ABarker,

I am just trying to figure out how to keep kids around longer. I have a pretty good idea what hard work is. Some kids just get the concept at different times in their lives. I have coached youth sports and worked summer camps since the early 1980's - 30 plus years. I have had some 1st year kids that know hard work, have tons of talent and they get it in the first year. I have had other kids that have worked just as hard for 3 or 4 years but are not as talented/gifted in the sport - those kids are the ones I am trying to get into the high school room as well. They may get the "It Factor" - much later along the path. "It" may click when they are more physically and/or mentally developed.

The majority of my first group tonight "Novice practice" those kids did not have "IT" they were young, low attention span, and they must have had Mello Yello before practice. But I did help them learn about hard work, technique, etc., and we played games at the end of practice.

The second OPEN practice - 3 years or more experience for the most part, and we just moved up about 8 1st year kids who do have "IT" and that 2nd practice is like heaven. I had fun in both practices - but the 2nd one is a bit more peaceful.

I want to know why, when, the 80 percent opt out. How can we change that?


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http://newsinfo.iu.edu/web/page/normal/3885.html