
04 Oct, 2024 ADVICE: What role should athletics play?
Opinion/Resources/Teen Perspective
By Teen Opinion Contributor Maggie Verdught
Photo: Deposit
In today’s culture, there are many extremes that live in reality.
We have a tendency to lean far to one side of something, whether that is politically, socially, or behaviorally. This is true about the culture of athletics in the United States, today. I want to introduce to you what I believe about the role of sports in a child’s life. And, spoiler— it’s not just about the role athletics play in a child’s life, either; it’s about the parents, too!
This issue is not widely discussed, and frankly, it should be. We need more people to understand the true place that athletics should hold in our lives– as societies, families, and individuals. Let’s dive right into it!
The benefits of athletics in childhood and adolescence
Firstly, I want to establish the fact that there are many benefits to participating in athletics during childhood and adolescence. Many children, especially young boys, thrive in competitive environments. And a healthy level of competition, coupled with the teachings of good character and sportsmanship, often proves to be extremely valuable. No matter what sport one is involved in, there will be some level of competition and technique at play (haha pun intended). Additionally, structure and boundaries exist within a sport– aka “rules”! Kids need security and structure in their lives. Ironically, having that structure, especially early on in life, helps give kids the confidence to go outside of their comfort zone. This happens all the time within sports. Generally, involvement in a sport also means that a child will have the opportunity to connect with peers. There is something magical about being part of a team. Whether it is a sports team, work team, service team, or something else– it is a satisfying feeling when you work hard to reach a goal with your friends. This is what I believe athletics is all about, and what makes it such a great thing for young people. It challenges and develops us physically, mentally, and emotionally, simultaneously teaching life skills along the way. As I mentioned before, these include (but are not limited to!) communication skills, leadership, and one of the most important, in my opinion: learning how to be a learner.
Where we’ve gone wrong
The problem lies within the mindset and attitude of adults and parents towards athletics. Remember when I mentioned how there are many extremes living in reality? Oftentimes, athletics becomes an extreme. I have seen how many families strongly encourage and emphasize athletics (sometimes for the wrong reasons), and the other side of the coin, too: when families don’t seem to care about athletics and the benefits it offers. To be fair, some of these ideas are generalizations– not every family has an all-or-nothing mentality about sports. However, I have seen many families do this, and I think it is important to address that. These behaviors discourage me. When a family spends a large amount of time investing in their kids’ sports, the child is at risk to believe that life revolves around sports! This sounds simple, but it is true. What you spend your time doing, matters. Your time is one the most valuable things that you have. I see many children adopting an all-or-nothing mindset when it comes to sports. This is largely because of the lack of education and modeling from adults, which should teach kids to hold sports in their proper place.
Reframing our mindset around athletics
Here is my plea to parents, and adults everywhere: know the proper role that athletics play in youth development, and educate others on it when you can! Kids should have a positive mindset when it comes to sports. We all know in our hearts that it really isn’t about winning, but do you model that to your children? Do you remind them that the experiences they go through now are going to shape them into the person God wants them to be? When we reframe our mindset around athletics and hold it in its proper place, we can truly become better versions of ourselves. Children will develop greater confidence, teamwork abilities, and physical and emotional strength. Yes, involvement in athletics is very valuable, but our performance does not determine our worth! I have struggled with this myself, and I know that many people have. Make sure that your kids know that even when they fail, they are loved; and most importantly– they are perfectly loved by their heavenly Father.
Summary
So here’s what we know: physical activity is good for our bodies, kids need structure, and youth sports offer many benefits! However, we also know that any good thing in excess (like a sport) or with the wrong mindset towards it, can become unprofitable and even destructive. I highly recommend that children participate in a sport– with the proper mindset and support from their parents! Ultimately, athletics can be an amazing gift and opportunity for your child to glorify God in their youth; make sure to support and encourage them as they take advantage of it.
Colossians 3:17 [ESV]
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
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The opinions in this article are specific to its author, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the entire Counter Culture Mom team.
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Maggie VerDught is a high school student who enjoys learning about culture, news, and politics.
She is passionate about sharing the truth, especially with her generation. Maggie loves to run, read, and write poetry in her spare time.
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