Kids and the Future of Watching Sports
The traditional way kids and adults watch sports is quite different than it was even 10 years ago.
When was the last time your child sat in front of a television (not a smart device, but an actual television screen) and took in a four-hour sporting event in its entirety?
Go ahead… I’ll wait.
If you said yesterday, or last week, congratulations. Your kid is in the minority.
Sure, kids still watch games, particularly if they feature their favorite players or teams. But the trend of “traditional” sports watching is declining rapidly from the days before hundreds of all-sports cable networks and live streaming. According to a MarketWatch study, under-18 viewership ranges from 9% for football to 3% for golf. Baseball, which has been criticized for its long, slow games, pulls in just 7% of viewers under age 18.
Growing up, I was glued to a television or radio (remember those?) watching or listening to a baseball, football, basketball or hockey game. Heck, I’d even watch golf matches with my grandfather. The only time I’d take a break is when (a) I had to go to the bathroom; (b) I wanted a snack or something to drink; or (c) My team was losing so badly I got disgusted and turned the game off.
But we live in a different time. Sports viewing, like almost everything else, has undergone a facelift. Kids and adults watch events in a whole new way than they did even 10 years ago. Even the in-stadium experience has changed. Here are some reasons.
Games have Become Too Long
I’ve probably heard this complaint more than any other, particularly in baseball. The sport is slow to begin with, but between more TV commercial breaks, longer pauses between pitches, changing pitchers multiple times, and instant replay reviews, it’s not uncommon for a game to last four hours. That just won’t cut it in today’s viewing world.
“Sports games need to move along faster, no televised long walks from the bullpen, the game should be shorter, shorter half times, and the players need to be more relatable and personable,” Phil Blair of Manpower told the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Shorter Attention Spans
If a game is going to last several hours, it needs to be heart-pounding excitement almost all the way through, something that doesn’t happen all that often.
Kids especially have much shorter attention spans. They aren’t going to focus on anything that’s several hours unless it’s a video game where they can be directly involved in the action. Highlight packages and other bite-sized content offerings are much more appealing than watching a four-hour game that’s 1-0 or drags along unnecessarily.
So many Choices
I grew up before cable TV became a thing. We had three, maybe four local network channels, so you might get one or two games at a time if you were lucky.
Not anymore. Thanks to live streaming services, apps and cable sports packages, you can have dozens of games to choose from all at once. If you start losing interest, you can switch to another with a push of a button or touch of a screen.
“Fans are seeking highlights, quick snippets of information, or close game notifications through apps or paid subscriptions,” Jamie Moraga of IntelliSolutions told the Union-Tribune. “By getting more creative and interactive and utilizing technology, social media, branding, and live experiences, professional leagues may be able to re-engage younger generations of fans.”
Other Options
Games and highlights are not the only alternatives. Kids now have the advantage of social media platforms and video games that make professional sports seem as if you’re right in the action. The trend toward virtual reality will only increase, allowing us to feel more connected whether we’re at the game or on the couch. We can even create our own experiences through Madden NFL and other games.
Too Much Money
Sports at all levels has become big business, pricing out many families. Nowadays, parents can’t take their kids to a game without spending $100 or more on tickets, concessions, parking and purchasing team merchandise.
Some minor league baseball teams like the Savannah Bananas make coming to games more affordable and attractive with low-priced tickets that cover everything from food to parking. But even the cost of cable sports packages and streaming subscriptions can add up, making sports watching even less appealing.
Hope for the Future
Is watching sports a dying breed? Not necessarily. We just view our content differently. But professional leagues and even college programs need to become smarter about appealing to viewers, whether they’re kids or adults.
It starts with improving the fan connection, whether that’s at the stadium or viewing at home. The New York Mets are one pro team that is trying to better connect with younger fans. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, Mets owner Steven Cohen has joined forces with marketing and talent firm Range Media Partners to offer upgrades in the team’s social media brand and ballpark experience. While the initiative is still in development, ideas include live comedy during games, adding more screens at the stadium, and other technology upgrades.
But professional leagues need to find a way to make games shorter and more entertaining, particularly in sports like baseball. Making fans feel more a part of the action or team will also increase as technology evolves. I can see a day in the future where there will be fewer game-length broadcasts and more condensed streaming content featuring highlights and the best plays.
As a traditional sports watcher, it’s hard for me to imagine. But change is inevitable. Even I have to admit I don’t watch games in their entirety as often as I once did. If we want our kids to remain interested in sports, we need to make them more appealing to watch as well as participate.
Hot Takes and Great Reads
Alan Stein Jr. and Rich Czeslawski have written a book called “The Sideline: A Survival Guide for Youth Sports Parents”.
The book is aimed at misguided parents who take the joy out of sports for their kids. Stein, a motivational speaker, is a dad to three kids, all of whom play sports. He’s also an endurance athlete and former basketball performance coach who has worked with NBA stars Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry.
“I have such respect and reverence for youth sports parents,” Stein told Timesnews.net. “I know the time they invest. I know how committed they are. And it’s also been my experience that so many of them are just heavily misguided.”
Czeslawski is also a father of three who has coached both youth and college sports for 25 years. The book, which is only 50 pages, offers guidelines for youth athletes and parents. The authors hope parents, coaches and administrators will buy the book and use it as a gut-check resource rather than a scolding tool.
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I did some writing for a Dick’s Sporting Goods blog several years ago, which has since been taken down. So a story in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on a grant they gave to a local youth sports program piqued my interest.
The company gave $20,000 to the McKeesport Little Tigers football program.
Needless to say, Dennis Robinson, the program’s president, was quite moved by the award.
“I got tears in my eyes,” he told the Post-Gazette. “We fundraise and do a lot of different things. But this was like a blessing that came out of nowhere. One time, it felt like someone was looking out for us.”
You can read the entire story here.
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Thanks to a program called Start Smart, young children can develop motor skills and have fun in sports at the same time.
The program was developed by top motor skill development experts in the field of youth sports. Participants can develop proper skills without the stress of competition or the fear of being hurt.
Start Smart currently offers eight different programs that feature age-appropriate equipment and exercises. Click here to find out more information about starting one in your community.
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