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in article , Michael Daly at
wrote on 10/15/05 6:22 PM:

On 15-Oct-2005, "BCITORGB" wrote:

Why can't kids play soccer (hockey, basketball, etc) anymore, without
going to camps lead by ex-pro athletes? Apparently the lowly parent
subbing players as required in games isn't good enough for some.

There is a problem with organized sports and that problem is parents.
They want to live the successful athlete's life vicariously through
their kids.

However, most organized sports consists of well-meaning dads and moms
helping their kids play for fun.

Do you go and watch kids in organized sports? Those well-meaning moms and
dads - a lot of them - are screaming for their kid to do things that aren't
very nice.

Those moms and dads may not be as
obvious as the loud-mouthed nutcase parents, but they are by far in
the majority. Friends and relatives of mine are in that category.
My brother-in-law has done a lot of good with kids in curling. If
it isn't fun, he makes sure the kids make the right decision about
whether to continue.

See my other post about coaching. Although only 10% of the parents actually
walk out, I've learned about 50% of those who remain ain't happy.

Michael, I'm not opposed to lessons, but I think our society
occasionally gets carried away with the formalization of recreation
(just look at all the people signing up for cooking lessons; fer
crissakes, it's not rocket science!!!! -- read a friggin' cookbook!!!).

That's fine - you can take lessons if you want. Otherwise you can
learn on your own. But that's not the same thing as saying that
professional instructors are somehow bad.

Who has said this?