5-24-2003

by Scott Hubbard

If you're a parent and wondering when you might get your child involved in organized, competitive running, I have an answer for you: they shouldn't start before middle school and allow only 3 out-of-school competitions per year. My timeline has been distilled after over 25 years of watching, talking with and tracking the 'careers' of school-age runners, parents and coaches.

Reasons parents cite in getting kids started prior to middle school are health, discipline, self-esteem, sportsmanship, values of competition and such. These parents are, or appear to be, full of good intentions. They're guided, maybe influenced is a better word, by programs developed for older kids and perhaps by their own experiences. Trouble is, fun is typically squeezed out of these programs and the kids are asked to live up to expectations designed for an older, more mature group. This is where things get murky and I draw the line.

Oh, I know pre-middle schoolers, age-groupers, are capable of daily runs, tough workouts, lots of racing and travel. I've seen evidence of that. Some of their times are adult-fast and record breaking. This isn't about whether they can but whether they should. Children are natural runners but organizing their running, telling them how much, how fast and far turns what's potentially fun, too serious and that isn't natural.

Yes, there are some age-group kids that adapt and prosper all the way through school. I know some of these kids as adults. They are exceptions and in a few cases, desire waned in college but resurfaced years later. However, for too many age-groupers, there's too much running, attention and focus which compromises the joy so important in activities for youngsters.

I know of at least 3 instances where parents moved to another school district where they felt their kids would be part of a better team. In two instances I was asked by the parents what I thought of the potential move. I didn't tip my hand because I could tell they'd move anyway and it made me feel mighty uneasy. It's wrong to think of kids as pawns to be moved around for best effect.

There are too many examples of parents living through their kids, from age-group to high school, to list here. One in particular, however, still makes me angry. An acquaintance had his child do extra workouts in middle school and through high school embarrassed everybody in earshot as he ridiculed and ripped his child for perceived poor racing and likely sucked the joy of running from the kid as her college years were a bust.

Coaches, too, that enter athletes in 3-4 events per track meet run the high risk of dulling and sometimes stilling desire to continue at the next level. Kids have it tough enough dealing with the demands of running without adults adding further stress and pressure. Sixth grade is early enough to get kids started.

Best, Scott Hubbard

Scott says he enjoys a very casual running pace these days. Quite different from when he was tearing up the track at Huron High School or Eastern Michigan University. You can also find his columns in Michigan Runner Magazine. He graduated with a BA in English from Eastern Michigan. You've probably met Scott before but never knew it. Scot's voice can be heard at many of Michigan's best road races such as the Crim, Frankenmuth, the Mackinac Island 8 Mile Run and the Detroit Marathon as he lends his running expertise and style to the finish line announcing at those and other races.