The Diocese of Cleveland has stepped up to plate and set minimum playing time standards for CYO basketball. Every fourth through sixth grader will play a minimum of half the game. Seventh grade and up will have to play a minimum of a quarter. This is a bold move that, ultimately, will build better high school teams.

How is that, you say? Consider what happens to many kids who do not develop as quickly as their teammates. In our win-at-all-costs world of sports, only the best get to play, no matter the age. The kids whose bodies have not developed as fast as their teammates often get relegated to the bench, and many of them will never have the opportunity to get off. As their friends get more playing time, they develop better skills. If the benchwarmer doesn't get frustrated and quit, he will find himself lagging further and further behind his teammates. By insisting on balanced playing time for all, the Diocese will have a broader base of talent to draw from when these kids get to high school.

Youth sports should not be about finding the talent, developing them and letting the rest fall by the wayside. Every kid's body grows at a different rate, so a coach may miss out on finding that he has a super guard at ten. If that kid had ridden the bench until then, he may be ready to play at ten, but without the basic skills his teammates have developed over the years, the coach will not see his talent. If this kid had equal playing time, then his skills would be ready when his body is, and this coach will have his star guard.