SIOUX CITY -- There is a problem with youth athletics in Sioux City that I have noticed since moving back to town three years ago. The priority seems to be win first, teach second.

My twelve year old son quit youth football this season after two games. If you knew him you would have difficulty believing this as fanatical as he is about the sport. But when you are not given the chance to participate it wears on your confidence and desire.

We are talking about pre-teens here. Children who have not matured physically or mentally and they are being drilled with the importance of winning versus fair participation.

There are children, like my son, who lose interest in sports before they get into high school. Why? Because have become so obsessed with winning that it seems more important to the parents than the children. They just want to play. My son will grow physically and mentally and he will be a player some day, no thanks to a youth coach who labeled him at twelve years old as not having the ability to contribute to his team's success. -- Patrick Keleher