posted April 17, 2005 12:06 PM
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I found this on ESPN Nation Polls. There were 14,083 votes including my 1 vote on the 10 different topics. It may not be scientific or have the triple blinds tests - but the data should have some value.

1) Parents like those of Tiger Woods and the Williams sisters, who groom their kids to be athletes from a young age, are:
50.3% Hurting their kids
49.7% Helping their kids
2) At what age should kids start playing organized sports?
58.3% Between ages 5-7
23.4% Between ages 8-10
13.6% Before age 5
4.7% After the age of 10
3) At what age did you start playing organized sports?
49.8% Between ages 5-7
23.7% Between ages 8-10
14.5% Before age 5
12.1% After the age of 10
4) At what age should scores begin to be kept in organized games?
43.9% Between ages 8-10
35.1% Between ages 5-7
20.9% After the age of 10
5) At what age should all-star 'travel teams' be created?
40.2% Between ages 11-13
36.8% After the age of 13
19.3% Between ages 8-10
3.7% Before age 8
6) At what age should national championships begin to be held?
61.9% After the age of 13
28.0% Between ages 11-13
7.9% Between ages 8-10
2.2% Before age 8
7) If a kid is going to make it to the pros in a given sport, at what age does he need to begin specializing in that sport?
48.4% Before end of high school
28.5% Before age 13
17.4% Before age 9
5.7% Before age 5
8) At what age should the media begin televising and reporting on youth games?
84.1% High school years
8.6% Middle school years
6.3% Any age is fine
1.1% Elementary school years
9) Should kids be given physical/physiological tests to help them determine which sports they might be best tailored to play?
72.6% No
27.4% Yes
10) How important is the role of genetics in the making of an elite athlete?
52.2% Important but not critical
29.1% Very important
12.9% Not that important
5.8% Not at all important
Total Votes: 14,083


Source: ESPN Nation Polls