Starting them young is an abused phrase

For the last two weeks, I have been writing about the Institute of Youth Sports for Peace (IYSPeace) that the Foundation University (FU) in Dumaguete City is planning to put up. The prime movers behind this initiative, which was first broached to De La Salle University–Manila several years ago, are FU president Dr. Mira Sinco and FU Dean of physical education, Dr. Perry Mequi, former chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission and Asian Games athletics bronze medalist.

The main impetus behind the establishment of the IYSPeace is the belief of both Sinco and Mequi that indeed sports is a potent medium to promote education, health, development and peace. And no less than the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), during the term of Secretary General Kofi Annan says so.

Annan formed the UN Inter-Agency Task Force in Sport for Development and Peace. One of the Task Force’s outputs was laying the groundwork for UNGA to proclaim 2005 as the International Year for Sport and Physical Education through UNGA Resolution 58/5 entitled "Sports as a means to promote education, health, development and peace."

As a result of these actions at the UNGA level, several UN bodies have weighed in to promote sports for development and peace. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recognizes the critical role of sport and physical activity in children’s lives. Not only are sports and recreation means to achieve UNICEF’s core objectives, they are goals in themselves as well in that they ensure every child’s right to play. It must be emphasized that every child has a right to a healthy start in life; every boy and girl, a right to be educated; and every adolescent to have ample opportunity to develop into caring and involved citizens.

As a result of the UN’s efforts to promote sports for peace and development, various organizations supporting such an advocacy have been formed all over the world. One such organization is the Right to Play (RTP).

The RTP is a humanitarian organization using sport and play programs to encourage the healthy physical, social and emotional development of refugee children, former child combatants and young people at risk of – or orphaned by – HIV/AIDS.

RTP’s communication-centered projects are informed by a stated commitment to improving the lives of children and to strengthening their communities by translating positive values of sport into opportunities to promote development, health and peace. As of this writing, RTP is working in Angola, Azerbaijan, Benin, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Israel, Kenya, Mali Mozambique, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda and Zambia.

RTP is built on the belief that sport has the power to help create healthier children and safer communities. RTP believes that, in addition to physical benefits, well-designed sport and play programs can enhance holistic development, foster resilience and create meaningful connections between young people and adults. RTP also holds that sport and play can be used to teach values and life skills including optimism, respect, conflict resolution, compassion, courage, leadership, inspiration, self-confidence, teamwork, discipline, fair play and joy.

Aside from RTP, there are other initiatives in the movement to create a culture of youth sports. The Michigan State University Institute for the Study of Youth Sports (MSUISYS) was launched in 1978 after members of the state legislature became concerned about negative and unhealthy practices occurring in children’s sports. The goals were to establish a world-class Institute that would scientifically study the beneficial and detrimental effects of sports participation on children and youth and then work to maximize the beneficial effects.

MSU was the first land grand university in America. From its beginnings, MSU has been a leader in scientific outreach and engagement. The mission of the Institute or ISYS is to provide leadership, scholarship and outreach that "transforms" the face of youth sports in such ways that maximize the beneficial physical, psychological and social effects of participation for children and youth while minimizing detrimental effects.

The ISYS’s objectives are to facilitate a paradigmatic shift in the way America judges success in youth sports (and place child development as the highest priority way ahead of the winning motive) and eliminate myths and enhance positive health behaviors.

Those in charge of youth sports, especially government offices (that want to use youth sports to promote a political agenda) and misinformed do-gooders, would do well to take a look at ISYS’s way of doing things, especially its emphasis on the holistic development of the child. Too often, mainly due to ignorance, the phrase "there’s nothing like starting them young" is abused by such offices and do-gooders in the name of victory.