The Government Is Reining In Youth Sports. The Adults Are Worried.

Now, Sánchez Parés is customizing regulations for specific sports, like spelling out pitch counts in baseball and the frequency of sparring sessions in boxing. The sports, including soccer, tennis and wrestling, are played by children and also a part of the Olympic program. She has the final word and plans to issue the regulations in late January, underpinned by a statement of rights for children. Among their rights: to “be treated with dignity and respect” and to “have fun” under the care of “qualified coaches.”

Programs and coaches violating the rules face suspensions and fines of $500 to $1,500.

The catalyst was the death of Roberto Quiles Jr., 15, who collapsed during a five-day Junior Olympic basketball tournament sponsored by Jeep. His father, Roberto, said that the cause of the heart failure had not been determined, but that his son had been “exhausted” from year-round play and that medical attention was slow to arrive on site. His death elevated island-wide concerns about pressures placed on children and families by a youth sports system that had been transformed — industrialized — over the past decade or so.

As in the United States, the emphasis on travel teams had taken over. There were expensive basketball and volleyball tournaments at the Puerto Rico Convention Center for hundreds of teams from all over the island, at ever-earlier ages. Teenagers were playing eight games a week between their club and school teams. Children were kept at practice past 10 p.m. on school nights. Family dinners were sacrificed. There were overuse injuries and occasional fights in the stands. Abuse from parents was directed toward referees — or their own children.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/07/sports/youth-sports-rules-us.html?emc=rss&partner=rss