Winning versus Losing
Tonight will be the last night of football practice for this season. Treyton is so excited that they are going to be scrimmaging the Chiefs. We played against the Shiloh Saints on Tuesday night. The team consisted of 4th graders that looked like professionals compared to our Titan team. We finally scored a touchdown!!! I’m not sure whether the opposing team’s coach requested his team to allow it or not. ha Seriously, we are improving by leaps and bounds compared to the first of the season. In all fairness, the majority of the kids had never played football. As long as the kids are having fun and playing with all their hearts, that is all that matters.
Some of the parents that have kids who previously played for other teams are disappointed in the losing streak. In comarison, to being on a winning team with coaches that take the kid’s football program too seriously versus a losing team with compassionate coaches—I’d chose the losing team. Kids grow up too quick and they need to have fun with the game. They will have plenty of opportunity being screamed at and degraded once they approach the teen and college years.
Our team has struggled with kids not showing up for practices or not wanting to play on a losing team–so they decide to quit. As parents, what sort of message are we sending to our children? The more you practice…the more you learn. We should encourage them to be part of the “team.” Life is not all about winning. Thank goodness, my son has experienced both winning and losing. Last season, he cried his eyes out about losing all of his games. After witnessing poor sportsmanship from his winning team this summer, he has changed his attitude. Treyton let me know that it didn’t bother him to lose because he was able to play both quarters and he was giving it his all. He said that all of his team mates got along and encouraged each other.
As the season comes to a close on Saturday, it will be somewhat disappointing. Watching these kids give 100% of themselves in practices and see their remarkable improvement from the first of the season, I’ve come to enjoy. I’ll miss visiting with the other parents as well. Until next season……