More Fun in Youth Sports? Try Modifying the Game

There are many ways to modify youth sports, as long as you’re willing to get creative. And if the end result is a game that’s more fun and a better learning opportunity, it’s a worthwhile endeavor.

Imagine playing on a field or court that’s been designed for someone who is twice as big and fast as you. Doesn’t it sound exhausting? Well, that’s often how kids feel when they’re playing sports.

In the past decade, more and more sports leagues have taken to modifying games in order to make them more accessible to kids. And by modifying, I mean using smaller equipment, a smaller playing space, or both. When you think about it, it makes perfect sense: A full-sized basketball court, 10-foot hoop, and 48 minutes of game time were implemented with full-grown adults in mind. A young child playing in that scenario would be akin to an adult playing basketball on a court that’s 1.5 times larger with a hoop that’s 14 feet high and a game that’s 80 minutes long—or at least something along those lines. The majority of the game would be spent dribbling in the open court and missing difficult shots. For youth-sports parents, this may sound very familiar, because that’s what they often see when watching youth games.

Recent trends are showing that more kids are quitting sports, and modification can help turn the tide by cultivating a sports environment that’s a lot more fun to play, while also helping kids develop their sports skills. Last year, USA Football took this concept to heart, rolling out the Modified Tackle Game, a new version of the sport that it hopes will boost accessibility, safety, development, and fun. This new version is set on a field that measures 40 yards by 35 yards with teams that are 8 people or fewer, with no special teams, no blitzing, and every player starting in a two-point stance. All possessions after a touchdown or turnover start at the 40-yard-line, there’s a running clock, and coaches are allowed on the field. Perhaps most importantly, players rotate positions. It’s a completely different game, and it looks like a lot of fun.

For youth basketball, coaches should consider using a smaller ball and lowering hoops. Early on in the learning process, most energy should be spent by kids on learning how to dribble. After that, restricting games to three-on-three and limiting practice times and the length of the season will all help kids stay fresh and engaged. Youth soccer can also be easily modified, most importantly by reducing the size of the field. A smaller field increases the number of touches each player will get and reduces time spent covering open space. Coaches can also deflate the ball to make it travel slower across the field, pull goalies to boost scoring opportunities, or set up additional goals so players have more chances to score.

There are many ways to modify youth sports, as long as you’re willing to get creative. And if the end result is a game that’s more fun and a better learning opportunity, it’s a worthwhile endeavor.