Now that we are parents, TK and I have decided that the trophies that our children get for just showing up and participating are going right in the garbage. They may not even make it to the garbage at home. I may throw them out in the parking lot of the baseball, soccer or football field. A trophy for participation is not real life.
Would your boss have you compete against another colleague for a promotion and give it to the both of you because you "participated?" No, because that is not how things work in the real world. In the real world, there are winners and losers, and if you lose this time, you will try harder for next time.
Children should learn about discipline and disappointment. Coaches become motivators and disciplinarians on the field or court. They teach children that if they show up late to a game or do not participate in a practice, they do not play. It is not fair for the person that shows up 15 minutes early for every practice and a half hour early for each game to sit on the bench while a player who showed up 45 minutes late plays in a game. In the real world, if you are late to work numerous times or do not show up, you can get fired and for good cause.
The little league field should prepare our little athletes for real life. So, coaches that allow all kids to play regardless of their lateness to practices or games are doing children (and parents) a disservice and giving them a false sense of entitlement. I would prefer a coach that benches my child for lateness than a coach that just lets it go. There are teaching moments throughout our lives, and I have had plenty on the field or the court. For instance, fouling out of a basketball game showed me that my actions have repercussions. Striking out meant that I was not focusing. And, letting a ground ball roll through my legs meant that I was not keeping my glove down or using the tactics taught to me in practice. When I lost a game, it felt awful and there were times that I even cried, but those losses lit a fire inside me to want to win and I strived to accomplish that goal. I will not take those feelings from my children.
So, I repeat, there are teachable moments throughout our lives and our children's lives. Make use of them and prepare our children for a responsible, successful and respectful future. And, if you want our children's trophies, you can have them because they mean nothing, unless they actually earn them.
Would your boss have you compete against another colleague for a promotion and give it to the both of you because you "participated?" No, because that is not how things work in the real world. In the real world, there are winners and losers, and if you lose this time, you will try harder for next time.
Children should learn about discipline and disappointment. Coaches become motivators and disciplinarians on the field or court. They teach children that if they show up late to a game or do not participate in a practice, they do not play. It is not fair for the person that shows up 15 minutes early for every practice and a half hour early for each game to sit on the bench while a player who showed up 45 minutes late plays in a game. In the real world, if you are late to work numerous times or do not show up, you can get fired and for good cause.
The little league field should prepare our little athletes for real life. So, coaches that allow all kids to play regardless of their lateness to practices or games are doing children (and parents) a disservice and giving them a false sense of entitlement. I would prefer a coach that benches my child for lateness than a coach that just lets it go. There are teaching moments throughout our lives, and I have had plenty on the field or the court. For instance, fouling out of a basketball game showed me that my actions have repercussions. Striking out meant that I was not focusing. And, letting a ground ball roll through my legs meant that I was not keeping my glove down or using the tactics taught to me in practice. When I lost a game, it felt awful and there were times that I even cried, but those losses lit a fire inside me to want to win and I strived to accomplish that goal. I will not take those feelings from my children.
So, I repeat, there are teachable moments throughout our lives and our children's lives. Make use of them and prepare our children for a responsible, successful and respectful future. And, if you want our children's trophies, you can have them because they mean nothing, unless they actually earn them.
2 comments:
I agree with you 100% on your trophy take. No one should even want a trophy just for showing up.
I'm going to give you something else to stew about. Just wait til you hear how the rules are modified at an early age. You will flip because the little league rules teach kids the wrong way to play.
But as a little league coach and parent myself, I see who is to blame for latenesses (sp?) 99% of the time. It is the parents' fault for a child being late most of the time (til that child can drive themselves I mean) so I don't punish the child for being late. I punish them for not paying attention or not even trying or wrecking the game with unacceptable behavior. Just my 2 cents...
I am relieved to hear that you will reprimand a child for not respecting his or her teammates, the game or the coaches (you). I believe that is very important.
I may be in trouble when my son joins little league. I know baseball/softball rules and this may be a real problem for me. I may have to learn how to shut my mouth until he grows up a little bit. LOL
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