Youth sports provide countless benefits for children, from physical fitness to social skills development. However, issues like overly aggressive competition, poor sportsmanship, and even cheating can undermine these benefits. In response, many youth sports organizations and online sportsbooks, like Ladbrokes, have implemented “fair play” certifications – but what are they, and do they make a difference?
What Are Fair Play Certifications?
Fair play certifications set standards and guidelines to promote ethical competition. Organizations like the National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS) offer certification programs that youth sports leagues and coaches can participate in.
To earn NAYS’ certification, for example, a youth sports organization must implement policies and educational programs that address issues like:
- Aggressive or abusive coaching
- Poor sportsmanship among players, coaches, and parents
- Overemphasis on winning over skill development and fun
Coaches also take training on positive coaching techniques and behavior management.
Do Fair Play Rules Improve Behavior?
Research suggests fair play certifications can curb problematic behaviors, especially with consistent enforcement. For example:
- A 2002 study found referees trained to strictly enforce fair play rules reduced unsportsmanlike behavior among soccer players aged 10-14.
| Infractions | % Change After Ref Training |
| Illegal obstruction | -42% |
| Holding/pushing | -41% |
| Deliberate fouls | -30% |
- USA Hockey’s Zero Tolerance policy led to a 29% decrease in aggressive penalties among youth hockey players after one season.
However, effects seem to depend on consistent long-term enforcement. A 2010 study of soccer referees found initial drops in unsportsmanlike conduct were not sustained a year later.
Changing Youth Sports Culture
While strict rules enforcement helps, cultural shifts may be necessary for lasting impacts on behavior.
Poor sportsmanship often traces back to misplaced priorities – parents overemphasizing scholarships or trophies, for example. And aggression issues can stem from the widespread “win-at-all-costs” mentality.
“Real cultural change happens when parents, coaches, and league administrators adopt a child-first philosophy.”
Fair play certifications aim to address these root cultural causes through educational components – parent meetings on balanced priorities or coach training on positive motivation techniques, for instance.
Benefits Beyond Rules Compliance
Research also suggests fair play certifications can have wider-ranging benefits:
Increased enjoyment and engagement: A 2021 study found children ages 10-14 enjoyed sports more and were more emotionally engaged when coaches used positive motivation approaches aligned with fair play rules.
Life skills development: A review noted fair play programs help children develop life skills like leadership, integrity, and responsible decision making.
Injury reduction: Stricter enforcement of safety rules corresponds with lower injury rates. This protects children and reduces dropout rates.
So while the direct behavioral impacts are significant, the indirect benefits may be even more profound in terms of children’s wellbeing and development.
Role of Parents
While fair play certifications focus mainly on coaching standards and league policies, parents also play a huge role in promoting ethical competition. As the primary role models for young athletes, parents set the tone with their behavior in the stands and at home.
Some ways parents can complement fair play initiatives include:
- Emphasizing skill-building and effort over results
- Offering encouragement and avoiding criticism after games
- Demonstrating respect toward officials, coaches, and opponents
- Helping children maintain perspective by putting winning and losing into context
Parent education is a key component of many fair play programs. For example, the PCA REQUIRES parents to attend seasonal meetings on positive sporting behaviors.
Research shows this engagement makes a difference. A 2021 study found players had more fun when their parents used encouragement, praise, and other positive motivational techniques promoted in fair play training.
So while league standards help, parents must embrace cultural change for fair play programs to fully succeed. Their mindsets and modeling have an enormous influence – for better or worse – on young athletes’ values and conduct.
Bottom Line
Research makes a reasonable case that fair play certifications can curb issues like poor sportsmanship, aggression, and cheating. However, real cultural change likely hinges on continued education and consistent long-term enforcement.
Beyond rule compliance, fair play programs offer wider benefits – increased enjoyment, life skills building, and even injury reduction. So while monitoring actual behavior is important, the key metric for success may be children’s holistic wellbeing and positive development through sports.
