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Is This the Most Important Factor to find out about a Youth Athlete?
The Game Changer
April 03, 2025
2 April- Friday Fuel
🔥 Raising Game Changers in Sport and Life.🔥
We all want our kids to thrive in sports—learning what it takes to be successful, improving their skills, making friends, and developing lifelong healthy habits. But what is the secret to keeping them engaged and excited to play?
It’s fun!
However, what young athletes find fun might not be what we, as parents and coaches, assume. And what is fun to one individual can be completely different for another.
So come with us this week as we dive into what FUN actually is for youth athletes, why it’s important to know, and what we can do to support.
This week:
💬 Quote Time
🏆️ Winning IS Fun.
❓️ So What are the Other Factors?
♂️ ♀️ Gender differences and Fun in Sport.
💡 What to do!
🥑 Katie Schofield: A Fun Nutritious Family Meal.
📝 A Great Resource.
📢 Help! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lets have some fun!
💬 Quote Time
"I have always liked sport and only played or run races for the fun of the thing."
"Don't force your kids into sports. I never was. To this day, my dad has never asked me to go play golf. I ask him. It's the child's desire to play that matters, not the parent's desire to have the child play. Fun. Keep it fun."
Tiger Woods and Jim Thorpe's quotes hold weight because they both epitomize elite performance and sustained success in their respective sports. As serial winners, their insights challenge the common belief that victory alone is the ultimate motivator. Instead, their words emphasize that a deep-rooted love for the game and a sense of fun and intrinsic enjoyment are what drive sustained commitment and excellence.
Tiger Woods reinforces that passion must come from within the athlete, not external pressures. Despite having a father who has been portrayed as overbearing (among other things!) and trained him hard from age 2, he attributes his early interest in the sport to enjoyment, not obligation.
Jim Thorpe: As one of the greatest all-around athletes in history, his success across multiple sports was fueled by a simple love of playing. His perspective reminds us that even at the highest level, the foundation of sports should be fun.
Their views align with modern research showing that athletes who enjoy the process and find intrinsic motivation are more likely to stay in sports long-term, perform better, and avoid burnout.
However there is no insight her as to WHAT fun is and whether it is the same for different individuals and genders. So let’s have a look 👀
🏆️ Winning IS Fun. But is there also more?
Winning is fun. I am yet to meet someone who does not enjoy a good win but research suggests that it’s not the sole reason kids play sports.
It seems that winning is most enjoyable when it comes from effort, teamwork, and skill mastery—not just the final score. Winning isn’t fun when:
It Feels Empty – If the victory doesn’t feel earned or meaningful, it can feel hollow.
It Was Too Easy – If there was no real challenge, the win might not be satisfying.
You Hurt Others to Win – If winning means stepping on others in an unfair way, guilt can ruin the moment.
It’s Expected, Not Celebrated – If you always win, it might start feeling routine instead of exciting.
You Lose Friends Over It – If competition creates resentment or conflict, winning can feel lonely.
It Was Rigged – If the game was unfairly in your favor, the victory won’t feel legit.
You Sacrificed Too Much – If you gave up happiness, relationships, or personal values to win, it might not be worth it.
You Don’t Care About It – If the win doesn’t align with your real goals, it’s just another checkbox, not a real achievement.
We all inherently know a win that didn’t feel good. Studies from The Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology show that athletes who focus on improving their abilities and embracing competition as a challenge experience higher satisfaction, longer participation, and less burnout than those who focus solely on winning.
I know I want my kids to learn how to win and be successful in their chosen endeavours, but above that I want them to learn to win the right way - coming away satisfied, happy, and playing the sport they love until they can no longer walk…like the old guy at the skate park or the ancient guy on the surfboard!
❓️ SO WHAT ARE THE OTHER FACTORS?
The 11 Factors That Make Sports Fun for Kids
An often quoted study from George Washington University’s Youth Sport Institute (2014 and repeated in 2020) identified the top 11 factors that youth athletes say make sports fun:
Trying your best – The effort and challenge of improving skills.
Being treated with respect – Feeling valued by coaches and teammates.
Getting playing time – Having the opportunity to contribute.
Playing well as a team – Working together successfully.
Getting along with teammates – Strong social connections.
Exercising and being active – Enjoying movement and fitness.
Playing in a competitive game – The excitement of meaningful competition.
Learning new skills – Developing and mastering techniques.
Winning – Although not the top factor, it is still enjoyable.
Having a coach who knows and encourages you – Positive, supportive coaching.
Practicing with teammates – Enjoying the process of training together.
Interestingly, the study also found that having cool gear and uniforms (a.k.a. "swag") was a key factor in making sports more enjoyable for some kids. Feeling like a real athlete by wearing the right gear enhanced confidence and excitement for certain individuals.
Similarly, research from The Journal of Sport Behavior (2020) compared competitive and recreational athletes, finding that while COMPETITIVE PLAYERS valued skill improvement and achievement, RECREATIONAL PLAYERS prioritized social connections and enjoyment. This means that different kids may define fun differently based on their level of involvement in the sport.
A study from Balance is Better (2019) breaks down fun into these key components:
✔ Being with friends – playing sports with teammates they connect with.
✔ Getting better at skills – Progression and mastery kept them motivated.
✔ Positive coaching – Encouraging, firm, fair, and fun coaches made all the difference.
✔ Competition (but not pressure) – While kids enjoy competing, pressure to win often reduced enjoyment.
✔ Variety and creativity – Drills, games, and different play styles kept things fresh.
✔ Feeling valued – Every player wanted to feel like they contribute, no matter their skill level.
In the context of New Zealand youth rugby, a mixed-methods study identified four core elements that contribute to fun: physical contact, ball play, brotherhood, and game highlights. The study also highlighted that factors such as positive team dynamics, learning and development, and positive coaching are crucial facilitators of fun, whereas biased refereeing and unsportsmanlike behavior serve as inhibitors.
A comparison between studies from The Journal of Applied Sport Psychology (2017) and The Journal of Adolescent Research (2021) further confirms that autonomy in training, encouragement from peers, and a sense of mastery all contribute significantly to enjoyment. If kids feel like they are forced into a sport or pressured to perform, the fun factor quickly diminishes.
♂️ ♀️ Gender differences and Fun in Sport.
I was going to leave this section blank. WHY?
Because there simply barely any difference between how females and males enjoy sport. Rather than there being gender differences, it seems that differences are based on individuals not whether you are a boy or a girl. This goes against the popular myth that girls are motivated by the social aspects of sports, like friendship, and that competition is what makes sports fun for boys.
Amanda J Visek, an associate professor of exercise and nutrition sciences at the Milken Institute School of Public Health, dispels the myth in her research study: “Our data indicate girls and boys are more similar than different when it comes to what makes playing sports fun,” Dr. Visek said. “What counts most for girls and boys are things like ‘trying your best,’ ‘working hard,’ ‘staying active’ and ‘playing well together as a team.’ These findings are the same for athletes at younger and older ages and across recreational and more competitive levels of play.
The simple image below from a different 2020 study shows that the top 11 factors that make sport fun for boys and girls are identical. Even the importance placed on the top 3 factors of Trying Hard, Positive Team Dynamics and Positive Coaching are exactly the same. After that boys place slight more emphasis on learning and improving, practice and games, with other factors nearly identical.
💡 What to do!
Understanding what makes individuals tick helps us as parents and coaches to support them properly. It’s natural to have hopes and dreams for your children but if we want healthy individuals they need to be doing it for their own reasons. Quite simply asking them what makes sport fun for them gives insights into character, motivation, values, social dynamics, any potential pressures and what might keep them engaged and playing for a long time. Like forever!
So take a second and just ask, ‘Why Do You Play?’
And when they say “because it’s fun,” dig deeper.
Without prompting answers, dig into what is actually fun about it.
Like expert athlete developer, Craig Harrison, recently said to us on our podcast it is crucial that parents and coaches are aware - aware of what makes their kids enjoy sport, and then, if they aspire to be great at it, aware of what the sport is actually about, what truly helps develop them, and what their role in it is.
This is what happened in my house when I asked my two sons who were home at the time:
Son #2 (age 16)
“Fun is chasing that winning feeling that I have felt before. I remember what that feeling was like and I want it again. I don’t always get it but trying is fun. Also challenging myself is fun. Bonding with my mates and making new ones - I really like being in a team environment and getting success as a team and hanging out, laughing and teasing each other. Some of the drills and games are just enjoyable to play. Positive coaches who improve me help make it fun. Sport brings out my playfulness and makes me feel like a little kid when other things like school feel serious in my life - it reminds me of being a little kid again.”
Son #3 (age 14)
“Fun is winning but not when it’s super easy. Losing isn’t fun but it is important. It’s fun for me to master something, I really like the feeling of being good. Competing is fun and playing with friends is too. I like sport more when I feel confident and I really love the actual playing of games - that’s why I go out and train on my own because when I am confident in the game and can do it well it is more fun. Getting loads of touches and having success and being creative is fun. Being with friends is fun but I’ll play the sport I love to actually do not just because of friends - although I do get a little nervous playing with new people until I know them and am confident I can compete at a top level.”
Surprisingly insightful and a really interesting task for me as dad. While I thought I knew what was fun for them there are some factors in there that certainly weren’t at the top of my thoughts. There are some themes that come through but also some differences between each boy. The insight is helping me understand my boys and then how they might need me to support (Son 3 loves me to help him master skills some days), or just to stay the heck out of the way! (other times he wants to do it on his own.), to just be one of the boys and play (often), or help them reflect, plan, or guide (only when #2 asks!).
Give it a go - we’d love to hear what is fun for your athletes.
📚️ A Great Resource
AlexAndBooks is a fantastic resource that I have recently come across. Alex reads books at the rate that the rest of us breathe! For each one he pulls out key lessons for you so that you can either:
Take the short learnings and move on.
Get the book and do more of a deep dive.
Realise this book is not for you and forget all about it!
One book that I loved from his review was The DOSE Effect which speaks about how to optimise your brain and improve your mood through understanding these 4 brain chemicals - Dopamine - Oxytocin - Serotonin - Endorphins. Super interesting stuff!
Check below for some pages and click the cover to see 10 lessons from the book.
You can find Alex’s page full of books here:
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🥝 Fun Family-Friendly Nutritious Meal: Build-Your-Own Power Bowls! 🍚🥩🥦
A Build-Your-Own Power Bowl is a fun, customizable, and balanced meal that the whole family can enjoy making together! It provides the carbs, protein, and healthy fats needed to fuel active bodies.
🥘 What You’ll Need:
Base (Carbs for Energy) 🍚
✔ Cooked rice (brown, white, or jasmine)
✔ Quinoa or couscous
✔ Roasted sweet potatoes
Protein (Muscle Repair) 🍗
✔ Grilled chicken, beef, or tofu
✔ Salmon or shrimp
✔ Beans or lentils
Veggies (Vitamins & Minerals) 🥕
✔ Cherry tomatoes, spinach, cucumbers, or bell peppers
✔ Roasted broccoli, carrots, or zucchini
Glowing Fats (For Long-Lasting Fuel) 🥑
✔ Avocado slices
✔ Nuts or seeds (almonds, pumpkin seeds)
✔ Olive oil drizzle
Toppings (For Extra Flavor) 🌿
✔ Feta or shredded cheese
✔ Yogurt-based dressing or hummus
✔ Herbs like cilantro or basil
👨👩👧👦 How to Cook & Assemble (Family Fun!):
✅ Parents: Cook the rice/quinoa and grill the protein or if kids are old to manage this, get them involved!
✅ Kids: Chop veggies, mash avocado, or mix a simple dressing.
✅ Everyone: Assemble their own bowl with their favorite ingredients!
💡 Why This Works for Athletes:
✔ Carbs for energy around raining
✔ Protein for muscle recovery after workouts
✔ Hydration boost with water-rich veggies
✔ Encourages variety & fun in healthy eating
✔ Involves family bonding time and less time on screens!
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Have a FUN week! 🚀