Competitive sports are often criticized and when balance is lost, it can be a bad experience for everyone. But Anne Josephson came up with 15 reasons competitive sports are worthwhile & helpful. I’ve summarize her list below. You can read her full article here.
Competition can:
- Drive us to learn faster.
- Teach us to bring our best effort.
- Teach us to manage our nerves.
- Help us conquer fears.
- Teaches us to take risks.
- Teaches us to cope when things don’t go our way.
- Help us with goal setting.
- Teach us to play by the rules.
- Help us to learn to win and lose with grace.
- Be fun.
- Build self-esteem.
- Teaches us commitment.
- Give us a different community of friends.
- Provide opportunities for travel.
- Cause kids to perform better in school.
Josephson, in her article, provides back-story and additional information about each of the 15.
Bottom line, when keep in balance & with a focus on these 15 things, you can help your children thrive and develop in the context of competitive youth basketball. And if you have been involved in youth basketball for awhile you have tasted the thrill of victory and the pride in watching your children succeed. If success has not yet come, take pride in your child’s character to strive to succeed. It is preparing them for their future.
Doug DeVries has been working in youth basketball for over 25 years. He has a passion to see sports in balance in life, for kids to thrive in sports, and for parents to enjoy the entire process.