Kids and Sports?
Do they play sports because they get to go to tournaments, or because of the promise of a trophy for participation? Do they play to get a scholarship? Are these the things that motivate them to use up so much of their childhood? Or is the answer something much more simple?
The answer--Because it’s fun.
Children play sports because it brings them enjoyment. Adults continue to play sports because it brings them enjoyment. Even pros play because they love to play, and when it stops being enjoyable, they retire. We all seek out things that we enjoy doing, and avoid things we do not. Why would kids be any different?
When Amanda Visek of George Washington University asked children in 2014 why they played sports, 9 out of 10 said because it was fun. When asked what made sports fun, these were their top answers:
Trying your best
When the coach treats a player with respect
Getting playing time
Playing well as a team
Getting along with teammates
Being active
Much farther down the list we find winning (48), playing in tournaments (63), private training with specialized coaches (66), and my favorite, taking team pictures (81). In a nutshell, kids want excitement, support, and positive interactions with their peers and the adults. Those things bring enjoyment.
Poor coaching and punishment for mistakes take the enjoyment away for younger children, while peer rivalries, overemphasis on winning, and excessive training and expectations suck the enjoyment out of sport for older athletes. Does any of this sound familiar?
Southern California is a place that seems to be the epicenter of the adult driven, hyper competitive race to the top in both academics and athletics that serves the needs of the adults, but rarely the kids. A recent story from a typical sports Dad discusses the topic. His daughter is a nine year old travel soccer player, who has played more consecutive months than he did in total growing up. He could already see that her path was unsustainable, she was burning out. The seasons never end.
His story echoed that of a coaching colleague that decided to give his soccer team November and December off, after playing for ten straight months. His coaching director told him via email that was not happening, that they needed the practice.
Tournaments. Private coaching. Excessive travel. It's a year round commitment for each sport. Does this make sports more enjoyable? Or does it turn kids’ games into premature adult versions that sap enjoyment and focus on things that tend to impress the adults, but not the kids.
Why are we so scared to listen to our kids when they ask for more time to try other things, or simply hang out with friends.
Why are we afraid that our kids will fall behind unless they play year round? Why are the only choices for kids these days to seemingly play only one sport continuously, year round with few breaks, or worse, become multi-sport specialists, running from practice to practice, day after day, to the point where we have joyless zombies running around our athletic fields?
This path does not produce better athletes. It produces bitter athletes who get hurt, burnout, and quit sports altogether. Let’s focus on why kids want to play sports!
