The Park Ridge Recreation and Park District may have the right idea in how to treat childhood obesity.

As Park District Commissioner Bob Trizna sat and watched post-game activities of youth sporting events and he saw way too many treats and snacks awarded to players who he thought didn’t do enough exercise to burn off what they were eating.

In action, he and other board members asked parents to not hand out goodies after games because kids were becoming more interested, the treat than the game itself, according to a Saturday Chicago Tribune article.

Is this what the idea of youth sports has come to? I can’t imagine a Snickers bar and a can of Pepsi being more important than playing the sport, but some of these kids would actually consider quitting if snacks weren’t offered.

Eleven-year-old Josh Goll was quoted in the story as saying, “I would not play,” if snacks were taken from the agenda of his youth soccer games.

That remark is just appalling. What happened to the good ol’ days of orange slices and juice boxes?

It is kids like Goll who up the obesity rate of children at an alarming rate. According to the American Obesity Association; more than 30 percent of kids at the ages between 6 and 11 are overweight and more than 15 percent are obese. That figure is almost 4 percent higher than the study taken from 1988 to 1994.

I remember when I played youth soccer and kids would get excited over oranges and grapes. Each week a different player was responsible for bringing what we considered a treat. I lived for putting on my uniform every Saturday morning to go play, and the last thing on my mind was what type of snack one of the moms would bring.

Now kids are threatening to hold out if they don’t get anything or bother coaches during the game about what kind of snack they will be getting.

“I’ve had kids in the 4th inning say, ‘What are we gonna have,'” said John Koutnik, a youth baseball coach, quoted in the Tribune.

These aren’t contract negotiations or anything. They are snacks. I thought being a part of a team and getting to take part in something fun would be rewarding enough.

Kids these days are more concerned with eating sweets and playing video games to pick up a bat or strap on some shin guards.

Youth sports should be one of the favorite things for a child to do because it offers so much for those who get involved. I’m now 21 years old and one of the things I miss most about being a kid is playing organized sports.

Being involved in athletics teaches teamwork and allows kids to socialize with others of their own age group, all while learning the importance of exercise.

More youth sport organizations should look closely at what Park Ridge is trying to do and make the games more about playing than snacking.

It’s OK to give players something, but it all depends on what they are given. Candy bars may be nice for an occasional snack, but bring something healthier such as orange slices and grapes. I ate them for my many years playing Bruce Samlan youth soccer and so can these kids.

There needs to be some sort of standard set before youth sports are full of kids sitting on the sidelines with chocolate melted to their chubby little hands.