Why Do We Keep Score?

For those of you who know me also know that I have been involved with youth sports in our community over the past few years as a board member, coach, and dad. Lately I have been trying to figure out what it is that our sports programs are suppose to be teaching the youth of our community and I think I finally did. Here is what our kids are learning... "It doesn't matter that you lose every game or decide you really don't want to practice or work hard at your sport we will make sure you get praise and at least a medal for doing such a great job!  Don't worry about that score board it doesn't mean anything and don't worry because we will make sure everyone gets a medal because we don't want to hurt your feelings." Oh, and as a parent I will rant and rave about the coach because although he or she has 30 years of experience and I have none they don't know what they are doing(you know who you are you do it every year and will continue even when your kids have moved on because it gives you a since of purpose, how sad.)Growing up my father, when my team lost, would tell me not to be a sore loser, keep my head up, and most of all that it built character. What did I learn... that if you wanted to succeed you had to work harder. You had to be better than the person across from you, the person competing against you. As a goalie I would discuss what kids made what kind of moves on breakaways, whether they were right or left handed and where they liked to shoot from. If I stopped you it was because I knew what you were going to do before you did. Today we coddle our kids, heaven forbid we hurt their little feelings. What have we taught these kids... entitlement. We have taught them that they get whatever they want without having to work for it and they feel everything should just be handed to them and when it isn't.... look out.
In case you're telling yourself... "I've seen your kid and he gets everything he wants." Yes, but ask him how he got his Ipod touch(he paid for half) when his new shoes come in and you see him in them ask him how he got them(Straight A's on the report card). When you see him in his catcher's equipment or goalie equipment ask him(he'll tell you his grandparents bought it, but it's because he practices hard and works hard for them) he is required to save up his money, he is expected to get A's on his report card and he earns everything he has.
Sports is not always about winning and losing, let college ruin that for them, it's about teaching our young people about integrity, about how life isn't always fair, and that you have to work hard to succeed. The reason there's a scoreboard is to show you that you need to work harder, you need to practice harder. Parents your challenge is to go to practice and watch your kids, support their COACH, and when they aren't getting the playing time tell your KIDS they need to work harder. Don't yell at the coach he doesn't play the game your kid does. My son will tell you his favorite trophy's are the ones he and his teammates earned and he doesn't want it if he didn't earn it.
Have a Great Day! Ask, Believe, Receive!