7 Reasons to Bring Back Free Play In Youth Sports
The concept of free play may not be as popular as it used to be. But here's why it should still be encouraged in youth sports.
When I was growing up, parents thought nothing of allowing their children to play pickup games in the street or a neighborhood park. Kids would choose teams, play by their own rules, and resolve conflicts (yes, sometimes fights would break out). This was usually accomplished without adult intervention.
Commonly known as ‘free play’, this concept isn’t as popular today. For one thing, parents are often reluctant to let their children roam free for fear of harm coming to them. Kids would rather stay inside and play video games than be outside taking part in real ones. A movement toward a more rigorous structure in youth sports has made free play less feasible and attractive.
There’s no question children of all ages need structure. But many educators and even coaches agree the opportunity to play independently is as beneficial to their development today as it was in previous generations.
I once asked Dan Keller, a youth baseball coach in California, whether he believed in the concept. His answer was an enthusiastic “yes, yes, yes!” Keller, who runs the free online baseball resource Dugout Captain, believes young athletes should have the freedom to play and compete without thought or fear.
Other Barriers to Free Play
Granted, it isn’t always easy for coaches to take time during practice for fun. Schedules are tight, and teams often have to share facilities, which cuts down the amount of time coaches have for structured workouts.
One travel softball coach I interviewed recently starts every practice with a 30-minute group time, allowing his girls to socialize and have fun while warming up. It gets the players loose and keeps them motivated when it’s time to get down to serious business.
Athletes can also practice on their own, which in itself is a form of free play. This was a frequent occurrence during the pandemic, when organized sports was shut down for several months.
But another coach I spoke with was quite blunt when the subject of players working out individually came up.
“It’s not hard to find talented players,” he said. “Finding kids that have work ethic and toughness becomes harder every single year.”
At a time when kids are under so much pressure to win and perform at the highest individual level, they need free play now more than ever. Here are seven benefits to keep in mind.
Free Play Enhances Skill Development
Sometimes, even a regular routine or drill can be turned into a fun learning experience.
One such activity is what Keller calls the Water Balloon Drill. It’s intended to not only teach younger kids the art of hitting a baseball, but help them overcome the fear of swinging a bat. It can be run as a side station or at the beginning of a practice.
All you need are water balloons (75 is a good number to make sure you have enough for everyone), and a batting tee. Best of all, it keeps everyone loose and breaks up the monotony of practice.
“We had happy kids, happy parents, lots of smiles,” Keller told me back in 2018. “I get LOTS of positive feedback from coaches across the nation about the simplicity of making kids smile by hitting water balloons.”
Kids Learn to Think for Themselves
In 2006, the U.S. Soccer Federation released a document called Best Practices for Coaching, in which it recommends coaches allow their players to do more unstructured play during practice with less adult supervision. The goal, according to the USSF, is to develop better players who are also more creative and able to think on their own.
Free Play Can Relieve Stress and Anxiety
Dr. Kenneth R. Ginsburg, a pediatrician in Philadelphia, believes this is crucial for a child’s mental development, particularly when it comes to handling anxiety and other emotions that bring on stress.
“Kids deal with their anxiety and fears through free play,” Dr. Ginsburg told Scholastic.com. “It’s their natural means of building resiliency.”
Less Structure Encourages More Engagement
Keller learned this while conducting summer baseball camps in Southern California. At first, he placed more emphasis on tightly controlled practices and fewer scrimmages. However, it quickly became obvious to him the players weren’t as engaged. While they learned a lot, he conceded the controlled environment killed the joy of the experience. So he changed his approach, with more games that could be stopped temporarily if instruction were needed.
More Free Play Makes Sports Feel Less Like Work
John O’Sullivan, head of Changing the Game Project,
is quite direct when the subject of free play is brought up: Athletes don’t work sports, they play them. O’Sullivan, whose mission is to give youth sports back to the kids, says once the thrill is gone, so is the peak performance. Games and practices become a grind, and burnout soon sets in. If the goal is to develop successful athletes, there needs to be a level of enjoyment; otherwise, they will look for something else to fulfill their needs.
Fewer Injuries May Occur
According to doctors at Nationwide Hospital’s sports medicine department,
too much intense physical activity can result in stress fractures, tendonitis, and other injuries to joints and muscles. The study found the number of injuries dropped significantly when kids were allowed to engage in their own play. It concluded that too much intense physical activity has contributed to the rise of serious injuries in today’s youth sports culture.
Play Time May Make Kids Smarter
Free play among young children has been linked to an increase in academic performance and creativity as they get older, according to a 2014 survey by the University of Texas. Ideally, there should be a balanced mix of organized activities and freedom for kids to create their own structure, the study says.
***
As music icon Bob Dylan once sang, “the times, they are a-changin’. The days of playing ball in the streets and neighborhood parks may be a thing of the past, but there is still room for free play in organized youth sports. It may not be easy for adults to allow young athletes to think for themselves, solve problems and develop physical and emotional well-being through less structure. But striking a balance may create a healthier and more positive environment for everyone. To quote a popular line from the Bad News Bears movie, “let the kids play”.
Hot Takes and Great Reads
i9 Sports® has announced a partnership with USA Football. With over 3 million registrations across the U.S., i9 Sports® is the largest multisport provider focused exclusively on high quality, community-based sports leagues for kids.
The goal of their partnership with USA Football is to enhance i9’s flag football leagues with age-appropriate instructional development.
Click here to read the full article.
***
I’m sure we were all hoping to be rid of COVID-19 by now, especially as kids head back to school. But it refuses to go away. As cases from the Delta variant continue to be on the rise, some states are going back to mask mandates for youth sports activities.
Last week, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker issued a mask mandate for all indoor youth sports. The mandate does not apply to outdoor sports, unless they move their activities indoors.
More states and organizations are sure to follow suit if cases continue to rise.
***
Scholarship applications are now being accepted for the Howe Foundation for youth sports and women in the business of sports.
The Howe Foundation was started by the late hockey legend Gordie Howe and his wife Colleen to promote kids’ participation in athletics.
Over $10,000 will be awarded to 10 recipients. Applications can be found on the Howe Foundation website.
***
Kudos to NBA star Trae Young. The Atlanta Hawks player donated $4 million from his foundation to help fund a new 120,000 square-foot youth sports facility in Norman, Oklahoma.
The new facility will feature 12 volleyball courts, eight basketball courts, two pools and a concession area. It will be named after Young, who played his college ball at Oklahoma University.
You can read the full story by clicking here.
***
Want more stories like these sent to your inbox each week? Subscribe free so you don’t miss an issue.