Product Description

Fred Engh examines the poor state of youth sports in America, explains why the system has been perverted by a need-to-win mentality, and documents the negative roles that parents, coaches, and administrators often play in young athletes' lives. He then provides a variety of proven solutions that can help put fun back in the game.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #172756 in Books
• Published on: 2002-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

From Booklist
Engh, a longtime activist in youth sports, argues that children should be allowed to have fun and learn the fundamentals of the game without the pressures of overzealous parents, coaches, and administrators looking to mold the next Ken Griffey or Kobe Bryant. He calls for a return to fair play, teamwork, and enjoyment, a novel idea in these days of pushing children to achievements beyond their years. The author offers examples of how pressuring children, whether intentional or not, can prove disastrous on the field. Perhaps worse is the loss of sports as a healthy outlet to kids who are turned off by bad experiences at an early age. Johnny is full of anecdotes about oblivious coaches more interested in winning than protecting the youngster's fragile body and ego and parents living vicariously through their progeny. Every parent who has a child involved in youth sports, or who is thinking about it, should read Engh's book as a reminder that the phrase is "play ball." Ron Kaplan

Customer Reviews

To the point
Sports is an important topic in many families and schools in the USA and abroad. Engh takes a courageous position and that is to say, we, as parents and amateur coaches have twisted the idea of organized sports competition and made it into a grueling exercise for its innocent victims: our children. Engh rightly points out that parents and ignorant coaches who use their amateur leadership position to wrongly influence our children as to what fair sportsmanship is all about. Engh points out that "winning" has unfortunately become the Holy Grail of youth competition. I'd rather prefer what I heard one Chinese table tennis champion say a few years back, "Winning is temporary, friendship is permanent." You only have to attend a local sports event or pick up a newspaper to hear about the tragic ways children are exposed to bickering parents, foul-mouthed opponents, loud mouth fans, unrewarded referees. Engh places himself in a vulnerable position to put the spotlighht on the very people he is asking to support his organization nationwide: the coaches, schools, youth organizations and parents. In youth sports, the child is supposed to come first, like it was in sandlot baseball and other sports in the past. But now "the organization" comes first, and corporate sponsors. children in youth sports have become a commodity. I wouldn't be surpised if some youth organizations try to ban his book because it exposes some of the politics, in-fighting and complete insensitivity that exists in youth sports today. There are many good, sensitive parents and single persons who are engaged in helping youth sports. I hope everyone of them buys a couple dozen of Engh's book and distributes them to their local libraries. Good luck, Mr. Engh ! We hope your book enlightenens the next person who comes along planning to use an amateur coach position or parent-fan to fullfill his or her unrealized dreams of athletic greatness. H T White

A must read for all parents with children in youth sports
Fred Engh has hit the nail on the head with his book,"Why Johnny Hates Sports". Our children today are in the hands of Adminstrators,Coaches and parents that have only one goal,win at any cost. Mr. Engh points out in page after page that we are hurting the ones we most love, our kids. I'm going to buy a copy for every board member in my little league.Thank you Mr. Engh, I felt I was the only parent on my team that thought winning was less important that instruction and learning. Before you put your children at risk of a underskilled,overreacting coach read this book.

To the point
Sports is an important topic in many families and schools in the USA and abroad. Engh takes a courageous position and that is to say, we, as parents and amateur coaches have twisted the idea of organized sports competition and made it into a grueling exercise for its innocent victims: our children. Engh rightly points out that parents and ignorant coaches who use their amateur leadership position to wrongly influence our children as to what fair sportsmanship is all about. Engh points out that "winning" has unfortunately become the Holy Grail of youth competition. I'd rather prefer what I heard one Chinese table tennis champion say a few years back, "Winning is temporary, friendship is permanent." You only have to attend a local sports event or pick up a newspaper to hear about the tragic ways children are exposed to bickering parents, foul-mouthed opponents, loud mouth fans, unrewarded referees. Engh places himself in a vulnerable position to put the spotlighht on the very people he is asking to support his organization nationwide: the coaches, schools, youth organizations and parents. In youth sports, the child is supposed to come first, like it was in sandlot baseball and other sports in the past. But now "the organization" comes first, and corporate sponsors. children in youth sports have become a commodity. I wouldn't be surpised if some youth organizations try to ban his book because it exposes some of the politics, in-fighting and complete insensitivity that exists in youth sports today. There are many good, sensitive parents and single persons who are engaged in helping youth sports. I hope everyone of them buys a couple dozen of Engh's book and distributes them to their local libraries. Good luck, Mr. Engh ! We hope your book enlightenens the next person who comes along planning to use an amateur coach position or parent-fan to fullfill his or her unrealized dreams of athletic greatness. H T White