John O'Sullivan - Changing The Game Project

“How many of you played sports as a child?” I begin many of my talks. Every hand in the room goes up.

“How is sport today different for your kids?” Then the answers start flowing:

“Early specialization. Expensive. No more seasons. Pressure. Massive commitments. They start younger.” And the list goes on and on.

In spite of all the advances in technology, in sport science, in athlete and team development, and the like, we are not producing a generation of better athletes. We are producing an elite few athletes, and the rest, a generation of bitter athletes who walk away hating sports. Today, in many countries, we are losing 3/4 of our athletes from organized sport by the time they reach their teenage years. And at a time where many schools are cutting physical education, reducing play time, and our kids are increasingly drawn away from the fields and to their computer and TV screens, sport has never been more important. We need to end this unsustainable lack of wellness in our kids, and we can start with organized sport!

So how can we do this?

First, we need to understand and dispel many of the myths surrounding youth sports, so that parents and coaches can better serve the needs, values and priorities of the athletes first and foremost. 

Next, we must understand the psychology of performance. What makes kids compete, and what turns them off and makes them quit. Its high time we create a sporting environment that has a lot more of the “why they play” an d a lot less of the “why they quit."

Finally, there are a few simple steps that every one of us can take whether we are a coach, a parent, or a youth sport administrator, that will help our athletes compete longer, compete harder, and most importantly, fall in love with sport again. These steps will help children take ownership of their experience, enjoy sport more, and become intrinsically motivated to keep playing. When our schools, our sports clubs, and our communities commit to making these simple, yet profound changes, we can shift the paradigm in youth sports, and get our kids back on the field where they belong.

I look forward to seeing you all on January 29 to create a movement that will change the game!