When kids play team sports, it should offer not only some life lessons but it
should (could) be an outlet for building lifelong friendships, releasing stress,
getting in shape, respect, discipline, empathy, learning to win and lose
and above-all, about loving who they are whether they win or lose…
Sometimes along that journey, if they are lucky and work hard, they grow into better athletes (but sometimes not and that's okay too!)
Did you know that "over 70% of youth athletes drop out of sports before they enter high school. The reasons according to the kids themselves: Too much pressure to win, poor coaching, being forced to “choose” and specialize in a single sport at too early of an age, too expensive for parents, team/club politics, etc." (Source: Kids Out and About.)
Regardless, being part of a team and playing a sport (whether
recreational, travel, or in school,) should not be a task or a chore,
unless of course, you and your child have decided that they are going to
pursue sports professionally or at least in college, and then it becomes like a full-time job. Otherwise, playing
sports should be about PLAYING and having fun, even when it’s difficult
and it should be about learning to work together as a TEAM, making
friendships, regardless of where they play at.
We should teach our children that making friends should not be based
upon skill levels but human levels. Just because a kid is a great
athlete, doesn’t make him/her a great person. Building and maintaining a
friendship goes way beyond the field, court or ice…especially if they
have friends who have decided to no longer play.
Not every kid is going to be a Messi, Simón Biles, Michael Jordan,
Gretzky and so on. They can try along the way, but without the
unnecessary pressure from parents. We can teach our children to be their
best selves, but not while living out our dreams vicariously through
them. It must be their passion and ultimately their choice, as they get
older. (And of course, I am not referring to a 4 or 5-year old kid, who
just started playing optimist soccer or baseball!)
Ultimately, we need to let our student athletes (and children in general,) learn, develop, have fun, and enjoy making memories and teach our kids to make friendships based on human connection, not who they play for or don't play for or if they are popular or not. It has never been easy to find real and loyal friends but in today's world, it seems an even harder task.
It is up to us as parents to set a good example and be there for our children unconditionally.
Some day, we will wake up and there will be no more games, meets, or events to go to, whether by their choice or by time.
Remember, that the GIFT OF LIFE is TIME! Make the best of it. ~LR
good content and really great article
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