I’m driving back from my [SISTER AND BROTHER-IN-LAW’S] house in [NORTH CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS], and I just can’t get something off my mind.
[MARY] and I try to visit her family once a month for birthdays or just to spend the day; family is super important to us. This time we also had the pleasure of watching our niece play in a basketball game. Well, she didn’t really play. That’s what I can’t get off my mind.
Before I continue, I want to preface this by saying I by no means hate organized team sports, in or outside of school. I think they’re great for kids to get into; heck, even for adults. This is just a thought I had while mindlessly driving home after the game.
Organized team sports do not encourage growth.
Here’s what happened.
It’s the semi-finals, and if our niece’s team wins, it would go to the finals. The girls are about 10 years old.
The first half starts and the girls are doing well, but our niece is sitting on the bench. The half continues and again, the girls are doing well—not great, but good—but our niece remains on the bench.
By half time the girls are down, and our niece hasn’t played at all! We can see the disappointment on her face. Her dad is starting to get a little upset, and I can’t blame him.
Time for the second half.
Yes! Our niece gets put in—for what felt like approximately 10 seconds!
As the second half continues, you can see the look of disappointment and sadness grow on her face, and of course, her father is getting more and more upset (some choice words may have been said, but that’s a story for another time).
The girls eventually lost the game, and our niece played no more than 90 seconds.
So what’s the lesson in all of this? Why can’t I get this off my mind?
Yes, I feel empathy for my niece, but there is a bigger picture here as well. This isn’t the first time this has happened. It really comes down to the nature of organized team sports.
Everyone wants to win.
Therein lies the problem. When everyone wants to win, only the best players play. That doesn’t leave much room for the mediocre players, never mind the ones that still have a lot to learn.
Here’s my problem with it. Playing organized sports, especially as a kid (this is completely different for adults), should be about developing skills such as how to dribble a ball, swing a bat or skate on the ice. These skills should be tested in practice and in games; otherwise the kids are never going to get better.
But rarely does this happen, because everyone wants to win—and when everyone wants to win, only the best players play.
Now, I’m not saying this happens all the time. I know it doesn’t. There are great coaches out there that understand what youth sports is all about, but there are plenty more that don’t, and it’s unfortunate.
The good news is not all hope is lost. There are sports that promote skill, teamwork and community, and do it all while encouraging personal growth. Sports such as karate and CrossFit bolster personal growth, teaching skills such as body awareness, motor control, discipline and mental fortitude while promoting teamwork in a community-like environment.
In these sports, kids work on their own personal goals, the next stripe or the next personal record while encouraging and helping others in class. These types of sports only lift up, never tear down.
Does this mean you shouldn’t let your kids play traditional team sports? Of course not. But in a world that defines success and failure by wins and losses, consider showing your kids another side of athletics, too—one that rewards effort with growth.
Inspiration provided by Andrew Boimila at CrossFitTradewinds.com. You must link the website above to this URL: https://www.crossfittradewinds.com/team-sports-crossfit/?fbclid=IwAR0obauqrRP5ffSixyFuon4VgopBhXoFHcUPzyUeLR0wBGqJCgG9czE1s50
