{"id":613204,"date":"2024-03-17T21:10:01","date_gmt":"2024-03-17T18:10:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/the-problem-with-seeing-young-sportspeople-as-athletes-first-children-second\/"},"modified":"2024-03-17T21:10:01","modified_gmt":"2024-03-17T18:10:01","slug":"the-problem-with-seeing-young-sportspeople-as-athletes-first-children-second","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/the-problem-with-seeing-young-sportspeople-as-athletes-first-children-second\/","title":{"rendered":"#The problem with seeing young sportspeople as athletes first, children second"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3b39e2e2b82\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3b39e2e2b82\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/the-problem-with-seeing-young-sportspeople-as-athletes-first-children-second\/#Accelerated_adulthoods\" >Accelerated adulthoods<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/the-problem-with-seeing-young-sportspeople-as-athletes-first-children-second\/#A_balanced_approach\" >A balanced approach<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2019\/childsport.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2019\/childsport.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Credit: CC0 Public Domain\">\n<figure class=\"article-img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2019\/childsport.jpg\" alt=\"child sport\" title=\"Credit: CC0 Public Domain\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-darken text-low-up text-truncate-js text-truncate mt-3\">\n                Credit: CC0 Public Domain<br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>A <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/sports\/swim-england-promises-change-after-report-points-culture-fear-clubs-2024-03-06\/\">recent report<\/a> commissioned by Swim England, the national governing body for swimming in England, has found evidence of a &#8220;culture of fear&#8221; in swimming clubs. The report finds that children involved in competitive swimming can be treated like professional athletes, and the importance of sporting performance held above all else.<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.internationaljournalofwellbeing.org\/index.php\/ijow\/article\/view\/1461?articlesBySimilarityPage=3\">Sport can be<\/a> a positive influence on young people&#8217;s well-being. Children are encouraged to participate in sport, and the aspiration to become an elite athlete is widely seen as an admirable goal.<\/p>\n<p>Many children will find competitive sport enjoyable and rewarding. But problems can occur when the athletic identity of a young person overshadows their identity as a child. There is a risk that clubs, coaches and parents may treat young people as athletes rather than as children. And this can take place at all levels of sport, from children taking part in sports like swimming at local clubs to those who compete at the highest level.<\/p>\n<p>One participant in the Swim England report said that a focus on swimming performance led to their <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">social<\/a> and academic life suffering, and that they would frequently push themselves in training to the point of vomiting or collapse to please their coach. &#8220;The way in which the sport is delivered to children and hiding under the label of &#8216;high performance athletes&#8217; is driving people away from the sport they once loved,&#8221; they said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re not here to have fun, we&#8217;re here to win!&#8221; one parent told a researcher for the Swim England report.<\/p>\n<p>A focus on sporting success above all can compromise children&#8217;s well-being and safety. Young people may be exposed to environments that are highly pressurized, psychologically demanding and often tolerant of abuse.<\/p>\n<p>Certain practices that take place in youth sports, such as coaches and parents <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/uefa-safeguarding.eu\/video-my-magic-sports-kit-nspcc\">screaming on the sidelines<\/a>, that would be considered unacceptable in other settings. A teacher would be unable to behave like this towards their charges in a school setting, for instance.<\/p>\n<p>In football academies, child athletes are potential future stars\u2014and money spinners. A business mindset shifts the focus from nurturing children to molding them <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pure.ulster.ac.uk\/ws\/portalfiles\/portal\/77510669\/Rights_risks_and_responsibilities_Accepted_Aug_2019.pdf\">into &#8220;assets&#8221;<\/a> for <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/blog\/2023\/sep\/05\/youth-academies-premier-league-clubs-revenue-stream\">potential profit<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Treating children like products rather than unique individuals with their own childhood experiences overshadows children&#8217;s vital developmental needs.<\/p>\n<p>                                                                                                        <!-- Google middle Adsense block --><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Accelerated_adulthoods\"><\/span>Accelerated adulthoods<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp recently spoke about the need to protect young football players, including from <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/sport\/football\/68429635#:~:text=Liverpool%20manager%20Jurgen%20Klopp%20moved,win%20against%20Southampton%20on%20Wednesday\">media attention<\/a>, as academy youth players made their debut in senior-level <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/game\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"7\" title=\"Game\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">game<\/a>s. &#8220;But from tomorrow, leave the boys in the corner, please. And don&#8217;t ask: &#8216;Where are they now? Where are they now? Where are they now?'&#8221; <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/sport\/football\/football-news\/jurgen-klopp-makes-luke-littler-28720774\">he told reporters<\/a> after Liverpool&#8217;s FA cup win over Southampton.<\/p>\n<p>Darts player Luke Littler competed in the World Darts Championships and other major darts tournaments at the age of 16. Littler has received intense levels of public scrutiny that extended beyond the reaches of sport: his private life, including his relationship status, has <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbnews.com\/sport\/other-sport\/luke-littler-girlfriend-eloise-milburn-world-darts-championship\">made headlines<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Attention on the personal life of a minor rushes them towards adulthood but also shows a lack of respect for the privacy of young athletes: a significant safeguarding concern.<\/p>\n<p>Children&#8217;s names have even been included in <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/2022\/feb\/14\/kamila-valieva-free-to-compete-at-winter-olympics-after-provisional-doping-suspension-overturned\">reports about doping<\/a>. <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thetimes.co.uk\/article\/kamila-valieva-was-plied-with-56-medicines-between-ages-of-13-and-15-25tnw3d52\">Kamila Valieva<\/a>, a Russian figure skater, experienced the unwelcome publicity of having her <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/valieva-russian-doping-skating-beijing-olympics-strawberry-9f1e97255796d56841cc278c1f753087\">positive test<\/a> revealed at the age of just 15, causing controversy at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.<\/p>\n<p>This stands in stark contrast to practices elsewhere, such as in <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/yjlc.uk\/resources\/legal-terms-z\/anonymity\">courts of law<\/a>. Article 16 of the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.unicef.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/UNCRC_summary-1_1.pdf\">UN Convention on the Rights of the Child<\/a> outlines children&#8217;s right to privacy.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_balanced_approach\"><\/span>A balanced approach<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/21640629.2021.1990655\">Children have the right<\/a> to be protected from all forms of harm in sport. This extends to their right to participate in sports within a safe and enjoyable environment. There are evidently distinct challenges that arise when young people compete in elite and often adult-dominated sporting spaces.<\/p>\n<p>The <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/17430437.2023.2268555\">abuse of children in sports<\/a> is a concern at both community and elite levels. It is essential to address these concerns to ensure that the pursuit of athletic excellence does not come at the cost of the fundamental rights and safety of young people.<\/p>\n<p>When children are treated solely as athletes, the excitement around <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/2024\/feb\/14\/freddy-adu-was-just-like-messi-what-happened-to-americas-pele?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other\">their potential<\/a> means that the fact that they are still minors may be forgotten. They must be recognized as children first, especially when their performance in elite sports takes place prior to reaching adulthood.<\/p>\n<p>It is the moral obligation of all adults involved in sport to develop an <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>roach that keeps children in sport safe, even when they are classed as elite athletes.<\/p>\n<div class=\"d-inline-block text-medium my-4\">\n                                                Provided by<br \/>\n                                                                                                    The Conversation<br \/>\n                                                                                                        <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"icon_open\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\"><br \/>\n                                                        <svg><use href=\"https:\/\/medx.b-cdn.net\/tmpl\/v6\/img\/svg\/sprite.svg#icon_open\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>                                                                                                                            This article is republished from <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\">The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/the-problem-with-seeing-young-sportspeople-as-athletes-first-children-second-222783\">original article<\/a>.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/222783\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced\" alt=\"The Conversation\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\"\/><\/p>\n<p>                                        <!-- print only --><\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none d-print-block\">\n<p>                                                 <strong>Citation<\/strong>:<br \/>\n                                                 The problem with seeing young sportspeople as athletes first, children second (2024, March 17)<br \/>\n                                                 retrieved 18 March 2024<br \/>\n                                                 from https:\/\/medicalxpress.com\/<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a>\/2024-03-problem-young-sportspeople-athletes-children.html<\/p>\n<p>                                            This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no<br \/>\n                                            part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script id=\"facebook-jssdk\" async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more Like this articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/science\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Science category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/medicalxpress.com\/news\/2024-03-problem-young-sportspeople-athletes-children.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Credit: CC0 Public Domain A recent report commissioned by Swim England, the national governing body for swimming in England, has found evidence of a &#8220;culture of fear&#8221; in swimming clubs. The report finds that children involved in competitive swimming can be treated like professional athletes, and the importance of sporting performance held above all else&#8230;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":613205,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2019\/childsport.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-613204","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sciencee"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/613204","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=613204"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/613204\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/613205"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=613204"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=613204"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=613204"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}