When I was younger, I was an absolute sports fanatic. I knew every stat, player, and piece of history of the four major U.S. sports (sorry I was born in the U.S. in the 1970's so no soccer for me yet). But now that I am a father and a teacher, I look at sports through a different sense. I am not as obsessed with professional sports nearly as much as I once was. I now focus on "regular" kids participating in sports. When I say "regular" I simply mean kids who aren't going to grow up to be professional athletes... like my two children and my students.
Sports can play an incredibly important role in children's lives... and that is why I love them today.
First, sports help kids develop healthy bodies. It is far too easy in today's world filled with constant distractions to sit on the couch and watch TV, play video games, or use your phone to watch videos of other people playing video games (I still don't get that one). Sports give an excuse for kids to move. They are also a great motivation for adults in children's lives to move with them. Not only is playing catch with my son or shooting baskets with my daughter great exercise, it provides one on one bonding time with them. You don't have to have any talent to exercise and bond with your kids. Just the time and the knowledge of what is truly important in life. And if you can't physically keep up with them, you can always watch and cheer them on!
Second, sports teach the invaluable lesson of perseverance. Very few people have such natural talent that they can simply walk onto a field and adequately compete in a sport. It takes practice and hard work. Kids need to learn to keep going when a task is difficult. They will need that skill in their future education, jobs... and relationships. Sports provides so many opportunities to practice a new and difficult skill... and then practice it some more.
Sports also offer one of the greatest lessons in life: how to stand strong in the face of adversity. Sports teach you not to back down. They provide a safe way to "test your mettle". They allow a kid to face a humongous challenge or fear and stand strong against it. I have never once cared if my children ever scored a goal, made a basket, swam the fastest, danced the best or got a hit. All I cared about is that when the time came for them to try to do those things... they stepped up and did not wilt. Sometimes they succeeded. Sometimes they failed. But the never wilted. My children have never disappointed me.
Although ballet is an art rather than a sport, for a child, it shares many similarities. Will the dancer wilt? No chance!
Finally, sports allow for kids to have their moment to shine. Every kid loves to have all eyes on them. If you don't believe me, I challenge you to take a kid to the playground and have them not say, "look at me". Even my incredibly shy daughter wants to be acknowledged for her efforts... in safe and small doses. That is what sports provide. They provide a small venue for kids to "show their stuff". They provide a platform for a kid to shine. Although I have never truly cared about the results of my kids' competitions, there have been many times when they have shined. At those moments, I have been very proud of them. More importantly, they have been extremely proud of themselves. As kids advance to higher levels of competition, the spotlight and the accompanying opportunity to shine increases. Everyone deserves to have "their moment". For many kids, sports provides that stage.
So far I have only mentioned my own children. But what about my students with special needs?
Perhaps that is my favorite part about kids' sports. It is another way to highlight the similarities between children rather than their differences.
Develop healthy bodies? How much strength and endurance do your think it takes to maneuver a wheelchair up and down a basketball court?
Perseverance? Have you ever seen a kid with no legs run marathon?
Standing strong in the face of adversity? Have you ever seen a Special Olympic gymnast stand on the corner of a mat with her arms raised in the air ready to perform her individual floor routine in front of a crowded arena?
Providing a moment to shine? I'll just let you look at these pictures and decide that one for yourself.
I created this collage using pictures I found by searching "Special Olympics" on Google. There were so many amazing images... I could have been adding them for days.
So steemsports what are you doing right? You are providing sports fans on the platform with an opportunity to shine. Your group has persevered during tough times and has never wilted under the pressure to provide valuable content. Keep it up!