Hello again! Coach Paul here, with a very important topic to discuss; the physical health of our youth. There is absolutely no mystery that the youth in this country, have come up short, in the realm of physical fitness and overall health. This subject has been the proverbial “elephant in the room” among parents, pediatricians/doctors, teachers and yes, even youth coaches for decades. In recent years, this issue has gone completely out of hand, and as adults (responsible and otherwise), we are all culpable for the physical condition that our society’s children find themselves in today. Here are some alarming facts in respect to the physical fitness of our youth, just to set the tone:
In 2016, it was determined that only 50 percent of boys and 34 percent of girls were able to pass cardio respiratory physical fitness standards.
Some children are at greater risk for obesity because of genetic factors, inherited from family members.
Physical Education (P.E.) classes in schools across the country are being outright removed, due to budgetary concerns and/or to make additional time for academic learning (which is also very important).
From 2017 – 2018, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) determined that 21.2% of young people aged 12–19 years old were obese.
Out-of-shape elementary and middle-school students get worse grades than their physically fit classmates (It can be presumed that the lack of nutritional value in the foods that are consumed, are to blame for this learning disparity.).
It is important to understand these facts to better address the issue of youth fitness. Are there concrete solutions? What role can youth coaches play, to help get a better handle on what is happening? Let us try to find out.
What Are The Main Factors For Youth Not Being Physically Fit?
Technology
Technology has advanced rapidly over the past few decades, adding great convenience to the daily lives of busy adults like ourselves. Unfortunately, this same technology has massively contributed to our youths’ sedentary lifestyle. As a youngster, I would always want to be outside until the sun went down, riding my bike, exploring the woods, playing backyard baseball/football/soccer and playing at the park with my friends. The LAST thing that we wanted to do as kids, was to stay inside on a sunny day (unless it was cartoon time on Saturday mornings!).
Conversely, the current generation of young people seek out video games, smartphones and social media, to replace the physical activities that my generation immensely enjoyed. Technology has made it simple and easy for children to be entertained virtually, which removes any desire from them to engage in ANY strenuous physical activities. Technology, it can be argued, is similar to a double-edged knife, in that it can figuratively cut you both ways. SOLUTION?…Greatly limit your child’s screen time on a daily basis. Strongly (but positively) encourage them to take part in outdoor physical activities. If you are a parent, I would recommend that you join your children in these activities, to encourage future participation from them.
Fast Food And Poor Eating Habits
It is absolutely no secret that a large portion of the youth in America are suffering mightily with being in sub par physical condition, due to consuming unhealthy foods on a seemingly daily basis. With busy parents and time-consuming family activities, many children beg for fast food as their primary source of nutrition. Many parents and other caregivers often give in to these demands, which consequently, makes it that much more difficult to pursue better behavior in terms of diet. Unfortunately, we all know that fast foods are high in fat, sugar and salt, which can lead to obesity and other health problems. A lack of essential nutrients like vitamins and minerals, harm the physical development of a child, which can prohibit them from participating in any kind of sport. SOLUTION?…Parents and other adults who have a direct influence on a young athlete, need to simply make much better food choices, whether it be with grocery shopping or with eating out in restaurants or fast food establishments. Unhealthy foods should be substituted for foods that are high in nutritional value. Junk food should be consumed very minimally. These steps need to always be taken with enthusiasm and positivity, so that children can more easily adopt these changes into their own diets.
Family Patterns
Families who have an active lifestyle tend to raise active children who obtain healthier habits. This can also be vice versa. Families who are less active, or parents who have poor attitudes towards health, generally have children who share those poor health habits. Parents who encourage their children to engage in healthy activities may inspire a love for exercise and proper nutrition, leading to better health habits for life. SOLUTION?…Children do by seeing, so this is quite straightforward. Adults must be visibly physically active and eating healthy, for their children to follow suit.
Overly Structured Lifestyles
Many families engage in overscheduling a day/week for their children, leaving them little time for physical activity, which can lead to stress and overwhelming feelings. This leads to children spending less time playing outside, taking fewer walks, and indulging in physical activities, which results in less physical fitness. Though it is very important for a child to have some type of structure to their day, physical activity must play a role in that. Adults who are involved, should be cognizant of this. SOLUTION?…Mindfulness of physical activity must be implemented, when creating any type of daily regimen for young people. Being sure to include the right things in that regimen, can create an environment where physical exercise can be a joy for a young person to undertake.
More Difficult Accessibility To Physical Activities
Unfortunately, many communities, particularly in low-income areas, do not have the resources to encourage physical fitness in young children…Lack of funding, unsafe neighborhoods to take advantage of outdoor parks/courts/fields, and poor government practices make it quite difficult to create safe spaces and activities for children to engage with physical activity, resulting in less access to healthy alternatives. It is very unfortunate that youth (athletes or not) who are in this particular predicament, have a difficult time getting and staying on track in this area. SOLUTION?…Parents, coaches and community leaders must collaborate, to take advantage of financial assistance, transportation options and venue locations, that can help facilitate physical exercise opportunities for children.
I hope that understanding this complex issue which impacts our youth, will help tackle and create a road map towards better physical fitness outcomes for young athletes.
How Can A Youth Coach Help?
As a youth coach, you can have valid input, as to the suggestions that you can offer to youth and their parents, for them maintaining top physical condition for a given sport. It should be incumbent on you to do so, as your input will not only benefit each player, but the team as a whole. It is also vital that you incorporate the parents’ willingness to assist their children in their physical fitness/dietary goals. For older youth (say 12 and up), you can drive home more aggressively, what each player needs to do, in order to stay physically fit. You can also help to set nutritional and fitness goals for your players, each week or every two weeks. Create an environment of accountability (especially for the older youth), where these goals challenge them to do better each and every time. Check in with your players and parents, to see how they are progressing. Don’t wait until practice day or game day to make an inquiry. This will show them that you are as dedicated to the process as they can be; you also share in that accountability, as their coach.
Conclusion
Never in our nation’s history has physical fitness and diet concerning our youth, been under assault to this magnitude. It can seem as if it is a lost cause at times. As a coach, you have a direct influence on a child’s physical activity, if only for a limited time. Utilizing coordination with parents and obtaining buy-in from your players, you can play your part to create stronger and healthier young athletes!
Please feel free to leave a comment below, in regard to this issue! If not, you can simply say “Hi!”. I like it when people say “Hi!”. And as always…thanks for reading!