than good. After all, sports exist for the sake of having fun with those who share a similar passion. Multi-sport athletes get to experience this with many different types of people.
“Sports should be something kids enjoy and shouldn’t be treated as work,” McLaughlin said. “Most kids are not going to make a dime playing sports, so for them to be with their friends, have fun, and get the social piece from it is what really matters. They can even get the fitness side, too, so it’s a great vehicle towards a healthy and fulfilling life.”
Considering both the advantages and drawbacks of sports in young athletes' lives, it is overtly apparent that indulging in several options out there may not be as bad as it seems at first glance. Multi-sport athletes become more balanced from a physical and mental standpoint and, in turn, learn a litany of life skills.
It may be tempting to focus on one sport, but those who try out all different things become better friends, students, and people. Each unique sporting experience shapes children in a different way, especially considering that sports are a great venue for fostering young men. It helps them set priorities straight and get the most out of the classroom, playing field, family setting, and friendships.
Conscious of all of these things, MBYLL is aware of how much lacrosse and other sports can positively shape and mold its participants. With a keen focus on keeping things in perspective and fun, multi-sport athletes are cherished and valued.
“The thing I believe MBYLL does so well is achieve that balance, where things aren’t too intense and there is still enough fun in the game to make it a great experience,” Buttafuoco said. “Many of the kids are going to be involved in other activities and come from different athletic backgrounds, and that’s fantastic. In recognizing that lacrosse is just one part of the bigger picture, MBYLL is able to keep the game fun for everyone involved.”
players resonate very well and the players don't know because they’re not mature enough yet to know that’s not a smart thing to do. They follow the coach's lead," said Benson.
Benson also noted that when coaches show aggression towards officials because of a call, the athletes will also show aggression because they think it’s permissible. "When [coaches] are more focused on the officiating and protecting the kids from the officiating, the kids get a little more license to get more aggressive," he said.
But coaches are not the only influence that can cause a young athlete to change his behavior in a game. Parents often put too much pressure on their child and in effect the child will stop playing. According to Mahery, 70% of young athletes stop playing sports by the age of 13 and the usual reason is because of a negative experience on the field. "You can tell it’s too much for kids. They need a release from what’s going," said Mahery.
Coaches can also be affected by the stringent behavior from parents. "I hear stories from coaches who say, 'Two years ago, I had one of the best teams in the league. We were undefeated, but it was one of the worst experiences as a coach because the focus was so much on winning and a lot of it was driven by the parents to the kids. The athletes weren't having fun because the expectations were too high,'" recalled Mahery.
"I say many of the issues stem from a coach’s behavior from the sidelines and the way they are coaching the game and the way they may be distracted from the more important things like sportsmanship and [that] everyone has a positive experience," said Benson.
Spangenberg agrees: "Players are a reflection of their coaches—which again, is why all our coaches must appreciate and consider their role as positive teachers in developing their players' character and sense of camaraderie and community on their team."
But youth lacrosse as a whole has seen good sportsmanship increase and negative influences decrease thanks to programs like PCA. According to Benson, EMLOA has done analysis over the past five to ten years on unsportsmanlike behavior. The analysis showed that unsportsmanlike behavior has dropped significantly at the high school level. The number of ejections from last year totaled seven, three of which were in one game, and fights have also declined as well. Benson said that five years ago, he would expect 40 to 50 ejections a year.
"If the coaches are good then the kids will act like gentlemen and the parents will try to emulate that," said Klim. Spangenberg stressed the importance of good coaching as well. "All our coaches have an enormous impact on their players, which is why we all are so adamant that together we have a baseline foundation through our certification clinics," said Spangenberg.
The point of youth lacrosse is to grow and honor the game. Young athletes want to have fun and the environment they are given allows them to mature into young men who respect each other and the game of lacrosse. With support from the "adult team," the young athletes will thrive.
Klim agrees. "My biggest thing is to teach the kid the game and honor the game… and also that they have a smile on their face at the end of the year because they're not going to want to come back if they don’t enjoy what they're doing."
22 The Scoop / Spring '15
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Multi-Sport
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Sideline Behavior
Continued from page 17