Apparently across the country for the past few years a
disturbing phenomena has been taking place. Gradually, according to
the Census Bureau’s annual statistical report, fewer Americans are
participating in sports, while more sporting events are being
attended and even more have been viewed on television.
By Leann Shea
Apparently across the country for the past few years a disturbing phenomena has been taking place. Gradually, according to the Census Bureau’s annual statistical report, fewer Americans are participating in sports, while more sporting events are being attended and even more have been viewed on television.
Participation in almost every recreational sport decreased in 2004, sports including golf, tennis, skiing and swimming.
What is driving Americans into their homes and off the playing fields? A tough question with many possible answers.
My theory is it is a combination of the TV and video game systems. Why go outside on a cold, wet day when you can sit in the comfort of your couch or bed and play an entire season of baseball, football or basketball with a click of a button? Why go outside and brave the physical contact for yourself when it is much easier to subscribe to NFL Ticket or College Game Day and see 85 football, baseball or basketball games in the span of 12 hours?
Not that I in any way want to vilianize TV and video games. That is absolutely not what I am trying to do, after all I myself enjoy watching games on TV, and Sports Center, of course and I also own the video game console with a stack of sports video games well used.
But maybe, just maybe, to society’s detriment we are becoming far to reliant on the electronic immediacy TV and video games allow us. And rather than struggle or battle through a tough, physical competition we would rather watch people in much better shape with much more talent do it, after all that’s why they get the big bucks right? Or we want to pretend we are these athletes with the talent and big bucks and make the team win it all.
The advent of the Internet now allows video gamers to connect online and play each other, even if you’re on opposite sides of the Earth. It makes me fear relatively soon we won’t have to leave our homes for anything, we’ll be able to sustain ourselves in a personal bubble without contact with the outside world.
I have to believe, however, that the draw of the outside world, nature and face-to-face contact with other human beings will win out over the electronic world we have created for ourselves. Nothing compares with actually competing in an athletic sport or competition. Nothing can take the place of actually catching the ball or scoring a goal.
Because I work in a sports-related field I think I might be somewhat oblivious to how participation in recreational sports has declined. I talk, write and ask about sports everyday and there are always events and athletes to be covered, so really how bad is this problem. Well, it’s growing that’s for sure.
As a coach in San Francisco’s Bayview/Hunter’s Point district I was keenly aware of how today’s youth were leaning more and more toward playing sports on video game consoles than actually putting on cleats and hitting the field. Nine out of every 10 players on the team had never actually played football, oh sure they know all about the nickel defense on Madden Football 2005, but ask them to run it live and confusion took over. It shocked me.
Longtime Alabama football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant once said, “It’s not the will to win that matters – everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters.” I think that is what Americans have been lacking in the recent past, the will to prepare. Whether because training and conditioning for athletic endeavors are difficult and time-consuming or the fact that it is cheaper and uses less brain power to sit and watch at home or from the sideline.
We’ve been hearing for years about the appalling obesity rates and I think part of it comes from the massive pilgrimage indoors to sit on couches and computer chairs, staring at TV and video screens while popping some sort of snack items into our mouths.
Youth sports programs are now more important than ever and they need community support to be able to continue to provide children and adolescents with healthy, active alternatives to becoming a couch potato. The professional athletes shouldn’t be the ones having all the fun, after all the games and events rely on youths everywhere to catch the fever and want to become a part of the sport for themselves. Professional athletes don’t just wake up one day and decide they want to play. They train, they struggle and they sweat to become good enough to continue to play on higher levels.
Sports are more than just fun distractions from the doldrums of reality, they provide children and adolescents with self-esteem, a concept of teamwork and the power of cooperating, while supplying their bodies with the exercise they need to survive and become stronger.
“Sports do not build character. They reveal it,” said late CBS Sports Commentator Heywood Hale Broun. Now more than ever our youths need an outlet to help them deal with their environment and surroundings, nothing can prepare them better than sports and athletic activities. It is time to turn the tide and provide kids with the opportunities to participate.
