GG Galore: Election Day Distraction Links
some interesting youth sports news to check out when you need a breather
Hi friends, if you’re like me and most Americans your anxiety level is on overdrive at the moment. It’s shaping up to be a loooong night and maybe a loooong week. So for keeping your sanity purposes and because I haven’t dropped links in a while, here is a whip-around of some recent youth sports news and articles that caught my eye. Also lol to notion of finding a moment of zen in youth sports news but here we are.
U.S. Soccer’s calendar vs. birth year debate rages on. U.S. Soccer, in collaboration with U.S. Club and AYSO, is reviewing a significant change to the youth sports structure that would alter groupings by calendar year (specifically Aug 1st - July 31st) as opposed to birth year. It was just 2017 when the switch from calendar to birth year occurred but a review shows several issues including 8th grade kids in a bubble while their teammates go off to high school. Same for a team with kids split in elementary and middle school where schedules and responsibility levels can be off kilter. I’m not entirely why they made the switch in the first place but if all kids “play their age” regardless of skill level, the advantages once held by kids with January or February birthdays will evaporate. But I do wonder if well-performing kids already nestled on teams will just “play up.” A lot of intrigue here for sure. Curious where you all fall on this proposed change which should be announced by year’s end if it moves forward following the U.S. Soccer Boards Nov. 22nd meeting.
Caitlin Clark effect? Fascinating data from the Aspen Institute’s recently released State of Play study reports that girls’ participation in youth sports is at its highest level since 2012 and that more girls are opting to play basketball. Boy’s participation has seen a drop, though. We’ll dig deep into State of Play over the next couple of weeks.
Love this story about a couple who moved from California to Arkansas, and when they couldn’t find a wrestling club for their kids they took matters in their own hands.
Wild story of a youth tennis tourney being canceled in Mexico after a team were victims of a virtual kidnapping.
Moving obituary from Indy Star columnist Gregg Doyel on his father Robert Doyel who, among his many accomplishments, desegregated youth baseball in Oxford, Mississippi.
The title says it best: A Male P.E. Teacher’s Perspective on the Menstrual Cycle and Girls’ Physical Education. Could not love this more.