Anyone with young kids in sports knows how bad it has gotten. It is beyond bad, I like to call it The Pussification of America.
My son has played tackle football for 2 years now, started at 7 and played his second season this year at age 8. Parents actually complained that the coaches were too hard on the kids last year, so this year half the kids WALKED through the drills and the coaches didnt say a word. I caught my son dogging it because he didnt have to push to beat everyone else and when he got home he ran 10 hills in full gear and was lectured on the importance of practicing hard. He lead his team this year in tackles for loss. But yes, every kid got a trophy, just like baseball this past spring. He was picked for the All Star team and they won first place and I looked at him and told him now THAT is a trophy HE earned. Kids are taught to "try their best" thanks to our schools and my generation of parents. Your best? To quote one of my favorite movies, "Losers always whine about their best, winners go home and f*ck the prom queen!" As I said in a different post, he actually got in trouble in school a few week ago for "celebrating" after breaking up a pass during a recess football game. He pumped his arm...that was "bragging" according to the teacher. WTF?
My son works his tail off 6 days a week in preperation for next season. While other kids are watching TV, or playing Xbox he is lifting 3 days a week and running 3 days a week. At age 8 and 85 pounds he can deadlift 120 for 3 sets of 10 reps. He can bench press 60 pounds for 3 sets of 10 reps. And he can run all day long. We spend our weekends outside, fishing, hiking, going to the park, what ever we can do to keep them active and healthy.
Hell my 2.5 year old sons workout. They can already do push-ups, sit-ups, bodyweight squats, and they hang from my climbing wall. They also do yoga with us. My 5 year old daughter deadlifts over 80 pounds and is in gymnastics.
Our bully solution? My kids have all been taught to protect their chins and throw the jab-cross-hook. We work it weekly. If anyone puts their hands on them they are to react immediately and violently. A bully is only a bully until he gets his nose pushed in. I have already warned their teachers that they will defend themselves. I am actually a bit worried about my twin sons. They are fighters now at 2.5, I cant imagine when they get to school and someone messes with one of them. It is going to get nasty quick, but if they are defending themselves, I will fight any school admin. or policy over it. They say, "tell the teacher!" what bullshit, that just gets you bullied more. I tell them, if they are touched, they are to "touch" back with an immediate jab-cross-hook. Respect all until it is time to not respect.
Teach your kids well. Teach them to hunt and fish and work the land, teach them the value of hard work and pushing themselves to the limit, testing themselves physically and mentally on a daily basis. Teach them to WIN and to strive to WIN. Teach them to defend themselves with immediate and fierce violence. Do that, and your kids are going to be alright.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDW6WfoC3Xc