The United States Fencing Association just released a short article on the purpose of sport. I include it here but would add the following points:
1. Sport promotes healthy bodies - these sleep better, eat better, have longer lifespans, better general health and avoid obesity in later years; and we are evolutionarily selected to be active in development of our brains so evidence on the mental and neurological benefits across the board due to sport involvement is overwhelming. Whether in keeping depression at bay or simply improving cognition/attention/acuity, the empirical evidence is solid that active bodies mean healthier minds.
2. Sport is not a platform for parental success via social media. Your child's sport acumen is one part genetics (that's you), one part access (that's also you) but a whole lot of luck if you meet the right coaches or development path.
Here is the entire article:
The Purpose of Sports for Our Children
Why did we encourage our children to participate in sports? For most of us, it’s because we believe sports can teach valuable life lessons, build strong character, and promote lifelong health. Ultimately, it’s about shaping their future on and off the field. This is a common goal shared by many parents. However, as our children advance in competition—whether striving for spots in national tournaments, earning scholarships, or simply securing a place on the team—the pressures and intensity of sports can cause us to lose sight of this original purpose.
The greatest gift sports can offer is not a trophy or a ranking, but the invaluable development of character through the highs and lows of competition. Sports provide an unparalleled platform for fostering personal growth. To ensure our children truly benefit from these opportunities, we must guide them to focus on how they respond to challenges, both in sports and in life.
Here are some key principles to keep in mind:
As our children improve their response to challenges, become more process-driven, and develop confidence and adaptability, they will grow into resilient individuals with strong character. Our primary purpose should be to guide our children in leveraging sports to build these incredible life skills. If they happen to become great athletes along the way, that will simply be a bonus.
1. Sport promotes healthy bodies - these sleep better, eat better, have longer lifespans, better general health and avoid obesity in later years; and we are evolutionarily selected to be active in development of our brains so evidence on the mental and neurological benefits across the board due to sport involvement is overwhelming. Whether in keeping depression at bay or simply improving cognition/attention/acuity, the empirical evidence is solid that active bodies mean healthier minds.
2. Sport is not a platform for parental success via social media. Your child's sport acumen is one part genetics (that's you), one part access (that's also you) but a whole lot of luck if you meet the right coaches or development path.
Here is the entire article:
The Purpose of Sports for Our Children
Why did we encourage our children to participate in sports? For most of us, it’s because we believe sports can teach valuable life lessons, build strong character, and promote lifelong health. Ultimately, it’s about shaping their future on and off the field. This is a common goal shared by many parents. However, as our children advance in competition—whether striving for spots in national tournaments, earning scholarships, or simply securing a place on the team—the pressures and intensity of sports can cause us to lose sight of this original purpose.
The greatest gift sports can offer is not a trophy or a ranking, but the invaluable development of character through the highs and lows of competition. Sports provide an unparalleled platform for fostering personal growth. To ensure our children truly benefit from these opportunities, we must guide them to focus on how they respond to challenges, both in sports and in life.
Here are some key principles to keep in mind:
- It’s not about avoiding challenges; it’s about how our children respond to them. Help them understand that challenges are inevitable in both sports and life. They act as a catalyst for growth and resilience. Pay close attention to how our children respond to challenges, and encourage them to embrace those challenges and quickly shift their focus to solutions.
- Encourage focus on what is controllable, rather than outcomes. Winning and rankings are the byproducts of effort, attitude, problem-solving, and unwavering self-belief. Focusing on these qualities will naturally lead to success.
- Challenge our children to believe in themselves during difficult times. Everyone has off days. In these moments, there is only one right choice: choosing to believe in themselves, even when it’s hard.
- Foster adaptability in challenging conditions. Whether overcoming unfavorable circumstances or facing tougher opponents, adaptability is key to success both on and off the field.
- Promote humility and the relentless pursuit of growth. No matter how skilled our children become, the journey of improvement should never stop. Humility will keep them grounded and open to learning and evolving.
As our children improve their response to challenges, become more process-driven, and develop confidence and adaptability, they will grow into resilient individuals with strong character. Our primary purpose should be to guide our children in leveraging sports to build these incredible life skills. If they happen to become great athletes along the way, that will simply be a bonus.
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