially hard contact shouldn't be a problem.My son played rugby league for seven years.He is not small and can handle himself but smaller players do get it hard.Main problem is culture if some clubs and dirty bad sport mentality.Refs not being hated enough on offences or noticing dirty play and also they really need to address weight classes.Some of the teams we played may have been right age supposedly give or take 12 months but were easily 20-;40 kegs heavier.This is where the risks come in not only physically but mentally as wells

Lynjoywal

Contact sport still has a role to play in young people's lives. Care just need to be taken in regard to the rules limiting the chances of injuries and enforcing of these rules. Young people learn the principles of team spirit, etc. by engaging in these sports. I also think we should return to the use of weight instead of age to determine a level playing field as, at the moment, there is a huge discrepancy between the size of players on the field.

justinsleary

I have to say I have mixed or ambivalent feelings about this topic. "Has youth contact sport had its day?". To be honest, it is hard to say. I am not a parent, but if I were, I would probably not want my child playing a contact sport, as I would not want him or her to suffer an injury.

The reality is that contact sport can and often is dangerous, and, when we have youth playing a contact sport, they are at high risk of injury.

Does that mean that youth contact sport has a place in Australia, or should it be phased out or ended? This is where my ambivalence comes in. I feel that if we are to end youth contact sport, then that would lend itself strongly to considering phasing out adult contact sport as well, given that much if not all adult contact sports leagues rely on youth sport to some extent. This is because often adult league players 'feed in' from the various youth competitions. The ambivalence for me is that I enjoy adult contact sports (eg NRL, rugby union) and it can be, and often is, enjoyable to watch. However, I have ambivalence as these sports often come at a health cost to the players. Also, I do feel that these sports are aggressive in nature and can in many cases raise the overall levels of aggression in society, either by 'normalizing' such aggression and hiding it in the context of 'it is just sport' or by just normalising such on-field aggression, making such aggressive contact seem to be acceptable in wider society. As a parallel, think of violent video games: these games can often normalise bad behaviour.

So personally I think that we, as Australians, could or should consider ending youth contact sports, for two main reasons: 1 - to reduce the health impacts of such sport on growing bodies and brains, and 2 - to help stop the normalization of such aggressive behaviour under the guise of "it is just sport".

But I would take it further and suggest the possibility of phasing out not only youth contact sport, but adult contact sport as well. Sure, I enjoy contact sport, but I suspect that if all contact sport was phased out, then we might even see improvements in wider society, such as drops in domestic violence rates, etc.

Yes, I enjoy contact sport as a viewer of such sport, but perhaps that is because I grew up watching it. If it were phased out, I'd miss it for a while, but then I'd be ok. Of course, there is still golf and cricket, right?

AnxiousOne

I'd be very surprised if these youth sports have had their day.

My son works for one of the NRL clubs (I hope that you can understand that I don't mention which one), and he's been working with the junior and touch competitions since he left university. They created the position for him after putting him on as an intern during his final year, but he's been so busy - I can attest to that! - that they're soon to add a second person to the team.

Alsom

More parents should be sending their children out to take part instead of playing on ipads etc

Shemp

contact sport is being gradually phased out to protect the head. Some years ago I coached AFL junior football and always told my young players that the majority of times you'll get any injury is when you commit to eg. pick up the ball, and then change your mind. Other opposition players were also commited to the football and initially saw that you were going to pick up the football and moved towards the ball based on what they saw you were doing. Today junior football is nothing like it once was because it has virtually become a non contact sport and in many instances scores aren't kept.
The tackling, shepherding for a team mate was an intricate part of the learning skills in a team setting. The unfortunate lack of any proper teaching of these skills has led to a decline in participation of football and, sadly, will not return to the glory days when teaching young boys properly was the main element required to participate together as one team. If showing the scores on a scoreboard, then there is no point or incentive to play any sport. Times have changed and continue to change rapidly and young people have many more sports to take up : sports that rarely, if ever, have any need for contact. Contact sports like Rugby union , Rugby league, and AFL - the long staple of Australian exciting sports - are in declining as other interests are pursued by young people including video games etc,.

Billy

I can't see contact sports being banned, nor can I see them closing down due to lack of interest. There may be fewer youngsters playing Rugby League, Union and AFL, but there are still a large number participating. More recently, there are girls playing such sports. And, what are the "contact" sports? There is contact in Netball and Basketball; are they losing players? I don't think so.

wild one

While there is rugby and football there will always be contact sports because most children have their heroes and learn these sports at an early age. Having been a cub scout leader football and soccer were always part of the program. Boxing is shown on a lot of games for the x box so children will follow their heroes. I think that contact sports will never die in Australia no matter how many players get hurt because money is one of the biggest drivers behind everything to do with sports.

Gerry1945

Many kids do too many dangerous sports or recreations these days my grand nephew has broken too many bone, his shoulder last week and he is only 12. Not good for a growing boy.

Amensch

There has always been a place for all types of sports for our youth. Fresh air and outdoor pursuits are vital for the growing of our youth. Much better than those mobile phones/ social media addiction.
My only concern has been some of the accidents on the field may have been avoided if there was more protection : headgear. Also how many times do we see very upset parents and the fighting that ensures.
Overall sport is great. Growing up ,I thoroughly enjoyed playing Cricket and Rugby Union ,as well as going to game at the local stadium

Sweetness

Know it has not had its day , But i would like to see all football players where Head Gear for protection they have to go off so many times for checks this head gear would help alot Safer Please get then to lishen......

kerri31

No! Please keep encouraging our kids to play sport, its wonderful for them, they learn sportsmanship, make friends, learn to play in a team and so much more. I have 3 children they all played winter and summer sports, tennis, netball, cricket, baseball, golf, football and basketball. They all loved their sports of course there is going to be injuries but so what you can injure yourself walking out the front door, you cant live like that, neither can they or they will never try something new!! So much better than looking at screens all the time, they have there place but should be limited, get outside, run around, move, kids need to do that.

bearman

The games children play have been passed down through time and as we become more aware of the amount of injuries per game so the powers to be try to change/ modify each sport to get rid of severe injuries. Just look at rugby league where a scrum was used to get the ball back into play by each team pushing against each other. Now all they do is hold the scrum in place and the five eight throws it behind his back rowers feet. No pushing is allowed. But I will still not allow my child to play.
To make it more exciting players are encouraged to run into the man with the ball instead of a tackle around the feet. The NRL include it in an on game statistic as a HIT UP. The players are trained in how to use two players to smash into the opposing team player with the ball. The NRL has a designated ENFORCER to punish any opposing player for using strong arm tactics!
With this sort of small minded attitude to player safety endorsed it is no wonder I wont let my child play a vicious contact sport.
Just look at the number of NRL players who play with injuries taped up from a previous game. This shows how manly and tough they are; to go on playing each week instead of recuperating. The NRL has a penalty system for those players who use too much roughness but allows them to plead to a lesser charge so they are not banned from the game or miss a grand final.
So I will not let my child play a contact sport under these dangerous conditions and nor should any other parent!

heeleen

Gosh I would hope not , our youth need more exercise, friendship, mateship and learnig to work together as a team, today than ever, with all the technology and indoor games they have. Where would the ones interested in sport
go and what would they do with their time. I have young grandchildren who go to scouts and the youngest is interested in cricket not much in scoccer or football at this stage. It is something that Australian children have always done. Would be sad to see it go .

PGS

Lost interest league when I stopped playing in about 1977. I was stopped from playing hockey before I left high school, and haven't really bothered with any since then. I have no interest in wrestling, boxing, etc. For me, its 'day' was back in the 70's.

Yqsymnx

I don't have a child who plays a contact sport, but I am quite concerned about the direction of society in this space.
In fear of litigation, many institutions have now taken the safest route and have child protected and padded absolutely everything in life.
The best way for someone to learn is via mistakes. How can they make those mistakes if there are no consequences, or those consequences are so insubstantial that it negates the learning opportunity.

Contact sport is definitely within this issue.
Plus, kids watch it on TV all the time with a plethora of sport all involving contact or contact situations.
If the playground, or after school sessions are all provided 'damage free', the sport will eventually die as no one will know how to play it properly

Goulah

My initial thought was rugby (league and union) which is definitely people crashing into one another. I gather this is played by both girls and boys from their early teens but I don't have children so do not know if that is correct. AFL was (supposedly) not full on contact but more the hip bump but from what my friends have told me, it could be quite brutal and injuries severe. Next on the list is soccer which is meant to be completely "contactless" but if what I see on the television is anything to go by, there is a lot of contact.

At school we girls used to play netball and it was truly frowned upon if contact was made and you would be shown to the side-lines. Of course there was a lot of "bumping" behind the scenes and a hell of a lot of "accidentally on purpose" tripping, not to mention an elbow in the face. The most viscous contact sport when I was a kid was hockey and that resulted in some massive injuries. I was the sort of sports player who did not do well (although I was on the school softball and netball teams) because I was not competitive enough and played for the fun of it and not the winning at all costs. Hockey scared me because the first time I tried I lifted my stick behind without looking and knocked out my teacher.

A bit down the line was volleyball (anyone who has had a "spike" ball slammed into their body will tell you that it is damned painful and it was considered to be a contactless sport. It definitely is not. Next on the list is cricket and having had a couple of black eyes from a cricket ball smashing into my forehead I was knocked out and came to in the nurses office (yet again). In my late teens I played (low grade) squash in competition once a week and in yet another contactless sport any squash player will tell you that you get hit by the ball, by the opposing player and being pushed into the wall. Softball was accidental contact whilst batting but running the bases the fielders would often stand in front of you when you were running full pelt and "tag" you.

I am making it sound like it was incredibly dangerous but it was kids playing sport. You played, you broke bones, you got better and then went back for more. Mum would say "try not to break anything else" and would patch you up when you got home with some blood or bruises already showing and send you out the next week to play sport. That was life in the 60s and not only did you survive but you thrived.

All of the above are "standard" kids sports but no one else has mentioned the "new" sports that are true and deliberate contact sports. I am not a fan of kids boxing (nowadays girls box too of course) and find it brutal and confrontational and not sports(person)like. Yes I know I am putting my standards on others.

jen1

yes contact sport for youth has had it s day. more and more children and teens are surcomming to head injuries. there is enough accidental head injuries non contact sport with out jumping in with both feet daring fate not to give you a serious injury. i myself played tennis, basketball [not the new netball] etc. as you get older you look back and wonder why you put your body through so much.

nanone

Contact sport is in our culture, they may change the way it is played for safety reasons but it is here to stay. It has even become more popular with girls and women to play and enjoy these sports now. They have become more competitive world wide and the level of skill shown is outstanding. Children can change sport many times until they find the sport that suits them and their skills

Momma Bear

My son coaches an under 13 soccer team and they are very keen, they love playing and look forward to each game so no don't think it has had it's day.

Ruskie30748487

I think it might, with the reports you hear, brain injuries, deaths and various issues, not necessarily straight away either, can be issues down the track, when you get older. I know of friends who played rugby league and had some fair knocks, had to have different parts pinned or re-set, when bones get broken. They finished playing early because of their knees and general injury toll became too much for them to carry on. Even with headgear worn, brain injury is still very possible in a hard knock. Maybe we should start thinking about wearing gear the NRL players in USA, even though I think they look pretty stupid, with all that padding, etc. But, then again, if you get a hard enough knock to the head, brain injuries would stick occur. There is no stopping these issues when you play contact sport. It would be a shame if it did happen that these sports were ever stopped altogether, but what help can we give our sports men and women, to prevent such bad and serious injuries from happening?

wendel

In a way, yes, we are becoming more aware of head and brain injuries now. I have grandchildren, who used to play rugby league when younger. One of them is now having an ACL repair done this year, due to an old footy injury received a while back. The body can only handle so much being knocked about and often, not till we get older, do those hard falls, knocks, etc, come back to bite us. I think many people can relate to that. Most of us grow up and out of sports, many carry on, as long as their fitness, lack of injuries, time and work commitments allows.

EileenW1

There are several problems as to why there is a decline in numbers of youngsters participating.
1) Cost of fees, uniforms, petrol to travel to matches etc. especially if there are other children in the family.
2) Behaviour (aggression and bullying) obscene language etc of some parents on the sidelines which is intimidating and totally unacceptable even in adult sport.
3) Games are becoming increasingly violent and therefore dangerous with contact sport. Children who wear protective headgear are called "sissy' or "whimps" by others including adults.
4) Bullying behaviour of some coaches who have their favourites and can be very demeaning to other team members.
5) Overly protective parents who are afraid their children might be hurt and so won't let them play.

bernmar

I have watched my three grandsons play teeball when they were younger and AFL since Auskick. At no time have they thought of stopping. They have had a few injuries over the years but that has only spurred them on to get back in the game. Over the years I have seen many boys drop out for various reasons. For some it was study, others just sheer lack of interest. I have witnessed some spectator abuse from the sidelines. There are some who play the game to be a disruption and cause a melee. Sometimes the umpires lose control of a game as most umpires are only about the age of the team they are umpiring.

Jezemeg8

My grandchildren enjoy playing soccer and basketball and even though technically these aren't 'contact sports', contact does happen and there are some accidents including the chance of concussion. Yes there are consequences to repeated concussion injuries, but life has consequences too!

Roland

It's time to end the blood sports that wreck bodies for the amusement of some. Bread and games was the decadent last breath of the roman empire. Whoever sends their child to full contact sport risking contusions, lacerations & mutilations even death in some instances commits a coldblooded act of cruelty and shouldn't be forgiven.

Ellie 30656027

I think it’ll still continue. Some parents oppose it other are for it.
No other I know

monicag8

Yes it is very unpopular. Many people want to do other things - watch tv, iphone, travel. Notplay sport. Esp not rough sport.

lisa170

I think other options like little aths and tennis hot shots are a lot more popular than they used to be, but its going to take a while to kill the footy culture where I'm from (Gippsland, Victoria). All the kids sign up to auskick when they're old enough and its only when they get to about 10 that some start to lose interest in sports. I have to admit I hate football and was really glad my son never asked to play. I'd rather he get into tennis or something a big safer.

capfantastic

I think it should be up to the child. You can teach competitiveness without them getting beaten up for the sake of a game. Definitely weight and size rather than age must play a role or I would most certainly not encourage participation. Injuries such as broken bones can cause life long problems as well as stress fractures or heavy falls on knees and elbows. Ask any high level player about their body wearing out before time.

Captured

Although my children have not taken much interest into contact sport (although 1 son has recently taken an interest in AFL), i hope it stays as today's children who enjoy their sport are tomorrow's athletes who could possibly represent their local area, state or country.

Technology is helping to advance protective equipment and all i would suggest is keep your kids safe with the required protective gear and let them have fun!

musicmum

I do think it will be fazed out over the next 10 years because research has indicated that it is too risky for permanent injury especially to the brain. We already are aware when people keep playing 'rough' sport they are more likely to endure years of problems with their bodies whether it be knees or in some cases brain damage. I would like to see it stop sooner but parents seem to like pushing their kids to play contact sports even if the kid is not that keen. I was lucky that my son was not interested, in fact he was not interested in any competition sports. As we evolve we are seeing so many changes in society and those who resist do not understand the benefits of change, as long as it is for the better than I am all for it. I personally have never understood the fanatical interests that people have with sport and why they like even watching a ball being chased. I think we really need to consider whether continuing to allow advertising in sports is good for society too. If we think of the bigger picture and not our own selfish interests we can see that it would be a better society if we spent the money and energy that is spent on sports on raising people out of poverty, cleaning up the environment and making the world a more sustainable place to live it will be a good future for our kids. Some kids are already on to it and prefer to do other things than play sport.

Radda

Kids and sport – it’s a great mix! Playing sport helps children build healthy minds, healthy bodies, friendships and life skills. The great thing about youth sport is that your child gets the chance to experience these emotional highs and lows in a great team environment. Sport can give your child the chance to learn about being part of a team, winning or bouncing back from a loss and coping with unpleasant experiences like injuries, unfortunately. When we talk about youth contact sports we all know these can be both beneficial and dangerous at the same time. Some players can be tough and rough towards their opponents and would do anything to get that win. We also know that playing sports increases a kid's risk of falls and collisions with objects or other players. It is a sad fact, and that is why I, as a mum would probably avoid taking my 10 year old to any contact sports. But my young fella loves his karate. I can’t stop him - the weekly practice will make his body and mind stronger. I think we should implement some major modifications to the games to reduce full-speed contact, because the risk of injures that jeopardise their long-term health is very real. But we can’t stop our kids love their AFL games, these will live forever, they are here to stay, it is part of our beautiful Australian sport culture!!!

K13

I believe that youth contact sports will eventually die out.

There are too many parents who are aggressive and overly competitive who ruin the experience for both their children and their team mates and for other spectators. Then there are those who have a heart attack when little Johnny scratches his knee. We are raising a generation of snowflakes. I remember jumping on a trampoline without pads or a net, a mate would pass your bike up to you and then you rode it down the slippery dip without a helmet and jumped off the end. We used to play rugby league (girls and boys together) in the park and we would go home battered and bruised but we had a great time and you only got a bandaid if you were bleeding to death.

Children these days are raised wrapped in coon wool and are traumatised over the tiniest of things. We need to raise our kids to be more confident, more resilient and more accepting.

Then there is the cost. People would rather have an expensive mobile phone plan so they can have the latest phone or pay a fortune for Foxtel rather than putting the money towards their child's sport. Then of course there are the ones who genuinely cannot afford it even though they would love to put their kids in sports

I also feel that the cost of insurance is driving up the costs due to people suing someone because their kid broke a leg.

My nephew recently stopped playing soccer because of bullying from a team member. The bully has been reported to the coach on many occasions by many people but nothing is ever done because the bully is the best player on the team and he can play any position which makes him a more versatile asset. At the rate this bully is going, he will be the only one left on the field because other kids are leaving in droves. No-one is game enough to report him to his parents because they are just as rough as he is.

I think it is sad the way youth sports are going, there is so much wrong with it when there shouldn't be. I remember on the weekend being dropped off at my sport and then my siblings would be dropped off at theirs. Our parents took it in turns to make sure that we had someone with us to cheer us on. Our trophies were proudly displayed in the living room and bragged about at school. Because our team mates were also our neighbours and friends, it would be fun rehashing the game afterwards and working out what we could have done better.

We have excellent sporting facilities in Australia and we have no shortage of kids. It is a shame to see these facilities laying empty day after day.

Get your kids off technology, stop wasting money on expensive tv services and put your kid into sport and lets all make it great again. All 5 of my children do a sport, even the 3 year old who started gymnastics a year ago. With the right sacrifices and the right attitude from players, parents and officials and if people stop suing over a split eye or a broken arm, we can make youth sport great again. It would be a terrible shame if it died out completely.

Thomas30903391

I certainly hope it will, it has been part of this countries culture for so long. Australia has a strong history and great heritage in a wide range of sports, and contact sports in particular. Codes like rugby (league & union) and AFL in particular are well known sports in our country and are part of our unique ways.
I do fear for the future of the sports somewhat, as there seems to be a growing concern around safety, people suing for injuries and I feel putting our kids in cotton wool. Also there is a movement towards non competition, where kids are no longer graded in school and sports don’t actually keep scores anymore so as not to upset the “loser”. I feel this doesn’t place them well for later in life when competition is tough, including the workplace. My older son played soccer growing up but has stopped as his interests are now elsewhere. My 10 year old daughter plays basketball which is a non contact sport (sort of anyway), I wouldn’t want her playing a game like league though as she has already broken her leg a few years back and has ongoing complications from it.
I have been seeing and hearing more and more about local sports club struggling to attract enough members to form a team and closing down due to financial reasons – the cost of insurance has sky rocketed and often just makes things unaffordable. This trend will only get worse in today’s climate and it is sad to see so more sporting fields lying empty around the place.

allanbchap

I do think youth contact sports will always have a place in Australia - we just need to ensure safety of participants eg have weight divisions rather than age divisions in some sports.

the rack

It seems that it is, however I’m hopeful that the current rules will suffice to ensure everyone’s safe participation to keep these sports going. Hopefully it’s just a temporary trend and new grassroots initiatives will help to see these sports regain popularity and better participation.

Momma Bear

It seems that it is, however I’m hopeful that the current rules will suffice to ensure everyone’s safe participation to keep these sports going. Hopefully it’s just a temporary trend and new...

My son coaches an under 13 soccer team and they are very keen, they love playing and look forward to each game so no don't think it has had it's day.

JS74

I see local junior rugby and rugby league participation clubs folding and can't help but wonder what can be done to combat this decline. I know parents are concerned about concussions and injury but I think as long as young athletes are taught safe and proper technique when tackling or engaging into contact and wear appropriate protective equipment, it shouldn't be an issue.

I know a few children that stopped playing contact sports, mainly due to pursuing other interests or sports but also due to the size differences among them and the other players (especially around the ages 13-16).