“A mouse can pull a plow”
Competition builds character. Winning builds pride. And the right coaches protect the future. When students are involved in sports, whether it’s academic: Robotics, DECA, Chess, Debate Team, etc. and/or athletic: Football, Basketball, Track and Field, Soccer, etc. they learn skills that help them succeed in life. Too often people undervalue the impact of sports on the lives of youth.
The mere fact that youth sports are a $15 billion industry is proof that people invest in sports. However, we have to make sure the focus is not on just the financial strength of sports but on commitment, development and then wins/losses. Learning to stick with a task until it’s successful completion immediately teaches perseverance and commitment to students. Practicing beyond the hours that are required from the sport helps students increase their mastery and get closer to those 10,000 hours of expertise. Lastly, learning how to lose increases your chances to win. In other words, failure is feedback. You learn from your mistakes and correct them for the future.
“If I say a mouse can pull a plow, don’t ask how. Just hook him up. He’s mine I know what he can do.” One of my former coaches, who is the example of a “servant leader,” taught me this quote years ago. He always said that a true coach believes in their athletes, builds confidence in them and uses sports as a teaching mechanism for life. And winning just makes it that much better. As a coach and Director of Operations for two different sports, I pride myself in the ability to build student-athletes’ character and skill set on and off the field. As a former athlete myself, I understand what a great coach can do for you. They can save your life.