6 Reasons I Push My Kids to Team Sports

6 Reasons I Push My Kids to Team SportsI never in my wildest dreams imagined that I’d become a soccer mom. Nor a football or baseball mom, for that matter. My family moved to the United States as new immigrants when I was a young girl, and I never learned to fully appreciate the concept of team sports.

Instead, I learned to play piano and stumbled through ballet and jazz classes. As a pre-teen, I was the one during P.E. class that “sat out” of team activities, complaining of cramps or whatever excuse I could find. Turns out I had no idea what I was missing.

I now have two boys who are active in soccer, football, and baseball. I never knew how fun and fulfilling it would be to watch my kids play – and the amount of good it’s done for both of them.

Here are just a few reasons I’ll continue to support (and drive them to) their team sports practices, games, and activities.

    1. Building confidence. As one of my fellow contributors said, these game skills will translate to skills down the road.
    2. Bringing the family together. This is such an added bonus – instead of trying to find a family activity that suits all of us, we pack our snacks and foldable chairs and gear up for a game on Saturday. There is no place I’d rather be and no one I’d rather be with, than a spectator watching my kids on the field on a beautiful fall day.
    3. Learning the value of the team. One of the things that has struck me when I watch my younger son play soccer, is they take to the knee (all the players kneel on one knee) when a fellow player is hurt.
    4. Keeping them focused and out of trouble. There are so many minefields out there for young teen boys, and while we can’t protect our kids from everything, studies show that kids engaged in team sports are less likely to be drawn to the bad stuff.
    5. Promoting good health. Even if they do not win any medals, I’m happy and appreciative to see my kids actively engaged and outdoors breathing in the good air.
    6. Practicing Perseverance. Again, from my fellow contributor, it helps them know when to stick it out and keep pushing.

Do your kids play team sports? Share what your kids out of their experience.

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Dana
Dana is a working mom of two active boys, ages 4 and 8. She was born in Tel Aviv and raised in Atlanta. With a background in journalism, she spent 12 years chasing deadlines as a news and documentary producer, writer, international news desk editor, and web editor.  After the birth of her first child, it became obvious she was not going to be the next Katie Couric or Christiane Amanpour. She was still dedicated, but the only thing gained from the grueling weekend and overnight shifts was a case of gastritis. She remembers being "so busy" she could not step away for lunch/dinner/breakfast and would have to shove the food down while hovering over her computer. The disgusting crumbs piling up in the keyboard were hers. As luck would have it, another round of layoffs was near and she seized the opportunity (having survived a few layoffs before). Several months into her severance she was fortunate to find a job in PR and Communications, promoting a subject that felt like a natural fit.   The most important lesson she's learned since becoming a mom is: NEVER say never. "I will NEVER shop at Costco, drive a car with a carpool number, become a 'soccer' mom, live near my parents in a house in the suburbs."  She now does all those things and more she never thought she would with the utmost feeling of gratitude.