Child's Play

Published: Feb. 27, 2016, 11:41 a.m.

It's a parent's instinct to want the best for their child, and to help them achieve it, but at what point does a supportive Mother or a Father cross the line and start putting too much pressure on their off-spring? Olympic Swimmer Karen Pickering has been investigating the world of children’s sport - speaking to a ten year old that was getting booed by other parents and to a man who didn't realise he was making his son's passion, football, a misery. She also tells us about the extreme case of the former professional Ice Hockey player who was beaten daily by his father until the day, aged 16, when he called the police. The Fittest on Earth CrossFit mixes weightlifting, gymnastics, sprinting, rowing and more. Starting this week, all over the world, gym-goers are launching their personal bid to become 2016's World Champion. The very best will get all the way to California for the finals this July. But the process begins at your local gym. Sportshour's Ed Harry has been to his, to find out whether he's got what it takes. His personal results are underwhelming, but he’s a trier. Making Room for Nathan Nathan is eight years old and is autistic. Unable to cope with large crowds and the noise they generate, he was a sad and frustrated little boy who couldn't ever watch his beloved Sunderland Football Club live at the ground. That was until Sunderland listened, and created a 'Sensory Room' for Nathan. It's insulated from the noise, with a great view of the pitch ... and, as Mum Kate and Dad Peter explain, it's transformed his match-day experience. Old Hands When Frank Bruno suggested making a comeback to Boxing in his mid-fifties, perhaps the most sensible comment came from another former World Champion. David Haye said he had no problem with Bruno returning, but why couldn't he fight boxers of his own age on a Legends Tour? For hundreds of fighters, that's not a dream - it's already their life. Masters Boxing is growing, with pugilists donning the gloves into their 70s in pursuit of fistic excellence. One champion of this amateur division, Johnny Schulz, explains how pulling the gloves back on saved his life. Wolfsburg and the Gamer David Bytheway, Britain's latest footballing export, plies his trade with his thumbs rather than his feet. Runner up at the last FIFA Interactive World Cup, David has just been signed by Wolfsburg in the German Bundesliga. Both club and player tell us what they're getting from the deal. Wolfsburg’s Managing Director believes this Gamer is just as important as any man, woman or youth team player on their playing staff. The man himself tells us how annoying it is when people suggest Gamers are lazy, and he explains why he doesn’t enjoy playing – he just does it because it’s his job. Laughing Track Marketing a sports event is a serious business - or at least it usually is. But the hosts of next month's World Indoor Athletics Championships wanted an advertising campaign that captured their city's personality. A 'Portland vibe' was part of the brief given to Director and Writer, Brian Johnson. Having directed hundreds of commercials worldwide for some of the biggest global brands, he's been making Track and Field funny in a series of films featuring the athletes themselves.