Let Them Find Their Way

 

I’m a sports fan. That much is obvious. But I’m more of a fan of sports rather than someone that keeps up with their stats and players and all that. Let me explain.

I can’t tell you much about the teams or the scores and all that. Oh, I do love my Clemson Tigers but I can’t tell you all the players and how they’re doing.  I know that Dabo Swinney is the coach and that George Quarles’ son is the assistant to the offensive coordinator. And that we need a good running back and a DB or two.

I can’t tell you which former Tigers are in the pro’s or the team they are on, other than Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne (Jacksonville Jaguars).

I rarely sit and watch an entire game, start to finish.  I’m just not made that way. I found the Super Bowl interesting in bits and the only way I knew who won the World Series was when I got a photo of my friend Sue Falson (a physical therapist with the Dodgers) celebrating with the trophy.

I’m definitely not that sports fan that lives and dies based on the outcome of a game.  I don’t listen to sports shows on the radio and I rarely watch sports on TV.

My wife is the true sports fan in the family.  Any time I get behind the wheel of her van, you can be sure that the radio is on and tuned to one of the sports radio shows.

But I am most definitely a fan of sports participation.

I believe in sports for everyone. My rule as a father was that I didn’t care what sport you played, but you had to play something.  For the most part, my kids are raising their own kids based on the same principle. 

Sports participation, in and of itself, is an incredibly important part of growing up. Youth sports teams are not about making future sports stars—they’re about teaching life lessons.

But you’ve heard that here, time and time again.

“Upon the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that, upon other fields, on other days, will bear the fruits of victory.” That quote from General Douglas MacArthur speaks to the opportunity to learn and grow from sports participation.

Did you know that over 90% of female CEO’s in this country played sports in high school? They learned valuable lessons in teamwork, rewarded effort, and reliability that they carried into hugely successful careers.

But here’s my dark moment—it has become incredibly expensive to participate in youth sports these days. Golf and tennis have long been dominated by those blessed by parents with healthy incomes, who can afford the costs of being good.

Soccer, baseball, softball, and volleyball have, unfortunately, joined the ranks of sports that are just downright expensive to participate in. Between travel ball and private coaching, the costs can be enormous.

What’s the solution? I believe that if your youngster develops real athleticism, if they play multiple sports, if they play for the love of the game, then they will be successful.  Maybe not in what you think might be their best sport—given the opportunity, a child will find what they’re really good at.

And I don’t care what anyone tells you—no one can tell at 8 that a child is going to be a great athlete. So, save your money, travel to cool places, give your child diverse opportunities, and let them find their way.