Imagine yourself back around the age of 11 or 12, not having a care in the world, and just enjoying everything that life has to offer. No contract, shoe deals, television time to worry about. In a sense, it is the purest form of competitive sport in the world.

What am I talking about? I

am talking about youth sports. Now, I know some of you may laugh or say, it is not as competitive as "professional sports," but just hear me out.

I was once one of the boo birds on youth sports, but after I became a youth basketball coach, all of those negative views I had went out the door.

I learned so many important things coaching over the past year. One of the main things I was taught by the players was that so many of them are looking to learn about their respective sports, and in a day in age of the "obesity plague" it is imperative that we allow children to join the sporting ranks. It not only promotes a healthy lifestyle, but it also teaches them about teamwork, responsibility, and good sportsmanship.

When you take the glitz and glamour out, isn’t that what professional sports really is? Little League Baseball is one of the most marketable youth sports around. Just turn your television set to ESPN and you would be surprised to see it on almost 1/4 of the time, but that is not the pure form of sport that I am looking for.

Being on television is too glitzy, and will give kids an ego bigger than the championship trophy they win. Truthfully, the last thing we need, other than lawyers, are players with egos. It ruins the way the game should be played, and allows for coaches and parents to make the kids win at all costs.

As Herm Edwards would say, "You play to win the game," which is true. However, when young children are involved you also play to have fun.

The pure sporting competition that I am looking for can be found in your neighborhood recreation centers. Sign your children up for their favorite sport and enjoy the emotional ride that they will travel. I must warn you though, there will be highs and there will definitely be lows, but one thing they can count on is their parents cheering them on.

Unfortunately, that was one glaring problems I noticed just in the city league. Parents drop off their kids, and don’t come back until practice or the game is over. It is this type of "you take care of my child attitude" that allows for coaches to take their extreme coaching methods to far.

Thank goodness it has toned down over the years with stricter guidelines and background checks, but a few still flip through the cracks. That is why I urge that parents get involved and make sure you find a coach that you feel comfortable leaving your son or daughter with.

On that very note of involvement, I also recommend that you go to your son or daughters games, because as much as they hate to admit it, they really do enjoy having a crowd (including their parents) behind them in a very close basketball game. Players will learn to feed off this positive energy, learn to play under pressure, and this is the positive reinforcement will help them develop into a great player.

This is that pure form of competitive sport that should be taught to our children, not watching their favorite athlete get arrested for possession of drugs, or taking steroids. America as a whole needs to show our children that "Nice guys do finish first." If they ask for examples, then tell them about: Lance Armstrong winning seven Tours de France after beating cancer, or Peyton Manning being a true team player, or Tim Duncan winning all of his MVP trophies.

All of these athletes have one common theme in common -- no matter how many great accomplishments they achieve, they are still humble enough to credit their teammates for getting them to that plateau.

All in all, children nowadays are influenced by their peers, television and school. With the introduction of sports into their life, they can learn lifelong lessons, learn to live a healthy and active lifestyle, and learn that hard work always leads to success.

Like the article, hate it, or have an idea for another? Please let me know via email at silva_carlos2004@yahoo.com. I'd love to hear from you.