Youth sports is more than just about winning, it's about growth

If you’re a sports fan and are looking for something to take your mind off the bad news that’s happening in athletics, look no further than in your neighborhood — and I’m not referring to the college students throwing flying discs in the street.

Teams and individual athletes from both Cheney and Medical Lake high schools have had successful seasons this year, including several district and state championships. With spring sports winding down, we’ll soon be seeing summer clubs hit the pool, soccer pitch or field, including the Cheney and Medical Lake summer baseball programs. The Summerhawks are going with an independent schedule rather than playing in American Legion.

There’s also several local programs happening, including West Plains Little League softball and baseball teams.

I was fortunate enough to cover a Little League softball game between Tommy G’s Espresso and the Tri County Diamond Divas. It wasn’t as fast-paced, gut-wrenching or dramatic as some of the high school baseball games I’ve covered in the last couple of years. Coaches encouraged players to be competitive — which they were — but these kids were also having fun.

When it comes to youth sports we want to make sure that athletes — whether it’s our own children or kids we are coaching — are successful, but sometimes we put too much focus on winning rather than making sure athletes are having fun and enjoying the game.

We should look at sports as something that can help kids in their personal development. Playing sports help develop a child’s confidence and discipline. It also teaches them teamwork and allows them to build relationships with others and that’s important, especially in an age where personal interaction and conversation is almost nonexistent because of technology.

If we are going to focus on winning, it should be in a way that can instill a competitiveness in athletes that drives them to want to improve their skills, rather than just putting on a uniform and participating. The more time and effort they put in, the closer they’ll be to winning the next game. Former boxing heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali once said, “Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them — a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have the skill, and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.”

Losing can also be a great teaching tool. Everyone loses a game at some point in their lives.

A loss is a result of a bad day, others it’s because of a specific reason. It might require a little investigating to learn the root of the problem. Sometimes it’s coaching and other cases it’s the players not performing to their potential. It can be a combination of things.

It’s not wrong to have a “come to Jesus” meeting with a team and ask for a better performance from them, especially when we know they have potential. The Cheney High baseball team lost their last seven regular season games.

After some self-reflection and a couple of really good practices, the Blackhawks have won three of their last four games and are heading to the state tournament.

Athletes can also take the lessons they’ve learned and implement them in their lives off the field. Working through a loss allows them to face the challenges that come at them in school, in the streets or at home. They can take the discipline, confidence and competitiveness they’ve built and apply it to their schoolwork or job. If they do more than go through the motions and put in the extra time and dedication, they’ll have a better chance to be more successful in life.

Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].