Why Youth Sports Matter...

I was asked in a recent meeting why I chose to coach youth sports. I did not even have to think about my answer since it was in the front of my mind before the question was even completed.  I coach youth sports because of how much being a part of sports teams meant to me when I was growing up.

I have coached football, basketball, and lacrosse. I am a member of the Positive Coaching Alliance and I love encouraging kids to have fun with sports. Coaching basketball this past weekend allowed me the amazing experience of having two of my players light up with joy after scoring their first points of the basketball season. (For one of them it was his first points EVER).  As one of my friends correctly noted, those are the points that matter...it's not all about winning of losing and sometimes it's about having a kid experience a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Sure, there is room to be competitive in youth sports.  There are, after all, some really great youth athletes. That said, youth sports really hit their mark when kids feel valued as a player, teammate, contestant, and person. They are kids.  They are growing emotionally, mentally, and physically. If youth sports can build a good component of self worth in the mind of a kid then a worthy purpose has been served.