The Reality of Youth Sports Violence
Despite heightened awareness of youth sports violence, the number of abusive, negative and violent incidents has risen sharply in the last five years among all age groups and all sports.
Some alarming statistics:
 45.3% of young athletes have been yelled at or insulted while participating in sports
17.5% of young athletes say they have been kicked or slapped while participating in sports
21% of young athletes report they were pressured to play with an injury
8.2% of young athletes say they were pressured to intentionally harm others while playing
15% of parents at youth sports events display obnoxious, unruly or unsportsmanlike behavior
To reverse the disturbing trend, the Saint Barnabas Health Care System has developed a program for recreational and youth leagues called Rediscovering Youth Sportsmanship.
Our Program
The Rediscovering Youth Sportsmanship program is a statewide initiative that provides training, support and step-by-step guidelines to help adults keep sports a safe haven for kids. Developed by behavioral health spe-cialists at The Sports Medicine Institute at Saint Barnabas Ambulatory CareCenter inpartnership with the SaintBarnabas Behavioral HealthCenter, the program is designedto help parents meet the physical, emotional and social developmentalneeds of young athletes, ages 6to 18,through positive parental involvementand modeling of sportsmanlike behavior.The program helps parents recognize realisticgoals for children, and identifies common triggers for inappropriatebehavior. It also assists administrators, coaches and officials in eliminating negative influences. By offering each league acustomized, comprehensive program of education and hands-on support,the program fosters respectful appreciation of youth athleticcompetition as a rewarding experience, win or lose.
For more information about participating in this special program, please call 1-888-SBHS-123.
We support you, all season long.
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