irwin1227
05-07-2003, 10:27 AM
"Whoever said its not whether you win or lose its how you play the game, probably lost." "
There was a time that yours truly was an athlete. Oh sure now I have the camel pouch, but I am saving that in case of drought. The closest thing to exercise I do now is limited to either working in the yard, or when the old lady has that twinkle in her eye. With her being with child as we speak, that opportunity is very rare. All I need is five minutes. Then it’s time for Sportscenter.
In high school I was a member of our (three-time district champion) swim team. I also played league baseball. I really enjoyed playing sports. Besides the benefit of being in the best shape of my life, I also had the luxury of playing for some good teams.
Winning was fun. It was a lot better than losing. (Nuke LaLouche where art thou?) There were times when we lost, and I took it very hard. I felt like I let down my teammates, my school, and even my family. There was a lot of pressure involved, but I thought at my age I could handle it.
Fast forward a few years. I have two children who play sports. My son, who is ten, plays league baseball. My daughter, who is five, plays soccer. I always preach to them to have fun. I tell them when it’s not fun anymore you don’t have to play. They can find something else - just as long as they are happy.
The hardest part for me having them involved in sports, is watching the pressure other parents put on their children to win. It just kills me that these people put so much stress on their kids to not only play well, but to win. You could call it verbal abuse. I just call it being an idiot.
A few weeks ago my son had an awful game. He was the pitcher that day and did not even get through two innings. There was a guy chastising the coach for having him in the game. So I did what any other parent would do to support their child – I stood up and encouraged him on every pitch. (I also called the guy a c*cksucker. It worked for Crash Davis.) It was important for him to see that I supported him no matter what. He felt better, and I scored points with the big man upstairs.
My daughter played for a local kid’s soccer league. It was designed to let every child get a chance to play. There is nothing funnier (or more scary) than watching ten little kids chase after a soccer ball with reckless abandon. And yet, there were parents asking what the score was, and yelling at their kids to play better. Excuse me, they are FIVE? Is it really going to change the world if these kids win or lose?
It really disturbs me to no end. I do have a solution though. I believe no league sports should keep score at these games until these kids are in junior high. You take away the pressure of winning, and it allows the kids just to have fun and enjoy themselves. It also prevents Johnny’s dad from acting like an ass. The pressure put on these kids not only turns them off to playing sports, but it creates a rift early on between parents and their kids.
Trust me- I would rather be talking about how sometimes I think about me, Jennifer Garner, and a case of Guinness. (There is a two-tissue moment right there.) Just be good to your kids and remember it is a game.
Time to hit the showers.
Coming soon – “You are an owner, not a player.”
There was a time that yours truly was an athlete. Oh sure now I have the camel pouch, but I am saving that in case of drought. The closest thing to exercise I do now is limited to either working in the yard, or when the old lady has that twinkle in her eye. With her being with child as we speak, that opportunity is very rare. All I need is five minutes. Then it’s time for Sportscenter.
In high school I was a member of our (three-time district champion) swim team. I also played league baseball. I really enjoyed playing sports. Besides the benefit of being in the best shape of my life, I also had the luxury of playing for some good teams.
Winning was fun. It was a lot better than losing. (Nuke LaLouche where art thou?) There were times when we lost, and I took it very hard. I felt like I let down my teammates, my school, and even my family. There was a lot of pressure involved, but I thought at my age I could handle it.
Fast forward a few years. I have two children who play sports. My son, who is ten, plays league baseball. My daughter, who is five, plays soccer. I always preach to them to have fun. I tell them when it’s not fun anymore you don’t have to play. They can find something else - just as long as they are happy.
The hardest part for me having them involved in sports, is watching the pressure other parents put on their children to win. It just kills me that these people put so much stress on their kids to not only play well, but to win. You could call it verbal abuse. I just call it being an idiot.
A few weeks ago my son had an awful game. He was the pitcher that day and did not even get through two innings. There was a guy chastising the coach for having him in the game. So I did what any other parent would do to support their child – I stood up and encouraged him on every pitch. (I also called the guy a c*cksucker. It worked for Crash Davis.) It was important for him to see that I supported him no matter what. He felt better, and I scored points with the big man upstairs.
My daughter played for a local kid’s soccer league. It was designed to let every child get a chance to play. There is nothing funnier (or more scary) than watching ten little kids chase after a soccer ball with reckless abandon. And yet, there were parents asking what the score was, and yelling at their kids to play better. Excuse me, they are FIVE? Is it really going to change the world if these kids win or lose?
It really disturbs me to no end. I do have a solution though. I believe no league sports should keep score at these games until these kids are in junior high. You take away the pressure of winning, and it allows the kids just to have fun and enjoy themselves. It also prevents Johnny’s dad from acting like an ass. The pressure put on these kids not only turns them off to playing sports, but it creates a rift early on between parents and their kids.
Trust me- I would rather be talking about how sometimes I think about me, Jennifer Garner, and a case of Guinness. (There is a two-tissue moment right there.) Just be good to your kids and remember it is a game.
Time to hit the showers.
Coming soon – “You are an owner, not a player.”