Another summer.
Another year of watching parents put unrealistic expectations on their child.
Here are the facts.
Most kids won’t play sports in high school.
Almost every kid won’t play sports in college.
There’s almost no chance you will know anyone who plays professional sports.
Your child has a better chance of being a brain surgeon than playing baseball for the Cardinals, basketball for the Lakers, or football for the Cowboys.
If you weren’t a great athlete, the odds of your child being one are slim to none.
There’s no amount of practice, coaching, or throwing money at the situation that will improve your sons or daughters enough if they aren’t born with special athetic abilities.
Also, screaming at the umpire or referee won’t help. They really aren’t there to keep your child from being successful (note to self).
The truth is if you were an average athlete, your child will likely be an average athlete.
Parents who are 5 foot 8, seldom have children who are 6 foot 7. If you were slow, guess what.
If you got cut from your junior high team, don’t plan on your son or daughter participating in the Olympics.
This doesn’t mean kids shouldn’t participate in sports.
It doesn’t mean they have to be great to play.
It just means parents need to be realistic.
The truth is, when your child is 40 no one cares if they hit the ball, scored a basket, or even played when they were 7.
Sit in your lawn chair and enjoy it.
That’s it. That’s all there is.
There’s no college scholarship or huge contract coming your way.
Just ice cream after the game. And that’s good enough.
Phil Gaton"
Christy
on May 13th, 2012
@ 11:46 am:
well said.
kelly
on May 13th, 2012
@ 3:21 pm:
I agree whole-heartedly agree that we should all have realistic expectations of our children playing sports, regarding their athletic abilities, for sure. I do encourage parents to focus on other types of expectations… Do your best. Be positive and encourage others. If you start something, finish it to the best of your ability. There is so much kids can learn from sports that will last them a lifetime.
Jim
on May 13th, 2012
@ 9:22 pm:
Mr. Smith,
You state, “Your child has a better chance of being a brain surgeon than playing baseball for the Cardinals, basketball for the Lakers, or football for the Cowboys.” But what you did not cite statistics on is a child’s ability to play baseball for the CUBS, basketball for the WIZARDS or football for the Cleveland BROWNS.
I understand we should not set such unrealistic expectations for most athletes, but what is unrealistic about Cubs, Wizards and Browns?
Gwen Martin
on May 14th, 2012
@ 1:37 am:
Amen.
Joyce Walker
on May 14th, 2012
@ 2:20 am:
I think for the most part, every parent who wishes they had been properperly developed and then played professional sports believes they would have had a chance. Perhaps “now” they can see their full potential through their children. I think it has a lot to do with chance as well. I don’t know much about sports but I don’t hear much on second and third generation players..it seems moreso first generations..
Sarah
on May 14th, 2012
@ 9:12 am:
Thank you for saying what most teachers and parents want to say when they see parents trying to live out their dreams through their kids. Let your child be himself!
cindy
on May 15th, 2012
@ 8:42 am:
He will not be a professional athlete because he has a principal with low expectations.
Lisa Legaspi
on Jul 18th, 2012
@ 8:57 am:
True enough. But for me, the lessons my kids learn playing sports often far exceed, and I often find far more valuable, than the lessons they learn in the classroom. If enthusiasm for sports outweighs enthusiasm for academic endeavors, perhaps teachers and admins should look for themselves to remedy the situation instead of blaming parents for having unrealistic expectations for their kids’ athletic futures. In my experience, most parents are pretty realistic about how far their kids can go in any given sport as an athlete but support their child for other reasons. Maybe classroom teachers and principals should strive to set the same standards in the classroom that coaches set for their players: High expectations and accountability regarding promptness and preparedness. Drill, drill, drill the basics. Reward based on performance and ability while still giving everyone a chance to strive for greatness and to be the best. Set measurable standards. Punish bad behavior.