Editorial

A side order of kidsSide-line behaviour. We've all come to know the term. We hear it bandied about for a week or two in the media after someone or a group of someones gets involved in an unseemly incident (occasionally referred to as a 'fracas') next to a sports field. You know the kind of stuff I mean. But that's not the side-line behaviour I want to reference this month. No, the behaviour I want to highlight is potentially more upsetting and longer-lasting in its effects. I'm talking about sitting. Or standing. Specifically, young, motivated, energetic kids sitting and standing on the side-line because they are 'not good enough' (see  Over-competition in sport is bad for children's mental health  below). On the surface, we know there are 'reasons' for why kids are on the side-line - too many players (really?), substitution rules, volunteer coaches who are also managers and referees, a desire to win, and so on. But this is where we need new thinking (can you imagine kids who aren't good at maths (yet) been told to sit to the side of the classroom during maths and watch!). We also need a will to implement the recommendations of that new thinking. I reckon if I asked a dozen volunteer coaches and parents to reflect for nine minutes and come up with as many ways as possible to ensure all the kids have the opportunity to play the same amount of time, they would come up with plenty that could work straight away, including changes to selection 'systems' and substitution 'systems'. Of course, what will really, really, really change children's experiences of sport is a change in what we believe about the purpose of children's sport and a reframing (or throwing out!) of this thing called 'talent'. As they used to say at the end of many children's TV or radio programmes, this is a discussion 'To Be Continued'.Brett Reid, Community Coaching ConsultantOver-competition in sport is bad for children's mental health"I don't know how to manage my own anger, frustration and utter gut-wrenching hurt for him when he sobs that he is not good enough," a concerned parent wrote in a letter to the 'Irish Times' parenting expert, John Sharry, this week. [Irish Times]Let's coach the coaches, says GibsonWaratahs coach Daryl Gibson has welcomed the idea of a national elite coaching manager, as Australia's Super Rugby sides continue to battle on the field. [Rugby.co.au]Digging for diamonds: Talent identification process values potential over performanceTalent identification (TiD) is the recognition of current participants with the potential to become elite performers. [Coaching Youth 13-18: Blogs]Coaching boys into men via the sports fieldCoaching Boys into Men is an initiative set up to engage sports coaches as mentors for young athletes, teaching them the importance of respect for themselves and others, particularly women. [The Canberra Times]Wallabies assistant welcomes coachWallabies assistant Mick Byrne has welcomed the ARU's pledge to pour more money into coach education as the gulf in class between Australian and New Zealand rugby widens. [sbs.au.com]