Rethinking How Sports Develop Kids for a Lifetime | David Flemming | TEDxMacatawa

Youth coach David Fleming argues that youth sports should prioritize lasting enjoyment over short-term excellence, noting that many children stop playing sports by age 11 once the activity stops being fun. He builds his case on independence, responsibility and belonging, drawing on examples from Norway and Iceland and on a local youth biking program that reaches 5,000 kids. Fleming, who has spent more than 25 years coaching and works in marketing and product development, also contributes to Velo Kids, a Holland-based organization that gets more children on bikes through camps and other programs. The talk was given at an independently organized TEDx event.

• Why most children quit sports by around age 11
• Independence, responsibility and belonging as goals of youth sport
• Examples from Norway, Iceland and a local youth biking program
• Work of Velo Kids in getting more kids on bikes

Kids today are faster, stronger, and more skilled than ever, yet most quit sports by age 11 because it stopped being fun. Longtime youth coach David Fleming argues for trading short-term excellence for a lifelong love of sport built on independence, responsibility, and belonging. He draws on examples from Norway, Iceland, and a local youth biking program that now reaches 5,000 kids. While he’s had many professional titles over the past 25+ years, the one he loves the most is “Coach Dave.” In addition to an accomplished career in marketing and product development, he has simultaneously coached young athletes across a variety of levels and sports. Over the past eight years, he has been a key contributor to developing Velo Kids, a Holland-based organization dedicated to getting more kids on bikes through camps and other programming. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx