Bad news in the 'burbs

From the Daily Herald:

Youth sports leagues find fewer suburban kids are signing up to play

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=358994

Many experts and coaches blame the computer and video games for a decrease in softball and baseball enrollment this year.

And while the finger can be pointed at everything from the recession to competition from other sports, experts increasingly are blaming children's habitual video game playing as a key reason why droves are ignoring America's No. 1 pastime.

And the better children get at video games and more used to the fast-paced action they get, the less likely they'll give them up to play the real game, experts say.

"Instead of going out to play sandlot baseball, kids today are content to sit in front of a computer to play a video game," said Rich Honack, a professor at Kellogg School of Management.

Studying generations, he says his data shows the computer is the reason for the decrease in kids playing competitive sports.

It seems like this may have more to do with the economy but if the DH wants to knee-jerk it into a "TV / video games causing the downfall of the country" thing than who am I to argue with them?

The "experts" have been blaming video games since "Pong", "Pac-Man" and "Super Mario" were de-rigeur.

I completely agree with them here however.

Rizzo agrees that video games are playing a part in the demise. "My concern is if kids aren't playing baseball," he said, "they're likely doing something that could get them in trouble."

He believes parents must take a more active role in assisting their children in finding physical activities.

"Parents have to reassert control," said Shifrin, who serves on a council studying the impact media has on the health of children.

"I'm concerned with any statistic that decreases a child's physical activity."

If team enrollment figures are declining, he says, parents need to be aware. "It's a wake-up call."

And here.

And when kids are in front of the computer or texting for countless hours, there are other negative consequences. Children are failing to learn life lessons about achieving goals, building esteem, the commitment it takes to be on a team as well as how to interact with others.

"Social skills are lacking in these kids," Honack says.

Another fear is what will happen to sports teams at higher levels?

"I'm hearing that this trend is already creeping into the high school level," Honack said. "The numbers are dropping everywhere. It has no boundaries."

Again, the cuts at the HS level, in most cases, are due to budgetary / economic considerations more than the kids interest levels.

I agree with most of the conclusions, I just think the emphasis on the reasons for the decline are a bit misplaced. There is no need to over-hype this issue.

Actually in this area, I applaud Mrs. Obama's efforts to "reach across the aisle" and work with former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee to work on the issues of childhood obesity.

She could teach the President a couple of things about how things can get done in Washington.