Myth or Fact: Do Youth Sports Build Character?
It’s a myth that participating in youth sports will build character in young athletes, say Brian Smith and Ed Uszynski, authors of “Away Game: A Christian Parent’s Guide to Navigating Youth Sports.”
Listen to the Building Confidence in Young Athletes podcast interview here:
The problem: There are too many variables in youth sports to conclude that participating will build character. Referees are inconsistent. Coaches don’t all have the same values.
To build character, adults and mature young athletes need to identify and act on character-building moments, they say.
One example is the handshake line after a game, Uszynski said.
“If you watch what happens in a post-game handshake line, the winners are obviously happy and the losers are in some state of despair,” he said. “And as I’ve watched both as a parent and as a coach, what kids naturally want to do in that moment is pout or turn their face away from the other team. They won’t shake their hands in any kind of meaningful way.” They’ll just offer a limp hand at best, he said.
What’s needed are adults or mature young athletes who guide the athletes, telling them to look the other team members in the eye, shake their hands sincerely and tell the other team, “good game!” whether they win or lose, he said.