Are kids sports too competitive?

Commonsensex2

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I like it and agree 100 percent. Our quest for the Golden Fleece ended this past fall. Daughter knows where she wants to go, the academics and act test score is extremely high, sports are now secondary. Life is good.
 

FastBat

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"Most elite athletes have a history of playing many different sports, and there's a reason for that," explains Gould. "Each teaches something different: Soccer gives you foot skills; baseball teaches you eye-hand coordination. If my daughter plays softball and learns how to throw, for instance, she'll have a better serve in tennis."- this was taken from the above article.
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This was a great point, about advantages of not specializing in one particular sport, too early.

Many good points were addressed in this article about the little ones. I think there is a fine line between too much and too little. Just not always sure where.
 

Pacerdad57

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great article. thanks Apogee for getting this to us, it should open up some eyes, hopefully. as some of us have stated before, they need time to be a kid, you only get that chance once....
 

ApogeeDemon

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great article. thanks Apogee for getting this to us, it should open up some eyes, hopefully. as some of us have stated before, they need time to be a kid, you only get that chance once....

youre welcome
 

Blue Ice

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LOL.. If us as parents let our kids specialize in one sport as a 6-10YO, our fault. I understand Golf and Tennis as female (maybe) if they are total studs (only because of earning potential). We need to understand our kids and know the differences to set guidelines.
Oldest never had interest and I always whispered in her ear about finishing 1st in class..accomplished. One day she came to me and said she wanted to be an astronomer, to which I replied...if you become a surgeon, you can watch all the stars you want as a hobbie instead as a job...on her way with MBA to boot.
2nd...played 5 sports as high schooler and finished 2nd in class, could of went to Harvard (unlike oldest) but I told her about a study done by one of my partners DD who looked into most income as a MOM and it was as an Oryhodontist..on her way while playing ball in college.
3rd...only allowed to play ball in high school if GPA was above 3.0 (school and summer). Playing ball in college and on her way to becoming a lawyer (maybe).. She is not as certain but high GPA in college.
Son...terrible athlete but we let him play every sport except football (until middle school).. Agonizing seeing my Son getting his a$$ handed to him. His GPA needed to be above 3.0 if he wanted to continue in high school. He grew to 6'2 or 6'3 as 16 and weighs 210-220 and loves to lift...goal is Annapolis and just named all-district as center for high school and more to come.

KNOW your kids and EXPECT excellence...I was blessed with smart kids but as a parent guide them to achieve.i would of guided them to a vocation if I nreeded to. Our responsibility to bring the most out of them.
 

Commonsensex2

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LOL.. If us as parents let our kids specialize in one sport as a 6-10YO, our fault. I understand Golf and Tennis as female (maybe) if they are total studs (only because of earning potential). We need to understand our kids and know the differences to set guidelines.
Oldest never had interest and I always whispered in her ear about finishing 1st in class..accomplished. One day she came to me and said she wanted to be an astronomer, to which I replied...if you become a surgeon, you can watch all the stars you want as a hobbie instead as a job...on her way with MBA to boot.
2nd...played 5 sports as high schooler and finished 2nd in class, could of went to Harvard (unlike oldest) but I told her about a study done by one of my partners DD who looked into most income as a MOM and it was as an Oryhodontist..on her way while playing ball in college.
3rd...only allowed to play ball in high school if GPA was above 3.0 (school and summer). Playing ball in college and on her way to becoming a lawyer (maybe).. She is not as certain but high GPA in college.
Son...terrible athlete but we let him play every sport except football (until middle school).. Agonizing seeing my Son getting his a$$ handed to him. His GPA needed to be above 3.0 if he wanted to continue in high school. He grew to 6'2 or 6'3 as 16 and weighs 210-220 and loves to lift...goal is Annapolis and just named all-district as center for high school and more to come.

KNOW your kids and EXPECT excellence...I was blessed with smart kids but as a parent guide them to achieve.i would of guided them to a vocation if I nreeded to. Our responsibility to bring the most out of them.
Excellent post. As a teacher, wish all my students had parents like you and your wife. Hopefully, my kids are on the same track. You never know.
 

Laser05

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Great read. My wife is a principle and happily she has always been a great student and athlete, and I was a student only to get to play sports (not the best kind). My wife's work ethic at school has been passed on to my daughter and she understands that grades are the priority and without school the sports will not happen. I coach a Lasers team so yes we do take fastpitch very serious in our home, but that is because my daughter loves and enjoys it. We make it a point now that at all private workouts we tell jokes, and try to make each other laugh from start to finish. This was not the case always, but as I have continued to coach I have learned the most important need for these kids is to laugh and smile while playing. They can do that at the highest level but it is on us coaches/ parents to make sure it is the priority. FUN AND SMILE ON THE FIELD.

She also currently plays soccer, basketball, and fastpitch travel and I would not have it any other way. She learns and grows from each sport she plays. I think this helps a child not burn out.
 

3ballbratz

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LOL.. If us as parents let our kids specialize in one sport as a 6-10YO, our fault. I understand Golf and Tennis as female (maybe) if they are total studs (only because of earning potential). We need to understand our kids and know the differences to set guidelines.
Oldest never had interest and I always whispered in her ear about finishing 1st in class..accomplished. One day she came to me and said she wanted to be an astronomer, to which I replied...if you become a surgeon, you can watch all the stars you want as a hobbie instead as a job...on her way with MBA to boot.
2nd...played 5 sports as high schooler and finished 2nd in class, could of went to Harvard (unlike oldest) but I told her about a study done by one of my partners DD who looked into most income as a MOM and it was as an Oryhodontist..on her way while playing ball in college.
3rd...only allowed to play ball in high school if GPA was above 3.0 (school and summer). Playing ball in college and on her way to becoming a lawyer (maybe).. She is not as certain but high GPA in college.
Son...terrible athlete but we let him play every sport except football (until middle school).. Agonizing seeing my Son getting his a$$ handed to him. His GPA needed to be above 3.0 if he wanted to continue in high school. He grew to 6'2 or 6'3 as 16 and weighs 210-220 and loves to lift...goal is Annapolis and just named all-district as center for high school and more to come.

KNOW your kids and EXPECT excellence...I was blessed with smart kids but as a parent guide them to achieve.i would of guided them to a vocation if I nreeded to. Our responsibility to bring the most out of them.

Great post ! Good job mom and dad ! I believe kids will fail only if you let them. If my girls fail it was only because I was a failure as a parent. Find their strengths and inspire them to be great.
 

flarays

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I guess my only thought is this - children and young adults need to be well rounded. Family first, school, social activities follow. We all know athletes that go over board. At times we all question the path we are on. Likewise we all know of piano prodigies, dance phenoms and spelling bee champs that are all consumed in these activities and up as social misfits.

Life time balance should be the goal
 
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