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Sports N' Stuff: Youth Sports - Let Them PlayBy Brian Flagg
06:00PM / Monday, October 29, 2007
As I sat Sunday watching my son's football game, I realized how much youth sports means to a young child.
That is not to say I have never thought it before. Sunday, however, I thought it from a dad's point of view rather than as a coach. I have coached kids for more than 15 years now and I have seen the role it plays in their lives.
Some play because they want to; others because their parents signed them up to give them something to do. Many play because their friends are there and that's where they can hang with them and have some fun. Whatever the reason, it plays a significant role in their development.
From a coach's perspective, I have seen girls (I have coached girls' basketball and softball for 16 years now) go from shy and reserved to being outgoing and confident. The little light comes on and you can see that they "get it." You can see their entire expression change as well as the way they carry themselves and interact with others. They understand now that if they put their minds to it they can achieve it. If they work hard enough their work pays off and they can do what they never thought possible. Then the whole game changes and it becomes even more important to them.
Well, Sunday I saw it from a dad's point of view.
My son is 10 and has never been a kid who was very interested in sports. Last season was his first and, while he gave it an honest effort, he didn't walk away from the season knowing he wanted to keep playing. This season has been a little different. He moved up to the next division, called Juniors here, which is 10 years old through 12 or 13, I think.
He wasn't a "first teamer" and saw playing time mostly when the team had a victory seemingly in hand. About two weeks ago, he really started enjoying it more and has even sat and watched the Bronco games with me and understood what was happening. Then, Sunday, his light came on.
With the team up by a touchdown in the fourth quarter, he got put in at defensive end, which is now his favorite position. On three consecutive plays he had clean shots at the quarterback and he took them. Though he didn't actually sack the QB, he did disrupt all three plays and got his team the ball back. On the offensive side, he was placed in the tight-end position and made the block that resulted in a two-point conversion following a touchdown.
He was so excited with his play that he has talked about it all day and is now convinced that this is his game. He is GOING to keep playing and GOING to keep getting better. He knows he can do it and wants to do it - not for me or his mom - but because HE wants to!
I am happier for him than I have ever been before. I am proud of him because he stuck through it and found something that he can make his own.
Parents - get your kids involved in sports. Let them play. They may just surprise you and themselves.
Brian Flagg was co-host of "The Sports Page" on local public access stations for nearly five years. The North Adams resident has been coaching girls' basketball and softball for 16 years. His column appears every other Monday.
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