"Heartbreak can happen when children are eliminated from sport participation. Surely, not all kids can be on the team of their choice, but everyone should have a chance to play. Before the age of 14, the practice of cutting from sports is indefensible. During high school years, it's appropriate to have select leagues to allow gifted athletes to advance their skills. But even at this level, alternative programs should be available for less talented kids who want to play the sport."
"The tragedy of cutting children from sport programs lies in the fact that the ones who are eliminated are almost always the least skilled or those who have discipline problems. It's precisely these youngsters who need an opportunity to grow through sports. This should be kept in mind when choosing a program. The first thing to realize is that whether a child shows it or not, they're likely to feel disappointed, rejected, and perhaps even embarrassed."
Cutting children from youth sports undermines the objective of encouraging healthy physical activity and inclusion. Before age 14, excluding children from teams is indefensible; in high school, selective leagues can develop gifted athletes but programs must offer alternatives for less skilled players. Those most often cut are usually the least skilled or have discipline problems—precisely the youngsters who stand to benefit most from sport participation. When a child is cut, expect feelings of disappointment, rejection, and embarrassment. Parents should acknowledge those feelings, avoid minimizing them or making excuses, and focus on constructive steps and reframing the experience as growth rather than failure.
Read at Psychology Today
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