It is that time of the week where I complain about overhyped NFL players, Overhype youth sports, and, give you all the update on how things are going in this neck of the sporting world. I want to start with an open claim: eSports are starting to gain legitimate traction and they are doing so because of the streams and the youtube videos. Before too long being a gamer is going to be synonymous with or even higher standing than being an athlete in one of the ‘wee three’ (Tennis, Hockey, Soccer). I don’t like it, but there it is… or may be.
On to the youth stuff.
I found myself in a conversation with a former coach and now fan (which is exactly who I am now) about how his kid’s team has finally risen. They’ve hyped themselves up to the point where they believe they are the top unit in the state. They aren’t. They may not even be the top spring unit. They play my boy’s team this weekend and my boy is going out to watch. He’s curious. He misses his QB and his other team friends (don’t get me started on the social status of the QB and the power dynamic in football vs. other sports). I think that team, the AZ Raiders, can beat my kid’s team, the Argos, but I don’t think they will. Why? Better coaching.
Meanwhile, my mid kid has only ever played for three youth teams and two of them are going head to head this weekend following that Raiders dust up. He’s planning to be there. He’s planning to suit up for his old team and give a little bit of what for to the new team, the one he ended his youth career with. He’s been given permission to play out this season with the 13s, and have a little fun. So far, he’s had a lot of fun.
That is what it is supposed to be about at this level–learning and fun. It is, sort of. It is largely about ego and winning, and the latter can be fun, but it isn’t teaching kids how to enjoy the game even when they are not winning. I don’t know how we do that anymore. I don’t know how we make them want to practice and compete unless we have them on these teams that win. On the other hand, I don’t know how to teach them resilience without loss. It’s a learning process throughout.