“We notice in states that are leading, and in foreign countries that are leading, they often have that high-level position - whether it’s advisory or authoritative - to actually implement changes and to advise those making decisions how to prioritize access to sports,” Benson said. The commission is still several years away from issuing its report, but Benson anticipates it will recommend a cabinet-level position focused on access to sports - an idea she has discussed with Big East Conference commissioner Val Ackerman, an advisor for the task force. Speaking on a Summit panel about the role of government in youth sports, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said she would support adopting a commission and/or creating a high-level state government position that would help prioritize access to sports.īenson is chairing a 14-member task force in Michigan, commissioned by the state governor, that aims to increase opportunities for women and girls in sports. Michigan Secretary of State supports state authority to help access to sports Watch select sessions of the Summit here. I would just encourage community leaders and parents not to be intimidated by sport. How can you choose a major in sports before 14? How can you choose what you’re going to be great at? Your body hasn’t even developed. “When we talk about the kids playing too many minutes, those are for guys who have already chosen their major in sports. So, let’s quit putting that out there,” Webber said. 1 8-year-old kid is not going to the NBA. Webber said these tools should empower parents to know what a good basketball experience looks like. In recent years, the NBA and USA Basketball created youth development guidelines for the sport and developed a coaching license. They’re teaching your kid how to communicate, how to problem solve (poorly).”ĮSPN.com recently documented America’s “youth basketball crisis,” in which kids are playing too many games and entering the NBA with broken bodies. He’s still a jerk today, but coaching your kid. “Go back to your high school days and go to a guy that may have been a jerk. “This is not a secret club - these coaches are not as good you think they are,” Webber said. In reality, the coach may be a bad influence on the child. Today, Webber said, youth basketball coaches frequently gain their status simply because they are associated with a talented player. “It was not about the coaches, it was about the people who are the coaches.” “It was really more of a community culture,” he said. But Webber had the advantage of being raised by “a village” in Detroit – his parents, high school coach, AAU coach, police officers at Detroit PAL, and older local players who made it ahead of him. This year’s Project Play Summit was the largest in the event’s five-year history with more than 500 attendees, and marks the first time the Summit left Washington D.C.Īt the time of Hoop Dreams, Webber was the country’s highest-rated recruit, having been identified as a top prodigy when he was only 11 years old. Webber spoke on a panel in Detroit that honored the 25th anniversary of the documentary film Hoop Dreams, and explored the pressures and opportunities in youth basketball today. “I can’t imagine the pressure of being 12 years old and being told you can make it to the NBA and believing it, you don’t have the skills but a coach told you that to keep you around. “I think growing up in my time was easier because the culture allowed it to be different,” Webber said. Through two days of panels, workshops and activation announcements, participants discussed barriers to get all kids equitable access to sports and physical activity, and shared activations that are happening to create solutions.Īt the Aspen Institute’s 2019 Project Play Summit, former NBA and University of Michigan star Chris Webber implored parents of youth basketball players to become more involved - and more aware of the pressures of youth sports - so their child enjoys a positive experience. The Summit hashtags, #DontRetireKid and #ProjectPlay, were the top two trending items in Detroit. Detroit welcomed the convening with more than 500 leaders at the intersection of youth, sport and health – the largest turnout in the Summit’s history. for the first time in its five-year history. This year’s Project Play Summit was an away game, venturing away from Washington D.C.
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