Comments on: F@%k It Friday: Kids & Sports

By: Headhunter Spouse

Headhunter Spouse — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:50:19 +0000

I remember reading about Alan Page, former Chicago Bear, in the Wall Street Journal. While still playing for the Bears, he got his law degree from the University of Minnesota. He is now a Minnesota state supreme court justice. When asked if his kids played school sports, “because of all they learn in team activities,” here replied that organized sports was the last thing he encouraged his kids to do. He said that he hoped his kids would play tennis or some other individual sport.

By: Kirsten

Kirsten — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:56:51 +0000

We’ve moved 4 times since my oldest son was born, and sports teams have always been a conduit through with I could count on my kids making new friends. We’ve also bonded on quite a few road trips out to tournaments. I’m not counting on scholarships or careers in the MLS. I just want them to have fun and try their hardest. While they do, I am always willing to hang with the other parents and have a beer!

By: Robert LaGow

Robert LaGow — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:51:14 +0000

I think some aspects of sports — the right sports — are great lessons to be learned. Teamwork. Overcoming adversity. That sort of stuff.

I’ve coached both of my boys in football, t-ball, and communist soccer*. I even coached youth football one season when I didn’t even have a kid playing at the time. Now, one plays baseball and rugby. The other plays rugby and football.

The only problems I’ve every really come across are kids that are sooooo overscheduled that they can’t focus or enjoy any one activity because Mom or Dad are prepping to get them on to the NEXT activity. Let ‘em have some down time. Let ‘em figure out how to entertain themselves in the backyard every once in a while.

* We call it communist soccer because everybody gets a trophy, no matter what.

By: Nevin Adams

Nevin Adams — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 14:43:23 +0000

I did sports through high school – good enough to make the team, but spent a lot of time on the bench. In some sense that was a lot of “wasted” hours – but you do learn things, develop skills, etc. The bottom line was, however – I did it because I felt like I “had” to. As for my kids, we gave them the opportunities – they all tried various sports – ultimately didn’t have much interest, and we let them drop out without any pressure to do otherwise.

Unfortunately, the culture through high school still favors prom queens and jocks. It sucks, but that’s how society seems to work. Personally, I’d like to see less emphasis on sports in school. And, frankly, I think that starts with fewer parents trying to live out their jock fantasies through their kids…

BTW – my kids are knocking the ball out of the park academically, and IMHO, are some of the best-adjusted kids I know (I COULD be biased).

p.s. there are few experiences more gratifying than seeing how the high school star quarterback wound up 20 years later.

By: Laurie

Laurie — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 21:00:06 +0000

@Jen I’m laughing so hard. I know, I know, I want your kids to sit in the house at age 5 and do multiplication tables. Because I’m all realistic & shit. I like the idea of telling kids to go play. Just go. Get the hell out of the house. Make trouble. Play in the dirt. Ride your bikes. Sports? Well, I’m iffy on it. That’s probably why I have cats. (Although Jake plays soccer with his little sponge-ball.)

@Rampancy No I’m pretty sure you are being mean. That’s so funny.

@HRRocks I guess it’s never wrong to try something. Better they try soccer or basketball than meth.

@Tim G. Was that a teachable moment for you?!

By: Jen M

Jen M — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 20:54:09 +0000

I’d love your agenda for teaching my child be be a nurse when he’s 5 – seriously, if he can start pulling in a salary tomorrow I’d love that plan, too. And how many 5 year olds do you know that want to sit there and learn math all day? I love sports – if anything it gives my kids an organized outlet for their energy. True, neither of them will be professional sports players, but so far it’s been great for them. Both have tried a few sports, they each really like one or two, and they’ve made a lot of friends.

I think it all depends on why the kids are doing the sports and how the parents are involved or rather not involved, because if they’re not coaching they need to just sit there and shut up and let the kids play.

By: HR Rocks

HR Rocks — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 16:02:47 +0000

I agree that sports is good for some children, some kids excel at sports, it teaches good lessons. As a parent with a child that isn’t naturally gifted and doesn’t really care about sports, I’m sick of the other parents that treat me like I’m crazy for not having my daughter in soccer or softball or fill in the blanks. We’ve tried it all, we’ve suffered together. Will she be a worse person for not having the experience? I don’t think so. At least she tried. The emphasis sometimes is too much.

By: Rampancy

Rampancy — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 11:08:17 +0000

Sports are cool! As a highly trained dancers I sometimes give dance lessons to kids. I love to make them do push ups and sit ups in the most grueling combinations till they cry for their mommy’s I am not being mean, I am just learning them how to deal with pain, or doing stuff you don’t like because it comes with territory

By: You and me, punk rock girl « Your Kid’s Not Going Pro

You and me, punk rock girl « Your Kid’s Not Going Pro — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 06:20:50 +0000

[...] Anyway, this anarchist of the applicant review set has a feature called F@%k It Friday (how in the fuck do you pronounce that?) in which she muses about topics that have nothing to do with stage-diving in the conference room. The latest: kids and sports. [...]

By: Tim G

Tim G — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 02:56:44 +0000

Actually, as a soccer coach for both my sons growing up, I think I learned more than they did. About parenting, about teamwork (yeah, I know it’s for suckers) and about my sons. The real insight came when my youngest was ready to sign up for a third year. When I asked him about it, I found out he signed up because he thought I wanted to coach, and I was coaching because I thought he wanted to play. Lesson re-learned (and continually demonstrated even today): you gotta ask questions – make no assumptions.