Regardless of the sport, I’m always impressed when I see any youngster devote literal blood, sweat, tears, and time to their favorite sport while earning praise from their peers and family. This was what I pictured for my son when he started playing little league baseball.
My husband and I signed him up for the local rec center league because he had a natural talent for the game and we thought it would be a great way to bolster his confidence, get him socialized and expend some of that boy energy! The first season was a bit rough, but his skills quickly improved and he was having fun. As his second season got underway, my husband and I started seeing a different boy-one who was intensely anxious and carried no joy with him onto the field. For most games, either my husband or I had to physically stand on the field to get him to play.
We made him finish out the season because we thought it was important that he see his commitment through, especially to his coach and his teammates, which he did-and bravely I might add. We learned his anxiety had nothing to do with the actual sport, but had everything to do with the team dynamic. It was intimidating and intense for my child to be on the field with so many other kids running around, shouting at each other, and adults yelling.
So, where did that leave us? How would he learn to be a “team player”? Don’t all kids need to play sports? What about college scholarships?!
Sports are wonderful and can give your child excellent skills, a sense of belonging, opportunity and so much more, but let us not forget about the world of creative and performing arts and individual sports (like tennis, track, golf, and swimming).
I have a background in music and my husband played in the marching band throughout high school and college. We assumed our son was too young to have any real interest in music at six years old, but we should have known better having fallen in love with music at young ages ourselves. He fancies himself a drummer thanks to a trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He also recently took up swimming and loves it! He feels a sense of accomplishment and told me he likes it because it’s quiet and he doesn’t have to be on a “team.”
Will he stick with music and swim lessons? Who knows, but what I see when he’s behind the drums, or in the pool, is a light in his eyes, joy on his face, and confidence. Interesting-since that’s what the world tells us our children will exhibit playing baseball, basketball, football, soccer, hockey…you get the picture. 
All any good parent wants is for their child to find something they’re good at that also brings them a sense of ownership, confidence, accomplishment, and most importantly, enjoyment. If sports do not check those boxes for your kid, that is O.K.! Let them try theater, music lessons, art classes, robotics, dance, or non-traditional sports like karate or ice skating. These activities don’t discriminate and will enhance your child’s imagination and creativity, while meeting your standards for your child’s social, academic, and emotional growth.
