I ran across a post on X (formerly Twitter) by a sports mom, Ashley Wittgren. It gave a great perspective on what to hope for your children as they participate in youth sports. 

She identifies life skills that can translate into your children’s lives in whatever endeavors come. 

The skill of listening: All team sports require great communication for success. Listening is the most fundamental communication skill. 

Being coachable: To thrive in sports, there must be coaches. Coaches offer feedback, teach technique, and drive improvement. Hopefully, team sports will drive young athletes to appreciate—even to thirst for—coaching. 

If they are involved in a good team, they will learn a great work ethic: showing up on time and giving a great effort. 

It teaches life lessons, such as the fact that hard work doesn’t guarantee winning. Team sports also teach you the impact of winning and the agony of defeat. 

Done right, deep friendships will grow on teams. Building connection is a crucial skill. You will not build deep friendships being selfish. Teams point out the value of being a teammate. 

So, pay attention to what your child/grandchild is taking away from their involvement. Emphasize the skills they are developing. Comment on the way they handle their experience. Identify the impact and how it serves them. 

-Howe Q Wallace Jr