Kids Sports

by Thomas Andrews
(Hammond, IN, USA)

I have a 17 year old and 15 year old daughter that I force to play sports in high school. contrary to what some people say "I'm living my fantasies through my kids", theses are the reasons I force them to play sports:


1. Exercise. Obesity in children is a major problem in this country today. I have read where diabetes is now being seen in children as young as 6 years old.

2. It uses up a lot of free time. Other activities such as debate teams, chess club, etc., usually only practice once or twice a week. Sports practice/play 5 and sometimes 6 days a week. This helps prevent teens from doing things they shouldn't be doing, like getting involved with drugs or having pre-marital sex. School, then practice, then homework, it leaves very little free time.

3. It promotes teamwork and teaches about self sacrifice for the good of something other than ones own personal interest. Too many people have the attitude "what's in it for me?" instead of understanding how their decisions affect humanity or mankind.

4. It teaches that practice and hard work pays off and laziness and lack of effort is punished. this is how life works. The longer and harder you work at something, the better you become at it. you work hard at everything, you become indespensible to society. The world is full of lazy do-nothings, there is no demand for them.

6. It teaches how to deal with disapointments and setbacks. Life is a bitch, it will chew you up and spit you out if you allow it too. Sports teaches never to quit.

7. It may help with the cost of college. students can get full or partial athletic scholorships to defray cost of secondary education. This can mean the difference between leaving college debt free or with very little debt, and leaving with several thousand dollars ofdebt.

Also, we make children go to school, brush their teeth, eat healthy foods, etc., when they don't want to. Why wouldn't we force them to play sports when so many benefits can be taken from sports? Because they may end up hating sports? who cares, as long as it helps prepare them for the world that shows no kindness to those who don't persever.

Your opinions?