(below is from "Take the Lead: Make Youth Sports What They Were Meant to Be", by Kathy Hogan)
These days many young athletes are constantly trying to improve their personal standing so they can move on to a more competitive program. They ("...or is it their parents?": Ed) operate like free agents -- always shopping for a better deal. In the process, their commitment to a team depends on personal gain. Inadvertently, we not only allow these athletes to be self-centered, we encourage it. Is that the mindset we really want? Pete Carill says it best, "I look for players who realize the world doesn't revolve around them." Unfortunately, sometimes it's hard to find those players.
In youth sports today, there is tremendous emphasis on drawing out skilled athletes because they are just too good for a regular league. In many ways, that's unfortunate. Learning to work with players with various ability levels is a life skill that young people need to learn. Even in the pros, some athletes are better than others. The same is true in every aspect of life. Rather than constantly regrouping players according to perceived ability, we need to teach them how to be part of a team. You win some. You lose some, but most of all, you stick together. Pat Riley understood that concept: "Great teamwork is the only way to reach our ultimate moments."
