Reformation or Reclassification? A Proposal of a Rating System for Youth Sport Programs

The vast diversity in goals and emphases of sport programs for children and the potential problems that exist when a child is enrolled in a program that does not best serve his/her needs accentuate the need for a rating system for youth sport programs. The current proposal of a youth sport rating scale would provide information for parents on the amount of competition, playing time, travel, and commitment a child enrolled in a program could reasonably expect. A discussion of the history of the rating system in the entertainment industries is compared, and potential diffi culties and recommendations for implementing a rating system in youth sports are provided.