Massive rant: State of Sport in SA

[Witkop]

Okay this is a massive incoherent rant, but one that must be made.

 

After a short 5-7 year retirement from competitive amateur sport, I returned to be shocked at the latest developments. When I left in the early 2000's, in all the sport disciplines there was an active adult component being led by the 30 somethings. In fact the trend was pushed that the sub vet-vet catergories were keeping may running and bicycling shops going, and that this was a good thing.

 

ON the return, I notice that the junoir and "kids" races are now the main attraction and the adult (age grouper) races are an after thought (it was the opposite 10 years ago). IN the past the athletes outnumbered the parents, no if there is an adult near event, it is because his kid is racing. (Also the standard of junoir competition is not has high as it was ten years ago. In chess this is proven by a general decrease in the kids ratings per age group, despite an increase in numbers)

 

THe parents have not limited themselves to the sidelines however, and are also now very active in the administration, with petty rules to ensure "fairness" for their kids. In the past arrangements could be made between administrators (ie past atheletes) and atheletes to ensure that the best was done for the atheletes and the sport, now the adminsitrators are so focused on the rules that the atheletes are needlessly penalised for minor infractions.

 

Finally, parents are more worried about their kids that they arrive late, make unreasonable demands on event organisers, and generally make it unpleasant for everyone.

 

This trend to some extent in all the sports I have been involved in and some that I have not.

 

So am I ranting about the wind or is there some truth in what I say?

[Delgado]

Just take the words 'sport in' out of the thread title for an overall synopsis.

[Tokyo]

What is competitive amateur sport?

And how do you retire from this?

Was your pension not enough to get by and that is why you rejoined the competitive amateur sport?