Kids in sports

January 20, 2007 9:14am CST
Kids in sports **please us the question # so I know what question you are answering. Thanks. Question for all even those without children – 1- What are the pros AND/OR cons of children participating in sports or competitions? !!!! If you have NO children, you are done. Thanks for your reply!!!! Your child does NOT participate in sports or competitions – 2- Nothing wrong with that, but why don’t they? !!!! If your child does not participate in sports or competition, you are done. Thanks for your reply!!!! Your child DOES participate in sports or competitions – 3-Which best describes you? A) I am louder than the Coach. Give me an example of a time this happened. B) I am louder than the Cheerleaders. Give me an example of a time this happened. C) I just show up and watch. Why? D) I don't go to watch them. Why? 4-Do you go all out and buy the top of the line equipment they may need and how/why do you think this will benefit your child? 5-Do you pay for extra help for them to improve their skills? How much have you spent on this? Don’t answer if you feel that is too personal of a question. Thanks to all in advance. I read all, rate all and but can not reply to all.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@crystal8577 (1466)
• United States
21 Jan 07
I will try to answer the best I can according to the numbers :) 1) I think it can encourage team work. It can show kids they have fun whether they win or lose. It is great exercise 3) C- I think they need to be able to pay attention to their coach & team. My oldest 2 are only 5 & 7. 4) There is no special equipment to be bought at this stage. 5) They play sports threw the park system. When they get older we may do more training for them.
1 person likes this
21 Jan 07
Thanks for the reply! My daughter is a cheerleader for elementary and I had to ask this question about the equipment. The other school cheerleaders last week were all wearing those fake hair clips. The last I heard those things can run as high as $50.00! I though it was silly, these are just kids no older than 11 years old and the competition only last for two months. I like your answer for number 3. Sometimes we can be a distraction for our children. In addition, having children so young, they would be miserable setting there through the games.
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@boogasmom (149)
• United States
21 Jan 07
#2. The main reason mine are not in sports is because my oldest (my son) is a bookworm. He almost refusses to go outside. He hates outside most of the time.
1 person likes this
21 Jan 07
Oh but wait, if he is in school, there is something for him. Did you know many schools including elementary have Academics Competitions and Academic Teams? We have one in ours and I have to say the parents of these children are just as "excited" as those with children in sports. I would not be surprised to see a parent show up one of these days with their faces painted in the school colors, LOL. It is nice that it seems you are letting him pick what to do with his time. Nothing in the world wrong with a bookworm. Bookworms turn out to be very intelligent successful people many times. :-)
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@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
3 Feb 07
1- Pros of sports- there are many- Being a team player is the biggest one- Every sport my daughter is in is a team sport. Kids need to learn that they are only as good as their team- I think this makes them work harder with others to get them to become better players. There isn't a college course that I can think of I took that didn't have some sort of group work- And you were graded on it- So again teams are big in college. We have several teams at work too- New product team, safety team, etc. Kids need to learn how to work as a team- 3. I am the coach of 2 sports and not the other- When I'm just a parent- I am just as loud as a cheerleader-- I know how important it is for players to hear their coaches-- So I am not nearly as loud as them! 4. I go out and buy whatever is needed for my daughter to play her best and play safely- Is it top notch- Not always-- but it is safe and works. 5. No I never did pay extra for improving skills- we're lucky here in our town to have extra practices and such during the offseason- like right now there is a softball clinic and a soccer clinic- Both run by college coaches. But I am sending my daughter to basketball camp this summer- She has been begging- Its $310 for a week- so I guess I could have answered this yes to- But its more for the experience of going away and having fun then for the learning of new skills!
• United States
7 Feb 07
Well this is a good question because so many parents take children's sports so seriously! 1. Pros: You kids get to learn about compettion and teamwork. CONS: You live around your child's sports schedule most weekends 3. I try to cheer the whole team on, not just my child. 4. I only buy basic, but cute, equipment. My daughter has pink soccer cleats for instance, but they weren't expensive. Thank you for this interesting question!