Headlines From The Nation's Press

Each week we open the show with some of the most glaring and reoccurring stories chronicling the ugliness surrounding youth sports organized by adults; issues pertaining to our children's health and education. These headlines clap like thunder across the country signaling a warning to parents, coaches, administrators, lawmakers, and community stakeholders that widespread change is imperative.

My good friend, and frequent guest on the show, Professor Doug Abrams of the College of Law at the University of Missouri, will add you to his daily mailing list of these stories. Simply email Doug and ask him to add your name to the list.

The Weekly High School Sports Report

Michael Hoffer, Sports Editor for the Forecaster, will report on high school sports, focusing on the "minor sports." We won't just be reporting scores and game results, but we'll focus on the kids who train hard and participate in those sports that receive less adult and media involvement. That said, Mike will keep us informed of all post season playoffs and tournament results, as well as behind-the-scenes and human interest happenings.

The Main(e) Event

Title IX has brought about significant and fundamental changes to the culture of sports in the U.S. Most of it has been good. It has opened the doors to girls and women who want to participate in sports at the highest levels. It has cracked (just a bit) the glass ceiling that has prevented women from assuming positions in athletic administration at the intercollegiate and high school interscholastic levels. Title IX has made college scholarships available for female athletes, not on a par with the so-called men's "major sports," but now many young women can attend college based upon their athletic ability. This has all been good.

Unfortunately, there have been negative consequences. For example, men's minor programs such as wrestling and swimming have been eliminated to meet the requirements of Title IX. And, the addition of so many programs for women has created enormous financial challenges for universities and high schools. It has also contributed to scheduling nightmares for athletic directors and game officials, because both athletic facilities and qualified referees are at a premium.

All that aside, women and girls have made tremendous strides in terms of opportunity, skill-level, and exposure. But, there is much more that must be accomplished before "equity" and "equality" is achieved. For example, national and local media coverage is overwhelming focused on men's sports at the professional, intercollegiate, and interscholastic levels.

Financial support is heavily weighted towards men's sports. Don't think so? Compare booster clubs for boys and girls in high school.

Female involvement in  coaching, administration, and board positions is negligible anywhere you look. Breaking through has been a major cultural challenge. Men have occupied and controlled these positions from the very beginning. There seems to be a universal myth and stereotype that has us believing that women don't have the experience to coach and/or to run athletic programs. Like women don't have the experience to become governors, senators, and presidents.

Now that Title IX has enabled so many women to compete at the highest levels, there are literally millions of young women who are coming into motherhood with more playing experience and knowledge than most of the male John Gruden, Bill Cower wannabes who now coach their kids. Hardly anyone disagrees that our system of youth sports organized by adults (males) offers so much, but delivers so little! Media coverage about violence, cheating, pre-selection, favoritism, recruiting and unsportsmanlike behavior are now commonplace across the country.

Furthermore, doctors and psychologists report meteoric increases in overuse injuries, and undue pressure and stress on young people who are not ready to handle it. Out-of-control coaches and over-the-top parents say and do things to kids that would not be tolerated anywhere else in society, leading many to call  organized youth sports a form of "legalized child abuse."

Several years ago, in starting up a new hockey program, I was in a position to recruit several women to serve on our board as well as key committees such as coaching development and parent education. It met with great resistance, but these women were top notch and qualified. I felt it was necessary to involve women in all aspects of this new league that boasted 650 boys and girls in its first year. We implemented a "kids first" philosophy and applied it to everything we did. And, who better than moms, whose primary role in the natural order of things is to nurture, support, protect, and teach their children, to be represented in everything we did?

Soon, we began to see more women become referees and coaches. And why not? The old arguments keeping women out of key roles in sports are no longer valid. The purpose of this show is to encourage more women to take an active role in youth sports, and to pressure the establishment to not only accept them, but seek them out.

Along these same lines, we're going to focus on ice hockey for girls at the high school level. In the past 18 months, we've done two shows to promote the involvement of girls at all levels, and to encourage the schools, coaches, and parents to press on for sanctioning by the state association. My studio guests will be Meredith Brinkman, Assistant Athletic Director at USM and Susan Robbins the Athletic Director at Yarmouth High.

We'll also have Don Cashman, President of Maine Girls Hockey, and Peter Landis who has been involved in Maine Girls Hockey for several years, as well as coaches and players. Also joining us are mother and daughter players, Kelly and Megan Irving. Kelly plays in woman's league, and Megan for the USM Huskies women's ice hockey team.

I saw the Maine Girls Hockey All-Star game last year, and I can tell you these girls from throughout Maine play an exciting game at a very high level...every bit as exciting and skilled as their male counterparts.

This will not only be an interesting show, but another small, significant step in achieving balance in youth sports organized by adults.

The Coaches Corner

Remember: 1) These are just kids. Don't treat them like adults.  2) Make no mistake! It's about them having fun. Not you! It's not your game, so be sure you don't take it away from them. 3) First and foremost, you are a teacher and a role model. The most important lessons you teach will have nothing to do with the game you are coaching.

Regis' Rant

A School Board in  Decatur, Georgia recently banned the wearing of caps and hats at high school sporting events in an "effort to curb and control possible gang activity." A group of 60 something old guys who regularly attend high school sporting events, several with grandchildren playing, went to the school board in protest, but to no avail. When's the last time anyone ever heard of a bunch of old geezers being involved in gang activity?

To these "expert caretakers of our kids" in Georgia, and those who want to eliminate dodge ball and daily recess, goes my "Bonehead Award" of the year.

The Parent Trap

Check out my blog on Mainetoday.com for some interesting articles, and comments from readers.

 http://www.mainetoday.com/kidsfamily/blogs/kidsfirst/008162.html Your comments are appreciated and wanted.

We invite our listeners to call in and share their views.

Listeners can take part in the show by calling:

207-775-2217 or 1-866-811-9505.

or email me during the show at:

Regis@thecenterforkidsfirst.org