Chapter 7
High School
and
Youth Sports
Introduction
• High numbers of children participate in
youth/school sports.
• Athletics provide positive influences on
adolescents at a crucial juncture of their lives.
• School and youth sports are the most influential
sport programs in the United States.
– Reflects directly on the importance Americans
place on involving youth in sport activities
History: School Sports
• Youth athletic participation predates formation of
United States and signing of U.S. Constitution.
• Formally organized youth educational athletic
participation did not emerge until mid-19th
century.
• Schools and other agencies promoted sport
participation to aid in solving broad social
problems such as ill health and juvenile
delinquency.
History: School Sports (cont.)
• Public schools were slow to embrace value
of exercise and play, but private schools
recognized value much earlier.
• Students organized games at college level.
• Athletics were incorporated into school
curricula (New York, Illinois, Wisconsin).
• Boston-area schools formed Interscholastic
Football Association in 1888.
History: Twentieth Century
• Progressive Movement
– Educators touted athletics as tool to prepare for
rigors of modern life and democracy and to
assimilate immigrants into American culture
– Promoted child welfare by advocating for
increased playground space
– Promoted formalized public school athletics as
an antidote to regimented physical education
curricula
History: Twentieth Century (cont.)
• Period during and just after World War I
– School sports for males were promoted as a
source of physical training for armed forces
• Sports resulted in boost in school retention and
graduation rates
• Athletics became entrenched in schools and
educators took control of athletics from students
• Dr. Dudley Sargent, James Naismith, and Amos
Alonzo Stagg
– Significant contributions toward meeting
instructional and curricular development needs
History: Nonschool
• YMCA: Most prominent private agency to
promote youth athletics (Young Men’s Christian
Association)
• 1930–1950s: YMCA branches were opened in
suburban areas that allowed female members
• Financial calamities of Great Depression of 1930s
launched unprecedented governmental
involvement in recreation
Governance: National Federation of
State High School Associations
• National coordinator for high school sports, plus
activities such as music, debate, theater, and
student council
• Encompasses 50 state high school athletics and
activity associations, as well as District of
Columbia, Bermuda, Guam, St. Croix, St.
Thomas, St. John, and 10 Canadian provinces
• Coordinates official certification
• Issues playing rules; holds national conferences
and competitions; acts as advocate/lobbying agent
Governance: State Associations
• Replicate NFHSA model
• Organize state championships and competitions in
athletics and activities
• Final authority in determining athlete eligibility
• The scope of activities, the size of full-time
administrative and support staff, and the number
of schools represented vary from state to state
Governance: National Youth League
Organizations
• Focus administrative efforts on promoting
participation in a particular sports among children
(e.g., Little League Baseball)
– Little League 2006: 200,000 teams all 50 states
plus 80 other countries participate
• Require strict adherence to administrative
guidelines: Standardized field size; use of
uniforms and a draft system; promote adult
supervision and safe play
Career Opportunities: School
Athletic/Youth League Director
• Responsibilities
– Hiring, supervising, and evaluating coaches
– Coordinating facets of contest management,
including hiring and paying of officials and
event staff
– Departmental/league training and
disciplinary policies
Career Opportunities: School
Athletic/Youth League Director (cont.)
• Responsibilities
– Determining departmental/league budgets
– Overseeing all associated fund-raising
– Determining and verifying game
scheduling and athlete eligibility
– Transmitting relevant publicity and
handling public relations
Career Opportunities: Officials/Judges
• Employed by schools and leagues but are
considered independent contractors because
school or league exhibits no supervisory capacity
over the official
• May require certification from national, state, and
local sanctioning organizations
• Use of unprofessional personnel (volunteers) can
leave a league liable for litigation for the actions
of these individuals
Management
• Personnel who operate school and youth sport
programs are the organization’s most valuable
assets and most difficult resources to attract and
retain.
• Because of budgetary and staffing limitations,
more and more schools and virtually all youth
leagues are forced to rely on athletic personnel
who are not full-time employees of the
organization.
Financial
• Administrators and coaches work together to
present a detailed prediction of how funds will be
spent and an accurate accounting of actual
expenditures
• Although school and youth sport organizations are
not-for-profit enterprises, this does not mean that
associated programs are not concerned with
controlling costs and maintaining balanced
budgets
Marketing
• As schools and leagues become more financially
strained, coaches and administrators are often
expected to be fundraisers
• Such methods may include direct sponsorships
donated by local businesses and individuals, the
sale of items such as candy bars or other novelties,
or selling advertising space in school publications
or facilities
Ethics
• Administrators are responsible for ensuring
that athletic programs treat boys and girls
equally and ethically
• 1990: Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) enacted and has led to increased
opportunities for athletes with disabilities
Legal
• Primary responsibility for any administrator is to
inform staff of risks and dangers inherent in their
profession.
• Waiver and release of liability will not be
enforceable if it attempts to insulate the school
district from intentional, willful, wanton, or
reckless misconduct.
• Coaches are principal supervisors of the athletic
activities of their teams and must provide a
reasonably safe environment for participants.
Summary
• Organized school and youth sports have
evolved from their modest beginnings in
New England private schools in the early
1800s.
• Administrators, coaches, and other
associated personnel have developed the
skills and expertise to deal with challenges
and issues.