Maybe I will research sports??

[Matt K]

It took me forever to decide a general topic to even think about writing. I noticed sports has had a huge impact on history and interests me and I wondered how it differed between the generations. But now I am not sure how to specifiy and I worry that there will not be enough professional work on the topic. But several things I consider are how sports have changed through the generations. What impact the proffessional athletes have had on the different generations and whether that has changed. How the media uses athletes and professional sports to communicate with people and how advertising might have changed. The payroll and behavior of professional athletes in the different generations must also be very different and interesting to look into. Also what we discussed about in class, the "everyone wins, everyone gets a trophy" and what kids are taught in sports might effect how the different genertaions develop. Right now I am still doing research but maybe I need to get down to a more specific topic, maybe even a specific sport.

[Fred Cooksey]

Matt, I like the idea of you trying to focus on something (sports) you're naturally interested in for this paper. A number of the possible topics you propose, though, would seem to lead to more of a historical account of how sports have changed, and finding something that really connects to Millennials might be a little challenging.

However, I do think you're onto something when you mention the issue of winning and trophies. That reminded me of a central controversy that is related to this development, and that has to do with the question of coaching. It's similar, of course, to the debates about teaching and parenting -- to what degree should a coach/mentor/teacher/parent be encouraging versus demanding. (I'm simplifying, but you get the idea.) So, one possibility is to look specifically at changes in coaching philosophy -- I'm guessing you could find some interesting primary sources like old handbooks vs. new, specifically on coaching. Also, I'm sure that some scholars have addressed these issues. Spend a little time searching in the database devoted to "Health, Fitness, and Nutrition."

Alternately, you could examine something broader, like the changing attitudes toward teams and participation. The exact issue you named -- "everyone wins, everyone gets a trophy" -- might be complex enough that it could sustain your entire paper.

Do a little research and some more thinking and come back to the forum as your ideas take shape.

[Matt K]

Ok thank you. I already found some articles about coaching the millennial generation. Maybe some ideas that are not sustainable enough could turn into small points in my paper if I find them in my research.

[Paige Dolinski]

Coaching the millennials sounds like a good place to start - I'm also wondering about how the Millennials, who are becoming coaches/mentors now, are advising and what tactics they're using for the younger generation (...Generation Z?)
Maybe even take a look at how college football/baseball teams are doing compared to the Gen X'ers?
Is there a link between awarding kids for no effort in sports and the rising obesity levels in the U.S? How is the average outlook on the level of physical activity for Millennials?

On the other hand, it might be interesting to focus on the advertising of sports during the time span of the Millennial's childhood up till now - how have the portrayal of sports changed? How does this evolution compare to the Gen Xers?

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