A high value on youth sports

So many kids, so little fields.

That has been the problem for several years in Costa Mesa, as a

boom of young children take up sports like soccer and baseball but

have precious few places to play.

So it was a little disheartening to hear that a couple of

residents in the Sycamore Park area of Costa Mesa want to shut out

more children by limiting the amount of time they can play sports at

the playing fields of Kaiser Elementary School.

What’s also disheartening is that these complaints from Sycamore

Park are nothing new and similar complaints can often be heard from

those residents who live near schools and parks, who seem to object

to the very sound of children playing.

It’s outrageous, really.

This should go without saying, but restricting the activities of

youth, kicking them out of the parks and limiting their time to play

in competitive sports like soccer or Little League is not only

inviting trouble, it’s mean-spirited and counterproductive.

Young people need activities and guidance, otherwise their idle

time will be devoted to less healthy endeavors. Organized sports

offer ways to channel youthful energy and exuberance into positive

and productive outlets.

The alternative is really not that appealing, just ask those in

the inner city who have no parks or organized sports activities.

American Youth Soccer Organization members and local parents have

gone to great lengths to keep their sporting events neighborhood

friendly.

If it is true, as the Sycamore Park residents allege, that some

young AYSO players are urinating on greenbelts in the neighborhood,

then that is a separate problem to address. And it should be

addressed and stopped right away.

But to call for a scaling back of youth sports that would affect

hundreds of children because of a few minor transgressions is

overblowing the issue.

Already, children’s activities are hurt as AYSO games are limited

in number as a way to appease local residents. It would not be

prudent or fair to limit the games even more.

Shame on those in Sycamore Park for not recognizing the value of

youth sports for the whole community and who have instead put their

selfish interests above everyone else.

We encourage city, school and youth sports leaders to address any

valid concerns those in Sycamore Park may have, but also to continue

their endorsement and support of activities like organized soccer and

baseball and to keep the children of this community and their future

at the top of the list of priorities, where they belong.