The Home Stretch
There is no doubt to the benefits of team sports. Even those that oppose it [see The Visiting Team], admit that the benefits are undeniable. Whether or not team sports is the right move for your child is up to you. In my opinion, the pros outweigh the cons. In my personal experience, has there been a fair share of crazed coaches? Of course. Have there been obsessive parents? Definitely. Have I served my share of bench-warming time? Probably more than my fair share.
You see, at the age of ten, I was enrolled in a Jr. Marlins baseball league. I had always been that kid on the team that plays the league minimum and is just a roster filler. I was Jeff Pearlman's brother. At the end of that Jr. Marlins season, I was "released" by the new head coach of my team, basically being told that I wasn't good enough. So, was it harsh on me? Most definitely. The difference between Pearlman's brother and myself is that the rejection only motivated me to be better. I started to work harder. I put in every extra hour I had into baseball, and eventually I started seeing the results. This motivated me more, and I started to put the same amount of effort into everything I did - not just baseball. That experience made me the man I am today. Without that coach telling me I wasn't good enough, who knows what would have become of me? I would probably not be attending one of the country's finest academic institutions, that's for sure. I became a better person along the way, too. That rejection taught me how to pick myself up after being knocked down, taught me to never give up on myself or on a dream, that I can do anything I set my mind to, how to hold myself accountable, and other valuable traits I acquired thanks to my time in sports.
The most important thing is that when coming to your decision about your opinion on the value of team sports on young athletes is that you keep in mind what is in the best interest of your child, sibling, godchild, niece, nephew, etc. Remember that your child is only young once. The years fly by as I'm told, and unfortunately you can never get them back. So make the most of them!
You see, at the age of ten, I was enrolled in a Jr. Marlins baseball league. I had always been that kid on the team that plays the league minimum and is just a roster filler. I was Jeff Pearlman's brother. At the end of that Jr. Marlins season, I was "released" by the new head coach of my team, basically being told that I wasn't good enough. So, was it harsh on me? Most definitely. The difference between Pearlman's brother and myself is that the rejection only motivated me to be better. I started to work harder. I put in every extra hour I had into baseball, and eventually I started seeing the results. This motivated me more, and I started to put the same amount of effort into everything I did - not just baseball. That experience made me the man I am today. Without that coach telling me I wasn't good enough, who knows what would have become of me? I would probably not be attending one of the country's finest academic institutions, that's for sure. I became a better person along the way, too. That rejection taught me how to pick myself up after being knocked down, taught me to never give up on myself or on a dream, that I can do anything I set my mind to, how to hold myself accountable, and other valuable traits I acquired thanks to my time in sports.
The most important thing is that when coming to your decision about your opinion on the value of team sports on young athletes is that you keep in mind what is in the best interest of your child, sibling, godchild, niece, nephew, etc. Remember that your child is only young once. The years fly by as I'm told, and unfortunately you can never get them back. So make the most of them!