From our research into men's ice hockey and in my experience as the parent of two athletes—two of our boys were competitive athletes—that's a big part of it.
I'm just starting a new research project. I was sitting on the sidelines at soccer tryouts last night, listening to parents trying to make sure their kids got the last two spots. There was a grandfather there with a video camera. He was videotaping their child at tryouts. What about the fun? Where are the smiles? Where's the joy?
In our research with hockey players.... Not once did any of those professional hockey players talk about the love and joy of the game of hockey. The only time they talked about aesthetic moments was when it was about trauma—when they were recalling an experience of abuse. That was the only time we got a sense of the smells and of why they were there. Not once did they talk about the love of hockey.
I think being competition-based is what's doing a great disservice to...what we're seeing today.