Sports in Moderation

There was no joy in Mudville Saturday afternoon when Jonathan's high school baseball team, the Wolf Pack, went down in defeat to the Saugatuck Indians. But it was a good season, and for Jonathan, a first-time player (he played T-ball back when he was in kindergarten), it was a good experience. He's sorry to see it all end.

I never thought it would be the case, but I guess I'm officially a sports mom. Jonathan decided this past school year--his junior year--that he wanted to be an athlete. And since he attends a small Christian school, anyone who would like to play is welcome on the team--with or without experience. Up to this point my sports experience has been less than zero. I never had an interest in or desire to play sports (I was a music and drama person), and aside from a short brush with soccer in junior high, Katie pretty much followed in my footsteps. Jonathan has blazed new trails for our family, and my time in the previously unknown leaves me with questions and concerns about the wide world of sports.

To be sure, it has been a positive experience for Jonathan. He's in much better shape physically--he slimmed right down during basketball season--and he's learned a lot about working together with others to accomplish a common goal. It's been good for him socially to interact with the other guys on the team. It's been confidence building as he has stretched himself to learn new skills and to work hard to improve. And yet . . . I find myself wondering about other lessons our kids are learning because of their involvement in sports. Are they good ones?

Some kids who participate in sports are learning that their leisure activities (and their parents' leisure activities as spectators) take priority over everything and are the most important thing in their lives. With practice every evening after school for a couple of hours, and games (often double headers that last about six hours) two or three times a week, of necessity sports activities shove everything else to the side. Are we teaching our kids that their games and practices are more important than homework, family life, and church involvement? What are we missing out on, and what are we unable to participate in because our kids are involved in sports? Would we be willing to devote the time and energy we pour into sports into Bible study?

Some kids who participate in sports are learning that their athletic ability is who they are--it is what makes them significant. In the end, sports ability is good for as long as you play sports in school. Few become professional athletes, a few more play in college, but for most, graduation from high school means the end of a sports career. And if you've learned that your value is in your ability to pitch a ball, to shoot baskets, to set records running a mile, and that the most important thing you can do is excel in sports, you're going to have a rude awakening someday when no one cares how many people you struck out your senior year or that your basketball team won the state tournament or that you still hold the record in your high school for the mile. They'll only care that you show up on time for class or work, meet deadlines, and produce results that require less physical prowess and more mental ability. For some kids, it will be unsettling at best, and devastating at its worst.

Some kids who participate in sports are learning that they are the center of the universe. No expense for clothing and equipment is too great. Parents do not have lives and interests of their own. They exist to transport their children to practices and games. Their own responsibilities (including paid jobs) become secondary as they block out huge amounts of time to attend games.

My husband and I sat Jonathan down early in the season. We told him that we supported him in his decision to participate in baseball, and we thought it would be a good activity for him. We told him that we love him. We also told him that with all the responsibilities we have, we couldn't possibly devote our time to attending all of his games. We would aim for one a week. We support him by working at jobs to earn money to pay for the things he needs. We support him by setting an example of prioritizing life's demands responsibly. We support him by not allowing him to forget about his more important responsibilities. We support him by setting an example of moderation.

Sports in moderation is a good thing. Children can learn important lessons that prepare them for life by playing sports in moderation. But sports not in moderation becomes like anything else not in moderation--an idol.
And kids--like the rest of us--don't need to be taught to have idols. They can accomplish that without any practice at all.