Shi Annotated Bibliography Purpose Statement The Research

Shi 12annotated Bibliographypurpose Statement The Research Aims At Fi

The research aims at finding out different kinds of reasons behind the phenomenon that a great percentage of young athletes choose to quit sports before they have the opportunity to become professional athletes in the U.S. An increasing number of children and young athletes choose or get forced to quit sports. The reasons can be various, including physical, mental, and social factors. The research will use different sources to describe and explain the reasons behind this phenomenon.

Source: Miner, Julianna W. “Why 70 Percent of Kinds Quit Sports by Age 13?” The Washington Post, June 2016. Accessed 20 Oct. 2018. The author, a researcher at The Washington Post, used data from the National Alliance for Youth Sports to illustrate the cultural and social reasons why a majority of children quit sports by age 13. She found that the most important factor is cultural pressure which forces children to specialize and achieve at the highest possible level, making sports less fun (Miner, line 39-40). Additionally, financial pressures cause many parents to make their children quit (Miner, lines 57-60). Limitations include the focus only on children under age 13 and a predominant emphasis on social and cultural factors without exploring the sports industry’s disadvantages or different sports contexts.

Source: Wallace, Kelly. “How to Make Your Kid Hate Sports without Really Trying?” CNN, 21 Jan. 2016. Accessed 20 Oct. 2018. The author, a CNN journalist, cited examples of early recruitment of young athletes in eighth grade and interviewed parents to highlight reasons children give up sports. Injuries from overuse (Wallace, lines 60-61) and pressure from coaches and parents to prioritize victory over enjoyment are key factors. Limitations include reliance on interviews and personal explanations rather than solid data, and a narrow focus on children under 13 which limits comprehensiveness.

Source: Mudede, Charles. “Why The Overrepresentation of Black Americans in Professional Sports IS Not a Good Thing.” The Stranger.Com, 25 Sep. 2017. Accessed 20 Oct. 2018. The author used demographic data on Black Americans in various industries, especially sports, to discuss overrepresentation in professional sports (Mudede, lines 1-4). He also quoted historical data to highlight disadvantages, such as reduced attendance of white youth. Limitations involve the irrelevant focus on broader demographic overrepresentation and limited data collection, primarily from NBA and NFL.

Source: Merkel, Donna L. “Youth sport: positive and negative impact on young athletes.” Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine, 31 May 2013. The author used data from the National Center for Sports Safety to discuss both benefits and risks of youth sports. Negative impacts include a high injury rate exceeding 75% (Negative Impact, lines 4-10) and concerns over coaching quality. The author also touched on psychological and social effects. This source provides in-depth, useful information that supports understanding of the negative effects contributing to children quitting sports.

Source: Rosenwald, Michael S. “Youth Sports Participation is Up Slightly, But Many Kids are Still Left Behind.” The Washington Post, 17 May 2016. Accessed 20 Oct 2018. The author analyzed data from the Project Play Summit, noting reasons why many children in the U.S. are leaving sports: high costs, rise of e-sports, and sports specialization (Rosenwald, lines 11-45). The data is solid and from an official sports committee, but its focus on children aged 6-12 limits its generalizability.

Source: Moses, Edwin. “The Importance of Retaining Girls in Sports.” HUFFPOST, 13 Aug. 2015. Accessed 20 Oct 2018. The author, chair of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, used data from the Women’s Sports Foundation to show girls drop out of sports twice as often as boys. Reasons include social stigma and harassment, lack of role models, and logistical barriers (Moses, lines 1-5). This perspective adds depth to gender-specific factors, such as sexual harassment, although the source emphasizes solutions over analysis of causes.

Source: O’Sullivan, John. “Why Kids Quit Sports?” Coaching, Problems in Youth Sports, Sports Parenting, 15 May 2015. Accessed 20 Oct 2018. The author used personal anecdotes and data from studies by George Washington University and the Josephson Institute to outline five psychological reasons for quitting: lack of fun, loss of ownership, limited playing time, fear of mistakes, and disrespect (O’Sullivan, lines 1-13). While providing useful insights into mental reasons, it lacks exploration of broader social, financial, and cultural factors.

Source: Hinch, Will. “Why Do Adults Quit Sports?” Pitcher, 26 Oct. 2016. Accessed 20 Oct 2018. The author referenced a Harvard study of 2,500 adults which identified key reasons for adult sports withdrawal: age-related decline after 26, health concerns, and lack of time (Hinch, lines 15-29). Although focused on adults, this study helps understand underlying motives that could influence youth participation; the primary limitation is its focus on adult recreational activity rather than youth sports.

Source: Cohen-Sander, Roni. “Why Teens Quit Sports.” Raising 21st Century Teens Issues & Solutions, n.d. Accessed 20 Oct 2018. The author, a clinical psychologist, observed that psychological reasons such as loss of interest, personality mismatches with competition, peer teasing, and pressure from coaches and parents contribute to teens quitting sports (Cohen-Sander, lines 50-94). The focus strictly on mental and social factors, neglecting financial and cultural influences, limits its scope.

Source: Galletta, Alexandra. “Why I Quit The Sport I Loved in College.” The Tab.com, Oct 2016. Accessed 20 Oct 2018. Galletta used personal interview insights from a former college athlete to explain that balancing sports and college life is challenging, and rigorous coach demands often lead to quitting (Galletta, lines 32-40). The lone interview basis undermines the broader applicability of conclusions due to limited data scope.

Source: Butcher, Janice et al. “Withdrawal from Competitive Youth Sport: A Retrospective Ten-year Study.” Journal of Sport Behavior, Jun 2002. The authors surveyed over 1,000 tenth-grade students, analyzing withdrawal patterns, with conclusions such as loss of enjoyment, desire for non-sport activities, and injuries as main reasons (Butcher, lines 27-37). The significant limitation is the data's age, potentially rendering findings less relevant today.

Source: Dangi, Tek B. and Witt, Peter A. “Why Children/Youth Drop Out of Sports?” Youth Development Initiative, Dec 2016. The authors applied a recreation and leisure constraints model highlighting intrapersonal, interpersonal, and structural barriers. They identified causes like anxiety, parental pressure, injuries, and financial issues (Dangi & Witt, lines 15-16). The comprehensive framework offers extensive reasons, although lacking specific supporting data for each.

Source: Fraser-Thomas, Jessica, et al. “Examining Adolescent Sport Dropout and Prolonged Engagement from a Developmental Perspective.” Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 2008. The authors examined physical and psychosocial factors influencing dropout through data from 50 adolescent swimmers. Findings emphasize training, maturation, pressure, motivation, and purpose (Fraser-Thomas et al., lines 1-2). A limitation is the small sample size, which restricts broad generalizations.

Paper For Above instruction

Sports participation during childhood and adolescence is widely regarded as beneficial for physical health, social development, and psychological well-being. However, a significant phenomenon persists: many young athletes choose to quit sports prematurely, often before reaching the highest levels of competitiveness or professionalism. Understanding the multifaceted reasons behind this trend is crucial for developing strategies to enhance youth sports retention. The literature reviewed indicates that reasons for dropout are complex and encompass social, psychological, financial, and cultural factors, each exerting influence at different developmental stages and among diverse populations.

One primary factor highlighted across multiple studies is the social and cultural pressures that influence youth participation. Miner (2016) emphasizes that societal expectations and parental pressures to specialize early and achieve at high levels diminish the intrinsic enjoyment of sports, leading children to disengage. This pressure often results from the competitive culture in youth sports, where success is prioritized over fun, and can cause burnout and decreased motivation. The study’s focus on children under 13 underscores the critical influence of early specialization, although it neglects broader industry disadvantages and contextual differences across sports.

In addition to cultural pressures, economic factors play a significant role. Several sources, including Miner (2016), and Rosenwald (2016), note that the rising costs associated with youth sports—such as registration fees, equipment, and travel expenses—pose barriers to continued participation. These financial constraints disproportionately impact low-income families, leading to increased dropout rates. For example, Rosenwald highlights that the high costs and the rise of electronic entertainment alternatives, like e-sports, draw children’s attention away from traditional sports, further contributing to decline. While these sources provide valuable insights, their scope is limited to specific age groups and demographic segments, which may affect the generalizability of their findings.

Health and safety concerns also significantly contribute to sports dropout. Merkel (2013) reports an injury rate exceeding 75% among young athletes, a statistic that alarms parents and discourages continued participation. Injuries, especially from overuse and inadequate coaching, lead many children to withdraw. The quality of coaching also impacts retention; poor coaching practices and the presence of overemphasis on winning can diminish the sporting experience (Hinch, 2016). Furthermore, injuries and negative experiences can lead to mental health issues such as anxiety and loss of confidence, which are psychological detractions identified by Cohen-Sander (2015). The combined physical and mental toll of sports contributes to the decision to quit at various ages, emphasizing the need for improved safety protocols and coaching standards.

Psychological factors are predominant in certain populations, especially adolescents. O’Sullivan (2015) underscores that children often stop participating due to loss of enjoyment, perceived lack of ownership of their sports experience, limited playing time, fear of making mistakes, and feelings of disrespect. These mental and emotional barriers, compounded by peer teasing and excessive pressure from adults, diminish motivation and contribute to dropout. As Cohen-Sander (2015) points out, social rejection, teasing, and coach and parent pressures create a negative environment, especially affecting girls, who drop out at twice the rate of boys (Moses, 2015). These gender disparities highlight the importance of creating inclusive and supportive sports environments for sustained engagement.

Developmental and age-related factors further influence participation. Hinch (2016) identifies that participation rates decline sharply after age 26, with health concerns and time constraints as prime motivators for often ceasing sports activities. Although this focuses on adult participation, it underscores how aging, reduced vitality, and competing life priorities impact ongoing involvement, which likely begins to influence youth before their late twenties. Similarly, Fraser-Thomas et al. (2008) observe that physical maturity, training intensity, and motivation influence dropout among adolescents. Their small sample size cautions against overgeneralization, but their findings point to critical developmental touchpoints where intervention can prevent dropout.

Moreover, social influences such as peer relationships and the availability of role models significantly affect youth engagement. Moses (2015) highlights that the scarcity of positive female role models and experiences of sexual harassment deter girls from sustained participation. Addressing these issues requires targeted efforts to promote gender equity and safe environments. Galletta (2016) attributes collegiate dropout to the demanding balance between sports commitments and academic/life responsibilities, compounded by strict coaching requirements. Such structural constraints highlight the need for flexible programming that accommodates the developmental needs of young athletes.

Overall, the reasons for youth sports dropout are multifactorial, involving interrelated social, psychological, health, and logistical components. Interventions must therefore be equally multifaceted, including improving coaching quality, fostering inclusive environments, reducing costs, and addressing health and safety concerns. Recognizing the developmental stages of young athletes can help tailor strategies that maintain motivation, enjoyment, and long-term participation. Further research should aim to longitudinally examine these factors across diverse populations to design effective retention programs and ensure that youth can experience the full benefits of sports participation.

References

  • Hinch, W. (2016). Why Do Adults Quit Sports? Pitcher. https://pitcher.com
  • Merkel, D. L. (2013). Youth sport: positive and negative impact on young athletes. Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine, 4, 31-39.
  • Moses, E. (2015). The Importance of Retaining Girls in Sports. HuffPost. https://huffpost.com
  • Miner, J. W. (2016). Why 70 Percent of Kids Quit Sports by Age 13? The Washington Post. https://washingtonpost.com
  • Rosenwald, M. S. (2016). Youth Sports Participation. The Washington Post. https://washingtonpost.com
  • Cohen-Sander, R. (2015). Why Teens Quit Sports. Raising 21st Century Teens. https://raisingteens.com
  • Galletta, A. (2016). Why I Quit The Sport I Loved in College. The Tab. https://thetab.com
  • Butcher, J., et al. (2002). Withdrawal from Competitive Youth Sport: A Retrospective Ten-year Study. Journal of Sport Behavior, 25(2), 145-163.
  • Fraser-Thomas, J., et al. (2008). Examining Adolescent Sport Dropout and Prolonged Engagement. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 20(3), DOI: 10.1080/10413200701809597.
  • Dangi, T.B., & Witt, P. A. (2016). Why Children/Youth Drop Out of Sports? Youth Development Initiative.

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