Overview

The OSU Youth Sports Initiative was a recent OSU CARES partnership effort of OSU Extension 4-H Youth Development (Ohio 4-H), the OSU School of Physical Activity and Educational Services (PAES), and the Cultural Studies Section of the OSU School of Educational Policy and Leadership. The goal of the initiative was to improve the sports experiences of Ohio youth by providing them and the adults who work with them with current, research-based information, resources, and experiences to develop participant knowledge, attitudes, skills, and aspirations related to:

• sports ethics, character and sportsmanship;
• developmental level appropriate training;
• sports nutrition; and
• life skills such as goal setting, time management, conflict resolution, leadership, and career education.

Why?

There is a gap between what is known from research to be "best practices" and "critical aspects of positive youth development" and the practices and experiences of many youth who participate in athletics. With more than 35 million youth and 3.5 million volunteer coaches involved in youth sports programs outside of school settings across the country, there is a tremendous need for readily-available educational opportunities and youth-targeted resources to improve the quality of sport experiences for the girls and boys in these programs.

The OSU Youth Sports Initiative was designed to help bridge that gap and accomplish the purposes for which land-grant institutions were founded - to educate; to interpret and encourage the practical use of knowledge that comes from research; and to extend knowledge from the universities to help people improve their lives. Several studies and reports documented the need for the initiative. Examples included:

• More than half of Ohio's junior high school students play sports (OHSAA, 1999)

• Female children and adolescents who participate regularly in sports are at risk for developing medical conditions such as disordered eating, menstrual dysfunction, and decreased bone mineral density. (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2000; Garner, Rosen & Barry, 1998; Gidwani & June, 1999; Geydanus, Patel & Baxte, 1998; West, 1998)

• Anabolic steroid use has negative effects on liver function, serum lipids, reproductive and cardiovascular systems, mood and behavior. Anabolic steroid use rates have been found to range from 4% to 12% of male adolescents, and .5% to 2% of female adolescents, with higher rates among those in strength-related sports and those who use other illicit drugs. (Bahrke, Yesalis & Brower, Oct., 1998; Johnson and Landry, Oct., 1998)

• 62% of youth identify sports and fitness as one of their hobbies or special interests (Alger, 1996)

• Adolescents tend to glorify professional athletes and have unrealistic expectations for eventual professional athletic careers of their own; and to rank status and financial gain as more important than desire to play sports. (Stiles, Gibbons, Sebben and Wiley, 1999)

• Less than 10% of the 3.5 million volunteer coaches, and less than 1/3 of the inter-scholastic coaches in the USA have had any type of coaching education. 40,000 knees are injured from sports participation each year in the United States. 50% of these injuries have some lasting residual effect which impacts the quality of life. Most sports injuries are preventable. (National Youth Sports Safety Foundation, 2001)

• According to the National Sporting Goods Association (2000), even though only 16% of the USA population is age 7-17, the percent of participants age 7-17 in these sports are: soccer - 68%; gymnastics - 61%; football - 57%; baseball - 55%; wrestling - 48%; basketball - 47%; martial arts - 44%; softball - 39%; swimming - 34%; tennis - 30%

Initiative Highlights

4-H You're The Athlete curriculum for middle-school age youth

The first priority addressed by the OSU Youth Sports Initiative Team was the completion and successful introduction of the 4-H You're The Athlete project. The project has proven to be a unique and valuable resource for providing middle-school age youth athletes with research-based information from The Ohio State University and nationally recognized experts along with experiential learning activities to develop their knowledge, attitudes, skills, and aspirations in these areas:

- GOAL SETTING

- SPORTSMANSHIP & CHARACTER

- TIME MANAGEMENT

- SPORTS NUTRITION

- STRENGTH & CONDITIONING

- ATHLETES AS LEADERS

- CONFLICT RESOLUTION

- CAREERS IN ATHLETICS

Click here for a brochure with more information about You're the Athlete.

Copies of the You're The Athlete 4-H project curriculum are available in Ohio through County OSU Extension Offices. 

Out-of-state ordersand requests for pricing information may be directed to Janis Cripe, OSU Extension Publications, 2021 Coffey Rd, Columbus, OH 43210, e-mail: cripe.2@osu.edu 

Resources and Training for Volunteer Coaches and Others Who Work with Youth Athletes

Because the available volunteer time of many adults who work with youth athletes is frequently consumed by practices, games, organizing, league requirements, dealing with parents, etc., a more readily-available and easily-accessible alternative to the traditional "in-person training conference" approach is needed. Therefore, the Initiative focused on delivering training and resources a different format - specifically video streaming via the Internet. This new approach has been well-received, and is proving to be effective and efficient in delivering needed information to volunteer coaches and others who work with youth athletes (at times and places convenient to their schedules). DVD versions are available for use in locations where streaming technology is not easily accessible.

The six program segments produced through the Initiative are available for viewing at the following links:

(These presentations are large, and are best viewed over a high-speed internet link.  In order to view the following links you will need the latest version of Internet Explorer 5.0, or Internet Explorer 5.2.2 for Mac, or Netscape Navigator 7.0.).  To download a current version of Internet Explorer, visit Microsoft's website:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/

Introducing The "You're the Athlete" Curriculum
with Luke Woods, M.Sc., Fairfield County OSU Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
http://clickvideo.ag.ohio-state.edu/athlete/athlete.htm

Ethics and Sportsmanship in Youth Athletics
with Bill Morgan, Ph.D., OSU Professor, Cultural Studies
http://clickvideo.ag.ohio-state.edu/athlete/ethics.htm

Conditioning: Appropriate Practices
with Tim Kirby, Ph.D., Associate Professor, OSU Internal Medicine & Physical Activities & Educational Services
http://clickvideo.ag.ohio-state.edu/athlete/conditioning.htm

Nutrition for Young Athletes
with Carmen Babcock, M.Sc., Manager, OSU Sport & Exercise Science http://clickvideo.ag.ohio-state.edu/athlete/nutrition.htm

Conducting Effective Practice Sessions
with Kevin Lorson, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, OSU Sport & Exercise Sciences
http://clickvideo.ag.ohio-state.edu/athlete/practice.htm

Liability Issues in Coaching
with Janet Fink, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, OSU Sport & Exercise Sciences
http://clickvideo.ag.ohio-state.edu/athlete/liability.htm

Evaluations of OSU Youth Sports Initiative efforts have been very positive. Responses from youth athletes who have participated in You're The Athlete project experiences, from workshop participants, from users of the on-line and DVD video lessons, and from other reviewers have been overwhelmingly enthusiastic.

OSU Youth Sports Initiative Contacts

Kathryn J. Cox, Ph.D. Asst. Professor & Extension 4-H Specialist, Youth Development, OSU Extension & Department of Human Development and Family Science, 25 Ag Administration Bldg., 2120 Fyffe Rd., Columbus, OH 43210-1084 ph: 614-292-6941 em: cox.5@osu.edu

David L. Porretta, Ph.D. Professor, Adapted Physical Activity, OSU School of Physical Activity and Educational Services, 202 Pomerene Hall, 1760 Neil Ave., Columbus, OH 43210 em: porretta.1@osu.edu

William Morgan, Ph.D. Professor, Cultural Studies in Education, OSU School of Educational Policy & Leadership, 141 Ramseyer Hall, 29 W. Woodruff Ave, Columbus, OH 43210 em: morgan.523@osu.edu

Luke Woods, M.Sc., OSU Extension 4-H Youth Development Educator, 1999-2005

Mike Sherman, Ph.D., Professor & Director, OSU School of Physical Activity & Educational Services, 216 Pomerene Hall, 1760 Neil Ave., Columbus, OH 43210