my opinion regarding my opinion

Photo Credit:  Nan Hyde

I recently wrote an article for ksl.com addressing 4 problems in youth sports today.  Those who know me well, and sit on the sidelines with me, were probably laughing hysterically at some of the things I wrote.  In fact, as I sat at my son's soccer game last night, I confirmed that I was the perfect example of every single problem I wrote about.  In full disclosure, let me tell you my mistakes.  We all learn from them, right?

PROBLEM #1  Focus is on winning, not on having fun.

My son's team was winning 5-0 last night and I was still yelling like a crazy Mom.  Most of which was exactly what a parent should be cheering,

"Great job!"  
"Nice hustle"  
"Looking good, boys."
 "Go team!"  

I may have heard myself say, "So help me if you let them score I will spank you all!"  I was getting a little worried we wouldn't clutch the shut out that our team so desperately needed.  They needed it for themselves, not for me.  These boys had been working their behinds off (the same ones I was going to spank).  They deserved to see the fruits of their labor.  Luckily, they got the shut out and I didn't have to spank any of them.  The point is.  Winning is fun.  It's just not everything!

PROBLEM #2  Children's performance becomes more important than their health.

The entire reason I began researching this issue is because my son brought home a Red Bull, which he had bought while with his super-responsible-and-completely-handsome Dad.  They just wanted to try a little experiment and see if it changed my son's performance during a game.  (REALLY?!)  My husband wouldn't drink the stuff, but he'd let his son.  My son took a few sips before the game (he didn't dare drink the whole thing after I scared him with horrible details about how he would probably die if he were to consume the nasty drink.)

Turns out he didn't play any differently.  He did great, which he typically does.  Ironically, he got injured pretty bad within the first 15 minutes of the game.  Which leads me to the next point I made in the article.

When I realized that my son was not going back in the game and getting frustrated that I was sitting there not getting to watch him play, I went over to him on the bench.  Now, this is definitely something a parent shouldn't do during a game, but he was injured and I wanted to make sure he was ok.

Or so I thought.

Until I heard myself saying,

"Can you just try to walk it off?"
"Are you sure you can't run?"
"You're really not playing the rest of the game?"
"I missed your last game and I have to miss your next game.  Ugh."

My husband, who just happened to be coaching the game, suggested I run home (it was 2 minutes away) and grab him an ice pack.  My reply, "I don't want to miss the rest of the game.  He can wait until it's over!"

As soon as I sat back down in my chair these words I had typed just two days before came blaring into my mind...

"We need to be more concerned about a child's lifelong health instead of his or her (or a parent's) temporary sports aspirations."

Whoops!

PROBLEM #3  Specializing children too young.

2 of my 4 boys play soccer year round.  My 6-year-old son is on an academy training team.

'Nuff said.

PROBLEM #4  Caring more about the game than the child.

As we were driving home from the game, rushing to be late to a scouting Court of Honor, my first question was, "How is your leg?"  my second question was, "Do you think you'll be able to play in the game on Saturday?"

Hmmm...Game or  child?

My opinion regarding my opinion is that I have some serious work to do.  Thank goodness our children are forgiving.  Thank goodness he is still young and I still have time to change.  Let's just hope that I can learn to take some of my own advice.

indoor soccer

st. george/president's cup

soccer season

We had a great fall soccer season. I neglected to take many pictures because I was just happy to be at the games with a newborn. Payton and Parker both did great and had fun. We hosted a party for Payton's team at the end of the season and the boys had so much fun. Also, Leo the Lion {Real Salt Lake's mascot} came to Payton's last game to surprise one of the players on his team.

Can't wait for the spring season!

tryouts

Based on Payton's experience last year at tryouts, he was so nervous!  Although we reassured him over and over again that he had already made a team, he could not be convinced.  He thought he had made a team last year and didn't.  I made him this really awesome candy bar poster hoping to ease his nerves a little.  I think it worked...he did awesome at tryouts!  He looked so great and ended up making an even better team than he expected.  We are so happy for him and all his hard work! 

soccer season 2010-11

Parker had a good soccer season.  Towards the end, he wasn't sure if he wanted to play soccer anymore.  He was lacking a LOT of passion and spent more time skipping on the field than playing soccer.  However, when it came time to sign up he decided he really wanted to do it again.  We'll give it another year and see.  Parker had times where he was awesome and then other times when he was bored.  Either way, he always had fun playing.  Thanks to Coach Shane for a great year!

Payton had a wild start to the soccer season.  After not making a competition team at tryouts, Payton was so discouraged and not sure he even wanted to play soccer anymore.  He lost a lot of confidence and was sad.  We all were!  However, before the season started we got a call and Payton was asked to play with a comp team for a tournament.  He decided this was his chance to show them what he was made of and he was awesome!  They asked him to be on the team and the rest is history.  By the end of this spring season, Payton had improved so much and regained all his passion for soccer back.  He turned into a great little player this past season.  We are proud of him for never giving up and working hard to improve!

soccer, soccer and more soccer

We had our last soccer game for the fall season and we were all celebrating!  Don't get me wrong, we LOVE soccer at our house, but between 4 games every Saturday, it was a lot to juggle.  Not to mention 4 practices a week.  It was a relief to get a little break for the winter.  Here's the breakdown of our soccer teams:

Payton played competition soccer and had so much fun.

He worked so hard out on the field.  We are so proud of his hard work!

Parker played soccer with his same coach and best buddy again this year.  He had a lot of fun and usually worked hard! 

Tim ended up coaching a team that none of his children were on.   Plus, he played on his own soccer team.

We had a busy fall, but it's worth it to keep my boys happy.  Also, I really love watching all of them play!  What am I going to do when Cooper wants to start playing?  Oh boys!