Youth sports have increasingly become focused on performance over creativity and freedom, distancing them from what children truly need. To address this, social entrepreneur Paul Lindley has launched a “Commission on Play” in partnership with the Centre for Young Lives. This commission aims to spark a national conversation about encouraging more play among children, examining the impacts of technology, access to outdoor spaces, and parental attitudes. Notably, the brief omits any substantial mention of organized sport, highlighting how disconnected children’s experiences of play have become from sports.

While sport need not be the central focus, this commission challenges the sports world to reflect on its role in diminishing children's play experiences over recent decades. Despite ongoing positive efforts, youth sports often fail to foster the creativity, freedom, and joy that children need, focusing instead on narrow technical skills and short-term participation metrics.

Over the past decade, children’s free play time and physical activity have declined, while obesity rates have risen. Sports have a crucial role in reversing these trends. The real challenge is not just getting more children to participate in organized sports like cricket, football, or rowing, but understanding and providing what they truly need from sports. This means allowing young people to play freely without fear of rejection, constant assessment, or other adult-imposed constraints.

In schools and local sports clubs, there's a trend towards over-organization and excessive control. Initiatives like Sport England’s Play Their Way campaign talk about making changes but often fall short, focusing more on marketing than actual behavior change in sports environments. It's time to genuinely transform how sports are structured to better serve children's needs, fostering a lifelong love of play and physical activity.

There's a pervasive narrative in sports: you start as a novice, enjoying the fun and play, but to "progress," things must get serious, and the fun fades. I experienced this personally, transitioning from enjoying rowing to becoming an Olympian, where I was explicitly told it was no longer about fun. The phrase "stop playing around" carries negative undertones, especially in youth sports. When children play around, they're often exploring their own interests due to boredom.

This narrative is evident in governing body strategies that offer "pathways" based on the unquestioned assumption that as you improve, the fun decreases, and seriousness increases. Sports leaders struggle with high dropout rates, particularly among teenage girls, rising mental health issues at the elite level, and a majority of young people deciding that sport isn't for them. There's even a noticeable fear of fun at performance levels, which can start alarmingly young. Coaches often resist the idea of blending complex technical skills with a fun environment, seeing it as a challenge.

However, the best coaches understand the symbiosis between fun and skill development. This approach contrasts with methods used in some countries, but it offers competitive advantages by reducing stress and tension in athletes, aiding retention, resilience, and providing better role models. The critical mindset shift for sports is realizing that increased playful experiences don't threaten performance; they enhance it in the long term.

Play is a powerful tool for creating diverse experiences in sports, allowing exploration, self-discovery, developing flair and freedom, and fostering strong connections with teammates. Spectators love competitors who have fun in the heat of the moment. Some of the greatest athletes, from Daley Thompson and Usain Bolt to Ash Barty (who took a break from tennis to enjoy cricket), Ruby Tui, and Ben Stokes playing "Bazball," have shown that joy in playing leads to extraordinary performances.

Pole-vaulter Molly Caudery, a bronze medal winner at the European Championships, stands out not only for her talent but also for the joy she radiates during competitions. Holly Bradshaw, a world-class pole-vaulter and sports psychology student, recognizes this as a significant strength and has been mentoring Molly to maintain her carefree attitude. Bradshaw aims to help Molly avoid the mental and physical strain she herself experienced from elite sports.

Unfortunately, youth sports often treat children as mini-adults or mini-elite-athletes. Football is a prime example, with youth training mirroring adult training—focused on drills, matches, and leagues, with directive coaching and fixed positions from an early age. This is in stark contrast to the unstructured, free play that helped many global football legends develop their skills in Brazilian backyards. To address this, a group of coaches and academics recently launched the Campaign for Children’s Rights in Football. Their goal is to bring children's voices, views, and experiences back to the forefront, restoring their right to play.

The media also plays a role in this dynamic. There's often uncertainty about whether athletes are taking their sports seriously enough, with confusion about whether their playfulness should be praised or criticized. The media's focus on results and league tables, emphasizing the joy of winning over the joy of playing, sends subliminal messages that affect both athletes and spectators.

The Commission on Play presents a crucial opportunity for sports leaders to reassess what children need from sports and what changes are necessary. This involves looking beyond immediate results, such as performance in the Euros or the Paris medal table, and instead, rediscovering the essence of sport—connecting it more meaningfully and playfully to our lives. This summer offers a chance for the sports world to realign with these values, fostering an environment where the joy of playing is paramount.

In conclusion, Molly Caudery's joyful approach to pole-vaulting, supported by Holly Bradshaw's mentorship, highlights the importance of maintaining a carefree attitude in sports. This stands in stark contrast to the overly structured and adult-like approach prevalent in youth sports today. Initiatives like the Campaign for Children’s Rights in Football and the media's role in shaping perceptions underscore the need for a paradigm shift. The Commission on Play offers a timely opportunity for sports leaders to prioritize what children truly need from sports—emphasizing the joy of playing over the pressure of performance. This summer, let's seize the chance to reconnect sports with their playful roots and foster a more meaningful and joyful experience for young athletes.