Kids Like to Win; Adults Need to Win 641.2
Whether you're a sports fan or not, you have to acknowledge the powerful cultural influence sports has on our culture. The values of millions of participants and spectators are shaped by the values conveyed in sports, including our views on what is permissible and proper in the competitive pursuit of personal goals.
Professional sports and even highly competitive intercollegiate sports seem irreversibly addicted to the idea that sports is basically a business and that the only thing that makes sports profitable is winning. And if that means we have to tolerate egocentric self-indulgent showboating or whining, violence or even cheating, so be it. Clearly these attitudes have invaded youth sports as well. Everywhere we see that a lot of adults -- both coaches and parents -- need to grow up and realize the game is not about either their egos or ambitions.
The appropriate mission of youth sports is to provide kids a safe environment in which they have fun, build character, learn to practice sportsmanship, and develop skills and traits that help them become responsible citizens and live happy, healthy lives. Striving to win is an important aspect of competition and teaching kids how to compete effectively and honorably is important, but youth sports is not primarily about winning; it's about trying to win and learning through effort and improvement.
Of course winning is fun and kids like to win, but it's the adults who distort the experience because of their need to win. No matter how much we try, only a few youngsters will move beyond high school sports, and an even tinier percentage will make a living from athletics. But when youth sports is done right, every participant can build positive life skills and gain lifelong memories from the pursuit of victory with honor.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
Learn more about Josephson Institute's sportsmanship programs here.
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I think winning is not what sports and other stuff is about. It is also about having fun playing out there. I had a coach that used to scream at me because I wasn't doing things his way. Everyone else thought I did a good job so I just quit his team because he only cared about winning. I think adults try very hard to win or tie. Some people might be some showoffs because they always win and don't care about having fun. I think some coaches rush some kids so they could get a reward or something for being first. Sometimes when adults start winning, they think that he is all that. I say that it is about having fun. THIS IS MIGUEL SAYING THAT CHARACTER COUNTS.
Posted by: Miguel Macedo | October 21, 2009 4:01 PM
Many people should stop saying things like my team is going to win or your team is going down. Many grown-ups think of winning, but it isn't the only thing that it is about. What is important in sports is having fun, not winning or losing. Kids like me lose and we don't care, but the grown-ups don't know how to lose -- they go and fight the opponents. One time I was playing soccer and we won 7 to 2. The other coach was mad at our coach and convinced one of his players to push one of our players. Another time that happened when I went to see a super league play. It was Pachuca vs Galaxy (pachuca is a Mexican team). This happened at the Home Depot Center a couple of years ago
These drunk people were fighting in front of our seats, but luckily we got out of there. It is important if you have sportsmanship. If you didn't, sports would be violent, so it is better if you have sportsmanship.
Posted by: Gabriel Benitez | October 21, 2009 9:44 PM
Kids are winners and adults are. But kids are more active than adults because we're younger. But adults have a good chance a winning something too because they're older and have a better experience at winning something. At the end, both adults and children are winners because they're both good players.
Posted by: sierra mcneil | October 22, 2009 6:10 PM
One other big benefit of sports is exercise and physical fitness. In today's society of computers and television, there is need to keep the body fit. It's the only one we have. Working out at the gym is boring compared to a game, win or lose.
Posted by: Larry Grable | October 23, 2009 8:45 AM
I think winning is good but it's not bad to lose. I should know because I play soccer. If my team wins, I would be glad. If my team loses, I am not going to get mad. I know that sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. In a soccer game, pro players even lose and get mad. Sometimes they even get into fights. For example, a classical game is playing on Sunday 25 2009. The reason it's called a classical game is because the 2 teams every time they played they got into a fight.THIS IS JOSE SAYING CHARACTER COUNTS.
Posted by: jose gavilan | October 27, 2009 6:51 PM