Athletics plays an important role in developing life skills. The lessons our children learn during their athletic endeavors often carry them throughout life. In many ways, athletics can be a fast track learning curve for many of life’s situations in that you need to learn things like:
- Teamwork: playing like a team, supporting your teammates on and off the field, and the personal commitment to your team.
- Discipline: often athletics require a certain amount of discipline which can be both mental and physical.
- Sportsmanship: always maintaining a respect toward your colleagues and opponents, which you demonstrate whether you win or lose. This is best demonstrated by the hand shakes, hugs and compliments to opponents acknowledging good effort and skill.
- New heights: you often can do more than you think you can, and sports is a way to see that play out. Translating this to other areas of life is a great gift.
Leadership is seen in many ways, but is expected of coaches. Coaches spend the most time with the team and understand the value of the lessons, mentioned above, that are available through athletics. Coaches set the tone and show children the way. They are people, too. We all keep learning, if we are engaged in life at all. That being said, we have higher expectations for those in a leadership role, and our coaches bear that accountability.
These are things we cannot forget. Perhaps when issues arise, as they did Friday between Huron and Pioneer’s Football teams, it is a good time to remember the great lessons available to us through athletics. We must recommit to those lessons as we learn from mistakes.
These are the guiding principles with which we approach athletics. The AAPS has excellent leadership in our athletic directors. As we learn more about what occurred (which they are actively doing), they will do the right thing. Meanwhile, as a community, we need to remember what is important about sportsmanship and leadership. These are the conversations we should be having with our children and families.
