Did you have a favourite sport as a child? I was originally born in an icy part of the U.S. and was inspired by the winter games of 1984 in Sarajevo. There are not too many school sports programs that support winter games, but in secondary school, I had the option of a cross-country skiing course through the sports programme and a team by performance.
There are layers of lessons children can learn and apply their entire lives that are found in youth sports. These lessons, like many, start at home but can be reinforced through team sport participation and accentuated. How many lessons in life are fully understood from only one route of influence? Do we, as adults, read only one article on a given topic of interest? No, we study many points of view, peer inputs, professional examples and take in empirical experience.
As an educator in aircraft engineering, a method I used to laminate lessons into permanent memory and actions is to tell them about a given lesson, show them the lesson in action and to watch them perform what they have seen and heard. It is the action step that builds the longest and strongest memories.
Whether with mathematical equations or basketball drills for 8 year olds, repetition in action will accentuate the myriad of skills I am about to list. These skills and their depth will define the lives of your children.
- Of course, there are the physical benefits of quality exercise and training. Spatial awareness, coordination, resilience, timing and balance should not be understated. Properly organised and instructed youth sports build them all.
- What makes a strong child and later adults? Mental agility, social skills, coping abilities for loss and victory, emotional awareness and control, advantages of teamwork work and recognising the time to stand alone.
- I started with my memories. The memories built in sports last our lifetime, and so do the relationships we foster and grow from. The best ways to support your child’s development are found in youth sports.
My family could not afford the cost of some sporting equipment required today. Back then, the safety gear was rudimentary in comparison. There is an investment on the part of a school programme or in private lessons with outside organisations focused on this type of essential development.
Our government realises the value of such programmes to the future of our nation, the labour pool, and could be leaders to one day take office. The Australian Sports Commission is a public office that helps to enhance school sport program capabilities, for the results we discussed above. The Australian Sports Foundation is a private group that is doing something about it by fundraising and gathering support to start, improve and continue youth sports.
Together with their help and your love to see your legacy excel demonstrates the very teamwork we hope to foster. Reach out to these organisations that you might help our future generations take hold of this beautiful life.