Last updated on May 23rd, 2024 at 01:26 am
I learned a lot of life lessons while playing youth sports. I never imagined that I would learn parenting lessons as well. It wasn’t until I became a parent myself that I realized that I learned these parenting tips as they were modeled for me during my years of playing youth sports.
I began playing sports in Kindergarten. It started with gymnastics. I loved gymnastics! I was quite the monkey at school and at home, and I think my family was happy to find a place for me to get out my balled-up energy.
Gymnastics lasted a couple of years and then it was on to basketball. I thought that because I had a basketball hoop in our driveway and I casually played each day that it would be a breeze, but I was in for a shock. The amount of personal and team coordination was more than I was prepared for. Despite the learning curve, I grew to love it.
Next, I tried volleyball and never looked back. Volleyball just felt right. It was fun. I loved the challenge, and I loved the teamwork that was required. By middle school, I decided to drop basketball and focus on volleyball. As a freshman in high school, I made the C team. After that season, I joined club volleyball and made big improvements. By my sophomore year, my best friend and I were the only sophomores playing on varsity with all seniors. We worked hard, played hard, and ranked that year at our state tournament.
Personal Lessons I Learned While Playing Sports
Club volleyball played a huge role in my high school years, as I played volleyball year-round until I graduated high school. That season taught me so many invaluable personal lessons.
- How to receive constructive criticism in a positive and healthy way.
- Coaching is hard work and requires the cooperation of both the coach and the players.
- The power of working together for a common goal.
- How to eat for maximum energy.
- Prioritizing school work so that I could be eligible for practices and games.
- Good sleep is vital for optimal performance and mood.
While I learned so many personal lessons during those years, I also learned lessons for later in life. The parenting tips I learned in that season, I didn’t fully grasp until I became a parent myself, and my kids began to participate in sports. I had the privilege of experiencing these as my parents modeled these things for me.
5 Parenting Tips I Learned While Playing Youth Sports.
1. Encourage your child to try out different sports.
While some athletes discover a love for one sport early on, allowing your child to try out different sports allows them to see their strengths and weaknesses, as all sports require unique coordination and muscle strength.
As mentioned above, I only realized how much I loved volleyball because I had played other sports and could compare the experiences. When I told my parents I wanted to try a new sport, they were happy to let me try. There are so many different sports to experience. If you are at a loss for what to try, check out the sports section of “Choosing the Right After-School Activities.” If you are searching for the right sport for your child, each experience will lead them closer in the right direction to finding one that they love.
2. Attend as many games as you possibly can!
I never realized the importance of parents attending games until I looked back at my years playing sports and saw how much it meant to me to have my parents attend my games. It was a sacrifice for them, but their support was an unwavering strength, even when I didn’t acknowledge it. We had many away games that were often 1-2 hours drive away, and they made it a point to attend every home and away game. Sometimes, my dad came straight from work but never complained about it and always seemed genuinely interested in my game.
I didn’t always have the most appreciative attitude, but it was a gift that has stayed with me.
3. Check in often with your child.
Sports are meant to be fun! While they require discipline and hard work, they should still bring joy to your child. If it no longer does, talk through what can be done to bring back joy into the sport. You might also consider taking a break or trying out a new sport if your child. Trying a sport and then taking a break from it is not a failure.
4. Don’t push a sport on a child just because you like it.
Yes, sitting in the rain watching soccer games takes a special commitment, but if that’s the sport your child loves, endure it! Likewise, if you love football and have always dreamed of watching your child play, but your child absolutely hates it, let it go! Catch a football game for fun, but don’t pressure your child into a sport they are not interested in.
In the same way, if your child decides to give up a sport after many years of playing, be ready to hear their feelings and be open to supporting them. After six years of playing volleyball year-round, my shoulder began to hurt every time I went to hit. My body needed a rest, and I knew it. When I told my parents that I wanted to give volleyball a break, they seemed a bit disappointed, but they ultimately supported me, and that willingness to trust my decision was a big deal.
5. Ask open-ended questions.
Open-ended questions are ideal for reflection and authentic conversation. Ask an open-ended question if you want to point out an area for improvement or get a pulse on how your child feels about a game, a coach, or their performance. Sports bring out big emotions and feelings. Neutral questions are an excellent way to help guide your child through the emotions in a non-threatening way.
Conclusion
Participation in youth sports can be an extremely positive experience that can teach many invaluable lessons. These parenting tips are tips that I strive to implement as my children grow and their experience playing sports grows. With clear communication and support, we will help our children achieve their goals in sports and life.
