Wednesday, November 5, 2014

What My Kids Have Learned From Team Sports



My kids have played team sports now for over 17 years.  

These sports include soccer, football, swim-team, lacrosse and I'm sure I'm forgetting one or two.  
In response to a question from my last post, I thought I would write a post about how beneficial team sports have been for my children, especially my boys and especially playing on Christian teams.  Even though all the teams have not always been Christian.  God has used us as a light and witness on neighborhood/secular teams as well.  In writing this list I was particularly thinking of football since that is the season we just finished.  And while I love individual sports such as running, wrestling and tennis, there are many many things learned on a team sport that can't be learned in individual sports.  The hard work and dedication in any sport is a wonderful lesson in self-discipline and commitment.
So, with my husband's and children's help, here is my list:

 How to work with other people.  This means people who are different from us, who my have special needs, etc.  In a nut-shell, how to work on a team.

Brotherhood, diligence, sacrifice of your body and pain for the benefit of others. 

 Submission to authority. Being teachable and open.  Able to accept criticism. 

 Laying down your life for team mates and endurance.  

Willingness to accept pain. 

 Commitment even when you are losing. Learning the lesson of loosing in life.  Being able to accept loss and move on to the next battle.

Continuing in practice and commitment, even when you may not get to play. 

 Giving to others.  Showing up even when you don't feel like it. 

If our children were able to learn these things at a young age, particularly with Christian coaches, they will be set-up for success in the future. 






2 comments:

  1. I might be wrong but I think it might be more accurate to say that your children have had those lessons reinforced or have had opportunities to practice those lessons after you already taught them at home. The reason I say that is because observing my son's football team this year has shown me that kids who come in selfish, stay selfish. The ones who come in lazy, stay lazy. The ones who come in disrespectful to authority, stay disrespectful. You know what I'm saying? You and your hubby did the hard work of training, and in reality your children's teams reaped the benefits.

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    1. yes, you might be right but i do think that "lazy" kids or other kids with issues can learn from good coaches and growing in their ability to work with others. But I do thank you for your perspecitive. and thanks for reading!

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