Developing Children Through the Power of Sports

by Lyndsey Morgan
From: National Allliance for Youth Sports - SportingKid Magazine 11/11/2011

Even at a young age, children are overwhelmed by many mental and physical problems that they shouldn't experience. Having health, confidence, self-esteem and social issues can be detrimental to a child's development in life. Going through these struggles should not be on a child's list of things to worry about. One helpful way to improve, or even prevent these issues is through the child's participation in sports.

Sports can be a fun, healthy way to build confidence and other admirable characteristics in a child. Sports can provide children with motivation and teach them about life lessons, as well as the importance of social stability and education. So, how do sports play as a positive factor in child development? Here are the answers to that question.

Physically, you want your kids to be fit. Plenty of parents believe that their child is physically fit, but the numbers are lower than people believe. One way sports can improve child development is through the physical aspects of their lives. During the childhood years, normally between the ages of 6 and 11, the child's body will go through multiple changes. Keeping a child active during this time will help achieve healthy stability in him or her. By doing it safely and with proper technique, sports can be a good way for any child to work out certain ways to stay fit. It is also a good way for children to understand eating habits while staying fit; out with the bad, in with the good foods in order to maintain stamina and physical stability.


Then there are the social aspects of any sport. Sports give way for a child to hang out with friends, meet new people and build bonds. Teams are a brother or sisterhood of sorts, giving children people around them that they can rely on. As teammates, the children are trusted and forced to trust others in order to succeed. These characteristics are very beneficial in life, from jobs to friendships. Giving the child an atmosphere where they can express themselves to others of similar interests will also provide confidence in them.


The mental aspects of all sports can be as beneficial, if not more, than anything else. Building confidence and self-esteem in the child is a trait that will take them through life with their heads held high. The child will also learn the characteristics of leadership through the process of sports and the importance of it. Going through life as a follower, mimicking other people is no way to push you ahead of the crowd. Standing out and being your own person, that's the lesson sports can teach a child, allowing them to stand tall and rely on themselves. Leadership, confidence, high self-esteem, and success; these are all attributes every parent wants for their child. Sports are a solid base to provide those to children and help with their healthy development through life.


As your child grows older, the role of a student-athlete becomes increasingly important. The ability to balance out sports and school will instill responsibility into the child, allowing them to plan accordingly. We all know the importance of education in children and we're learning the importance of sports to a child's development. Becoming a student-athlete gives emphasis to the importance of academics and sports at the same time. In fact, education at the high school and college levels is a necessity to compete in organized sports, making a child ineligible if their grades are not up to the standards of that school. With proper balance of the two, meaning being responsible in choices the child makes, success is much easier to achieve.

Keep in mind that the child must also understand the middle ground of winning. It's not everything, and it shouldn't be. Winning is nice and can build confidence, but knowing to get right back up and shake it off if you lose is another strong characteristic to have. Winning should coincide with the other elements of sports such as teamwork, fun, fitness and confidence. Make sure the child understands that it isn't about winning; it is about how you win. Some people will do whatever it takes to win, including cheating, and that is a negative developmental characteristic. When a child enters sports, make sure to embrace and celebrate winning, but don't overemphasize it as the most important aspect. Winning with class and dignity, is the more rewarding victory.

 

When children play sports, they develop a high multitude of positive characteristics that will carry them throughout life; not just in the field, court, or ring, but in everyday living.

Let's review: Confidence, social abilities, responsibility, determination, appreciation, leadership, teamwork; all these things can be instilled in a child's characteristics from sports at a young age and beyond those years. Children will develop with a different mindset playing sports, and grow into respectable adults with all the keys to be successful in all of life's games.

TEACHING KIDS TO BE "GOOD SPORTS"

As we move into our spring season soon it is good to go over what being a "good sport" is about with your child/children.

"Sports do not build character. They reveal it." - Heywood Hale Brown

Youth Sports: The Last Vestige of Sportsmanship

We're living in an age where the preservation of traditional values can no longer be taken for granted. It seems we need to have reminders (books, movies, newspaper articles, etc.) to maintain our awareness of the importance of preserving the basic human values which are essential to the survival of a community.

It's no different in the world of sports. The traditional value of sportsmanship is being challenged from all sides: professional, college, high school, and even in youth sports. There are some who say sportsmanship is becoming a lost art and that unless we remind ourselves of the essentials of sportsmanship and strive to maintain the basics of sportsmanship it will gradually fade as other values have done in our society.

In the midst of all this, it seems doubly important that we recommit ourselves to guiding our youth, reminding them what sportsmanship is all about, rewarding them for showing good sportsmanship and showing, by our example, that sportsmanship is still alive and valued in youth sports today.

Here's a 10-item checklist for kids to follow as they try to develop a habit of good sportsmanship.

1. I abide by the rules of the game.
Part of good sportsmanship is knowing the rules of the game and playing by them. If a player decides to play a given sport, it is the responsibility of that player to learn not only how to play but how to play according to the rules which have been established and standardized to allow competitive games to be played in an orderly fashion. The more a player knows the rules the more that player can enjoy the sport.

2. I try to avoid arguments.
Part of good sportsmanship is anger management. Arguing with officials, coaches or opponents is often simply a misguided effort at "letting off steam" in the heat of competition. A good sport knows that anger can get in the way of a good performance. A good sport knows how to walk away from an argument and to stay focused on the game at hand.

3. I share in the responsibilities of the team.
Good sportsmanship implies that the player on a team is a team player. In other words, the player understands that his or her behavior reflects on the team in general. Moreover, a team player does not condone unsportsmanlike conduct from teammates and reminds players that they all share in the responsibility of promoting good sportsmanship.

4. I give everyone a chance to play according to the rules.
In youth recreational sports the more talented players, if they are good sports, will look out for and encourage the less talented players on the team, cooperating with coaching plans to let everybody play. Unfortunately, some coaches may become so preoccupied with winning at all costs that they never play some players, regardless of the time and effort they put in at daily practices, even when the score warrants clearing the bench.

5. I always play fair.
Honesty and integrity should be an integral part of sports. A player with good sportsmanship does not want a hollow victory which comes as a result of cheating ("dirty" fouls, ineligible players, performance enhancing drugs, etc.)

6. I follow the directions of the coach.
A player with good sportsmanship listens to and follows the directions of the coach, realizing that each player's decisions affect the rest of the team. If a player has disagreements with the coach, the player discusses the disagreements privately in a civil manner, away from the public eye.

7. I respect the other team's effort.
Whether the other team plays better, or whether they play worse, the player with good sportsmanship does not use the occasion to put the other team down. In the field of competition respect for opponents is central to good sportsmanship. If an opponent out-performs a player that player accepts it, learns from it, offers no excuses and moves on. If a player out-performs an opponent, that player enjoys the victory, but does not gloat, does not belittle, and does not minimize the opponent's effort.

8. I offer encouragement to teammates.
A sign of good sportsmanship is a player who praises teammates when they do well and who comforts and encourages them when they make mistakes. Criticizing teammates in the heat of battle simply distracts from the focus of working together and gives the advantage to the opponent who develops a sense of confidence when seeing signs of weakness or a lack of unity in the midst of the competition.

9. I accept the judgment calls of the game officials.
Part of the human condition is making mistakes. Arguing with an official over a judgment call simply wastes energy. The player with good sportsmanship knows that errors may be made, but the player also knows that a game is made up of all the plays and calls from the beginning to the end of the game, not just the call in dispute. The player with good sportsmanship may be upset, but that player also has learned to focus his/her energies back on the game and on doing the best he/she can do for the rest of the game.

10. I end the game smoothly.
When the game is over, pouting, threatening, cajoling have no place in the life of the players with good sportsmanship, who emphasize the joy of participating, regardless of outcome. They're not devoid of emotions but they know that their efforts to end the competition smoothly, without antagonistic emotional display, will help ensure that the games will continue in the future.

On a final note, a word of caution. We can't be so naive as to think that by teaching and valuing sportsmanship in our youth we will ensure that they will take these values with them into their young adult and adult sports lives. However, if we don't expose them to the essentials of sportsmanship, and if we don't guide them in developing a sense of good sportsmanship, we can all but guarantee that they will fall prey to the young adult and adult world of sports and athletics, with its continued tendency to minimize sportsmanship, and maximize winning as the only real value in competitive athletics.

Sportsmanship Checklist for Kids

1. I abide by the rules of the game.
2. I try to avoid arguments.
3. I share in the responsibilities of the team.
4. I give everyone a chance to play according to the rules.
5. I always play fair.
6. I follow the directions of the coach.
7. I respect the other team's effort.
8. I offer encouragement to my teammates.
9. I accept the judgment calls of the game officials.
10. I end the game smoothly.

Sportsmanship is the ability to:
     win without gloating
     lose without complaining
     treat your opponent with respect.
Sportsmanship Tips
     If you make a mistake, don't pout or make excuses. Learn from it, and be

ready to continue to play.
     If a teammate makes a mistake, offer encouragement, not criticism.
     If you win, don't rub it in.
     If you lose, don't make excuses.

by Dr. Darrell J. Burnett

Dr. Burnett is a clinical and sport psychologist, parent, national lecturer, author, consultant and volunteer youth league coach who has been in private practice for more than 20 years working with troubled youth and their families, specializing in positive parenting. He is also an Institute for International Sport Sports Ethics Fellow. For a catalog describing all his materials call (800).493.5943
Email: djburnet@pacbell.net. Website: www.djburnett.com  

This article can be found at:
http://www.pelinks4u.org/articles/darden/sportsmanship.htm

Pre-Season Indoor Clinics

Opportunity for area Baseball / Softball players & coaches
Windy, chilly weather and soggy field conditions do not make for the best learning and playing environment for young players.  Come indoors, to one of our newer rec center sites below, to get a jump on the spring baseball & softball season.  Our indoor adaptive equipment and instruction is every bit as helfpul, if not better than, pre-season outdoor instruction. Hitting, bunting, fielding, pitching and more over the course of 4 days.  These clinics are Co-Ed however the kids will be seperated by age and gender. 

Boys & Girls 7-10 yrs / 4 days (see below) / $49.00
6:30-7:30 (7-8yrs)
7:30-8:30 (9-10yrs)

Walkersville Rec Center     Mon 3/12 - Thu 3/15
Centerville Rec Center        Tue 3/20 - Fri 3/23


Space is limited !! - register by March 5th - www.recreater.com - 301.600.2936
Questions - eappel@frederickcountymd.gov

Upcoming Spring Leagues

Frederick County Parks and Recreation has some amazing league opportunities coming up this spring for children ages 5-14.

NFL YOUTH FLAG FOOTBALL
Ages: 5-14
Cost: $60 per participant / $40 per coaches child
Location: Two park location -- Utica District Park & Ballenger Creek Park
Ages Divisions: 5-6 co-ed, 7-8 co-ed, 9-11 co-ed & 12-14 boys

League play starts on Saturday, April 21.  Registration deadline is Monday, March 19.  Children will receive an NFL Flag jersey and flag belt with the cost of registration.  Teams play 8 regular season games with no playoff.

JUNIOR TEAM TENNIS LEAGUE
Ages: 6-13
Cost: $55 per participant / $35 per team captain's child
Location: Urbana Community Park Tennis Courts

League play starts on Saturday, April 28th.  Registration deadline is Thursday, April 19th.  Children will play 6 weeks of matches on Saturdays.  Practices will be held on saturday before match.

For more information or to register for these programs please call 301-600-2936 or visit us at http://www.recreater.com/

Men's & Women's Game Safety & Sportsmanship Initiative

As lacrosse gets underway throughout the country, US Lacrosse wants to arm athletes, coaches and parents with tips to minimize injury risk and maximize their lacrosse experience in 2012.

“We’ll be working with the US Lacrosse staff to let the lacrosse community know that there are numerous resources available that could help educate all stakeholders about safety and sportsmanship issues,” said Angelo Calvello, chair of the USL men’s game safety subcommittee.

This initiative emphasizes a different safety- or sportsmanship-related theme every three months. For more on the first quarter topics of concussions, visit uslacrosse.org/safety.

Free Lacrosse Clinic in Martinsburg West Virginia!

Free Lacrosse Clinic in Martinsburg West Virginia!


At Martinsburg West Virginia North Middle School Gymnasium

Saturday January, 28th from 12:30-2:30PM.

Both Girls and Boys are welcome to Participate!

Come out and see what the fastest sport on two feet is all about.

Registration is open for K-8th grade. No equipment is required to participate. All levels of experience are welcome to attend. If you already have a stick please bring it. Register your child’s attendance by Friday January 27th at panhandlelax@yahoo.com.

Include your child’s age, sex, birth date and if they will be bringing their own stick.

The clinic is sponsored by Martinsburg-Berkeley County Parks and Recreation in conjunction with Panhandle Youth Lacrosse. The clinic coincides with our registration ending on January 28th. Registration for the spring season and equipment information will be made available.

Questions or Concerns? Email panhandlelax@yahoo.com

Fitness

Ditch the Workout and Join the Party!

Check out our MANY fitness opportunities!!

Follow the link!

FITNESS!!

All for One and One for All

One of the coach's greatest challenges is to integrate the individual goals of an athlete into the team concept.  Challenging the youth's individual desire to be independently successful into "Together Everyone Achieves More".   

Molding individuals into a team is still a formidable task for the coach.  Most youth sports coaches realize winning is not everything, and yet it is the reward for performing better than the opposition and a sign of a well-prepared (coached) team.  Most youth sports in our area exist for the sole purpose of educating and introducing youth to a particular sport, not winning. However when there has to be a winner and a loser teams and individuals should have the integrity to do their best to win as a team, and this is often identified as a team's "chemistry"

So what is good chemistry for a team?   This simply means that most, if not all, of the individuals on the team focus as a unit on the same goal and concentrate on being there for each other.  They want to do well individually, but they are more concerned with the team goals than individual achievements.  It takes a very good manager and organization to get everybody on the same page.  The best coaches often do it, but it also takes the cooperation of the young athletes and support of their families. 

From experience, I know there is no better feeling as a coach to win a championship or to have a successfull season when all the players have contributed and have collectivley pulled for one another to reach that goal.    

Indoor Baseball / Softball Training

REGISTER AT www.recreater.com or by calling 301.600.2936

SPORTSMANSHIP 101

Excerpt from SportingKids Magazine a publication of the National Alliance of Youth Sports


Throwing footballs, serving volleyballs and fielding grounders are just a few of the sports techniques you can help your child hone at home. But with so many examples of poor sportsmanship on television how do you work in those all important lessons on being a good sport?


Take the reins: When it comes to teaching the importance of good sportsmanship, don’t leave it up to the coach. If you observe your child behaving in an inappropriate manner, address the situation immediately. Regardless of what the coach says to your child you must make it clear that bad sportsmanship is not acceptable. If the problem isn’t addressed immediately, it will happen again. And remember, it could get worse.


Ask questions: On the ride home from a game, ask your child specific questions that elicit more than “yes” and “no” responses. For example, if a player on the other team demonstrated poor sportsmanship, ask your child how she felt when she witnessed it. Use these moments to reinforce how bad a player looked behaving inappropriately.


Use TV as a teacher: While watching games with your child don’t just talk about the great plays that are made, discuss the great displays of sportsmanship that you both see, too. This helps make it clear to your young athlete just how important being a good sport is at all levels of athletic competition.


*71 - The percentage of Americans who believe that sportsmanship is worse now than when they were growing up.sports.
By the numbers
Source: Sixth annual Awards and Recognition
Association survey on the state of sportsmanship

COUNTY FLAG FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

DYNAMIC TITANS are the 2011 County Champions!!

The Titans prevailed 20-13 on Sunday, over 2008 champ J.G.U.T.S., in the 2011 FredCo Bowl (County championship tournament) final.

The Titans finished the season with a record of 11-1.





2011 FREDCO BOWL CHAMPIONS

  

2011 Utica Bowl - Class B Champions

Tango Down scored with seconds to spare to defeat "All We Do Is Win Sometimes"  on Sunday to take home the Utica Bowl trophy (Class B Tournament).




Tango Down wins 2011 Utica Bowl

 

The Winter Recreation Sports Brochure is here!

Go online to http://www.recreater.com/ now to register for the many program opportunities in the latest Winter Recreater Brochure.