Youth sports can be a great experience for kids, providing countless opportunities for physical activity, social interactions with friends, and life skills development. While some kids are more naturally talented on the field than others, all kids can approach youth sports with a similar commitment and responsibility to ensure an optimal experience. Coincidentally, the tips I am about to provide can be employed by all kids and will increase the chances for playing time, and on-field success.
Things every kid can (and should) do in youth sports
Talk to any youth sport coach and he or she will confirm that kids who do the following not only have more fun playing sports, but also put themselves in the best possible position to earn playing time and efficiently improve their sport skills.
- Attitude. Your attitude is a choice that can only be made by you, and this is an important message for kids to learn. Make it a point to go to the field positive, optimistic, and ready to infect teammates in the same way.
- Hustle. Every kid, regardless of talent, can hustle. Be the first one on the field, running on every play, and playing hard until the whistle.
- Listen. Coaches love kids who listen and follow directions, and again this is something every kid can and should do.
- Be a team player. Even if your child doesn’t play a lot, he or she can be a great bench presence by means of vocal enthusiasm and picking up teammates after tough plays.
- On time. Kids need to learn the importance of being prepared for practice by having everything together in enough time to arrive at the field before practice begins.
Of course, this is not an exhaustive list of all the things kids can do in youth sports, but for kids who do these things they will enjoy a very different experience compared to kids who participate with a bad attitude, don’t hustle, don’t listen, ignore teammates, and do not prioritize preparation and punctuality. And remember, none of what we are discussing here has anything to do with natural athletic talent!
Youth sports provide countless opportunities for self growth, confidence development, learning life skills, and reaching personal goals, but none of these things occur automatically by means of passive participation. Instead, make it a point to talk to your kids about the importance of effort, paying attention, and being a great teammate so that they can commit to what should be one of the most fun and educational experiences they will do in life.
Final thoughts
Too often we see kids fall back when they believe they do not possess the talent or skills necessary to succeed, and that is especially unfortunate when we see this occur in youth sports. Admittedly, athletically talented kids generally have fewer hurdles to overcome when it comes to sport participation and playing time, but most kids are very surprised to learn how many things kids can do — and that are under their control — that have a direct impact on future playing time. Model for kids how being responsible, displaying a positive attitude, hustle, and following directions can really make a difference in life, both on and off the field.
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