The battle scene of the football field: fathers coaching, screaming curse words on to the field and mothers fighting on the sidelines. The game is played rain and sunshine. But it’s not a high school football game, it is a recreational league of five year old boys.
In today’s world, many kids are forced from an immature age to choose a sport to specialize in. This is awful for a young child’s mind, and by a later age they are tired of the activity. When a kid is young, their brain isn’t fully developed, therefore letting their parents make most of the decisions. So often times, when a player gets to the high school level, they are not even sure if they are passionate about what they do.
I have tried almost every activity available to me. Softball to ballet, you name it. The thing that bothered me most in the activities: I was never as good as the other kids at them. Granted, 11 year old girls are not exactly ‘pros’ at volleyball, but I just felt a little behind.
However, trying all of these sports helped me find my passion. By trying basketball and all of those other activities it helped me realize how much I really enjoyed dancing. I am really thankful to my parents for not making me devote my life to a sport, because until eighth grade I didn’t even know dancing was my passion.
Other students I know that have been concentrating on one sport since the fourth grade can’t stand it now and wish that they could just try something new.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-moment-youth/201201/the-psychology-youth-sports has even found that by high school, skill levels often balance out. So, the kids that only started a sport a few years ago may be just as skilled and have the same opportunities as the people who have been playing that sport since age three.
So, a couple of pieces of advice to those who feel stuck-in-the-sports-rut: explain this to your parents and coaches. This will take some of the stress out of your life. Secondly, try something new. You never know when you will find out what you are supposed to do with your life.
Anonymous • Apr 23, 2013 at 8:46 pm
Great article! Programs such as summer conditioning programs (that are supposedly “optional”, though everyone knows they’re pretty required) are another issue in which students are forced to sacrifice personal growth and exploration into different areas because they are too focused on only 1-2 sports. Let kids be kids and let them be able to try new things!
Julia Vastano • Apr 25, 2013 at 6:56 pm
Thank you so much! I enjoy hearing your insight, and find this a problem as well. I totally agree that kids should be allowed to be kids! Thanks again for reading and taking your time to comment.