What is your WHY?
Our time is finite. To be good stewards of the fleeting few years we have with our children, we need to know the WHY behind everything we do with them and for them. God is clear throughout the Bible that every parent has a directive to engage with their children in such a way that we can teach them as we walk along the road (Deut 6:7). In our day-to-day journey, we are to point out the pillars that the we pass on our paths and teach their testimonies.
How do sports for children fit into this holy mandate?
According to State of Play Report, kids spend on average 13.2 hours per week on organized sports (Aspen Institute, 2022). On average, families spend about $900 per athlete per sport season (Aspen Institute, 2022). What is your WHY for this activity and expense?
All people who engage in organized movement can be categorized into people who are seeking one of three goals.
1. Athletes: These people are seeking team membership, competition, a pinnacle end-of-season goal, a coach’s guidance, ever-narrowing focus on specific skill set
2. Physical Education Students: movement literacy, structured learning, a class with a specific scope and sequence – once the material is taught, the class is over
3. Recreational Players: entertainment, social network, flexibility, low commitment, low cost
All three types of movement seekers have valid and worthwhile goals. You may share more than one of these goals.
Good news for parents: Knowing your goals for seeking movement for your child will help you find the best opportunities to meet your family’s needs, avoid frustration and disappointment, save time and money, and dispel myths that plague youth sports and keep families in bondage.
That is just the tip of the “good-news” iceberg. I am excited to share a lot of information with you this season. I have digested all the latest research on sports, kids, and even a new genre of research on homeschooled athletes, and I plan to share that with you as often as I can. The stats are definitive. The conclusions are solid. The implications could be life-changing for some. The good news is undeniable.
Before we dive into the deets, take a minute to talk amongst your family and figure out why you are involved in youth sport. What type of movement seeker are you? If you have goals in two or all three categories, prioritize the goals. Which is most important? Second? Third?
As always, if you want to chat more about different types of movement seekers or anything else on your mind, contact me!
~Coach Melissa
Aspen Institute. (2022). Participation trends. Project Play. https://projectplay.org/state-of-play-2022/participation-trends
