Let them play or they may quit!

I have been pondering lately why so many kids quit youth sports at age 13.

There are stats out there that show that in youth sports twenty million kids register each year in various sports.     70 percent of these kids quit playing by age 13, but what I don’t understand; what the heck is happening and how do I make sure this does not happen with my children.

I watched this TED talks video by an inspiration of mine:  John O’Sullivan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=11&v=VXw0XGOVQvw

Check out his blog :

http://changingthegameproject.com/release-your-child-to-the-game/

I tell my children and the kids that I am lucky to coach this phrase all the time:

“This is your time!  YOUR team’s time!  Not mine, not anyone else.   I am so happy to be able watch you play and see you using the things you trained so hard on!”

John O’Sullivan challenges us adults all to ask ourselves “Have I released my child to the game?”   Which translates to me have you let your child be child and play the game and be their experience!

I have seen kids who have been in complete love with playing a sport be destroyed by others living through them rather then letting the children have their time.   My wife and I provide opportunities to our children that I did not have growing up to participate in many sports.  What I continue to work on is letting it be their time and not mine.     I let my kids play and coaches coach!

If my children don’t want to play youth sports at some point that is fine by me but can only strive to ensure that it not because of me!