In Defense of Children's Athletics

Even though I am prone to complaining about how much time and energy goes into taking the kids to all of their various basketball practices and soccer games and swimming lessons, we do it because we think sports are a precious opportunity for some major life skills.  

Eamon was almost 3 years old here :)

I know every family has different needs and there are plenty of seasons in life where getting oldest child to three basketball practices a week just isn't possible because there's a newborn in the house and Dad works late.  But for those times when the budget allows and there is some flexibility in the family schedule, I highly encourage sports for kids.  

Why?  I knew you would ask that!  And so I'll tell you:

1) Exercise

I have written about the physical benefits of exercise before, and the same points hold true for children.  Obesity among children is on the rise, and has so many physical ailments and disorders that are linked to it.  Either due to safety issues or parent's schedules, a lot of kids today can't make spontaneous exercise part of their daily routine like the generations before have.   Sports teams are a way of exposing children to exercise in a fun way.  

Maggie has no clue she's burning calories running around for an hour!

And although I wouldn't push a toddler into athletics, I do believe the younger they start (school age) the easier it is for them to learn a sport and excel without being too critical of their (lack of) skills.  

2) Socialization

Think about how we used to socialize when we were kids.  We would ride bikes with the neighborhood kids, go play ball at the park, play tag and all sorts of other outside games.  Can our kids do that now?  Nope, well at least not where I live, not unless they are supervised.  Sports teams allow children to make friends very easily...your teammates are automatically your friends.  And bonus!: sitting on the sidelines with fellow parents can be good socialization for the shy moms like me.

3) Trying Something New

You know how adults can get stuck in their routines and stop trying new things?  It's so easy to try something new when we're children, even if we only do it for one season.  I think new opportunities beget more opportunities.  In sports, it might be that a boy learns how to swim, and then becomes a lifeguard for a summer job.  Or a girl takes gymnastics and realizes it's not her passion, but has developed a great sense of balance and posture to guide her through life.  What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?  

Andrew's first and last season of baseball.  He declared it too boring.  Agreed. But just look at that hand/eye coordination he's learned!

4) Winners and Losers

Competition is a good, healthy motivator for kids, as long as it is kept in check.  When my kids get too worked up over the potential of losing a game, I remind them that there will be a winner AND a loser every single time, and they better get used to being on both sides of that.  What a disservice we do when we try to show our kids that they will always succeed at everything they try.

Failure makes us begin anew, next time even stronger.

5) Family time

Our kids love it when Mom and Dad can be at their games cheering them on, even though it's not always possible for us both to attend.  One of the most wonderful parts of the summer Olympics for me was watching the parents watch their children compete.  You could tell how involved, dedicated, and supportive they were.  What a great type of family to be raised in!  Most ran over to thank their mom after winning a medal:

Having an athletic child means the whole family gets involved.  Even siblings learn how to root for each other and truly want success for someone other than themselves.

6) Hard work and Dedication

It took him so long to be able to move forward, but he never gave up!

You want to be a swimmer like Michael Phelps or a gymnast like Gabby Douglas?  You'll learn very quickly what it means to have priorities, be dedicated, and work hard at something.  Even for the 99% of children who won't ever compete professionally or on a world stage, there are still lots of lessons to be learned on dedication, pushing oneself and not giving up.  These are good old fashioned values that it seems lots of kids aren't getting.

7) Self Esteem

Self esteem isn't just reserved for the best players on the team.  

I wish I was a little bit taller, I wish I was a baller...

Take my 9 year old John-Paul for example.  He is the shortest and second youngest on his basketball team, he hardly gets any play time, and he has three practices a week.  But his world isn't clouded yet with the realization that basketball just might not be his sport.  He loves it and so he plays.  End of subject.  When he gets 2 out of 10 of his free throws in, he smiles so big you'd think his cheeks would break.  Sports give kids an opportunity to improve and to see themselves getting better by leaps and bounds or baby steps, but no matter what, they will advance over time.  

8) Patience
Waiting in the dugout, or on the sidelines teaches bunches of patience.  A life lesson some of us (ahem, me) could still use a refresher on!

The Martin Boys are on deck to the 6th degree

All that being said, I do think there's a need for balance when it comes to sports participation for kids.  Right now my lovies play soccer in the fall (starting at age 4), basketball in the winter (starting at age 6), swimming in the spring (starting for *real* at age 5), and then track and field in the summer (which starts at age 3).  We are at our full capacity!  The older they get, the more I want them to focus in on two sports so we can keep it more manageable.  As for now, whenever we are able to get the kids on the same team or schedule their lessons at the same time, we do it.   Right now, we say no to sports that fall into the too expensive or dangerous categories, like gymnastics, ice skating, football, and ice hockey.  And that's where we're at.