I have been in many conversations with homeschoolers and Christians in general about the worldliness of sports. Their concerns from observations are often valid. There are many negative aspects of character and content that come out during organized play of a sport. I've heard named the concerns of language, moral influence, time constraints, interference with study or more "worthy" pursuits (after my argument I hope you find that sports can be a worthy pursuit) all as reasons their child or family is not involved in sports.
Can I offer some positives of sports and a child playing an organized sport?
First, I am biased, but only partly! I am not athletic. I learned to play and appreciate the sports of volleyball, soccer and gymnastics but I was never at a passion for them. Then I married an athletic man who had positive and negative sports experiences and together we had three little rookies. The boy, from birth loved anything with a ball, wrestling with daddy and running as fast as his legs at that time would carry him. My daughter, too, would run as gracefully as a doe and quick as a sprite. I am thankful that they received those gifts from God. I have suffered for a lifetime with clumsiness and an awkward run. I have become more athletic in my later life after finding a passion for preserving my health! So I am only biased in the fact that we do participate in sports. Our level would be heavy participation to some and light to others, but between our children we are in sports nearly year round.
Why? Let me list some positives. These are not in order of importance or priority.
1. Activity is important to us. Caring for the physical body God gave us is important. Play, training and even the act of eating for sport training is a integral part of forming habits for a healthy lifestyle.
2. Sports help in character building and training. In fact, it helps in so many areas of character I could write a whole blog about that. To name a few:
- Submission to authority
- Working together with others
- Controlling one's emotions and frustration (self-control)
- Turning negatives into positives
- Sacrifice and reward
- How to win and how to lose
- Comradeship
- Discipline
- Organization
- Surviving trials
- Consequences for one's actions
3. Relationships with coaches are a blessing in life. Now this can also be a curse. Some coaches are just plain horrible and many lessons are learned through that. But, if a coach is good he wants his players lives to be in the best order possible so that they are not bringing more baggage on the field or court than necessary. A good coach is going to care about a students grades, attendance in class, treatment of teachers, parents and siblings, moral character and physical health. A good coach can be a parent's second voice, providing you with a bit of back up on what you have been telling your child all along. If your child has a good coach thank God and then thank him/her. If your child has a coach that is less than stellar, use that as a teaching tool for how we deal with someone not conducting themselves in a moral way.
4. It is an opportunity to let your child's light shine. Are you throwing rotten tomatoes at me? I know one of the homeschooler's main reasons for homeschooling is that their child is "in training" to be a light and it's not their time yet to be that to the world. I disagree with this or at least have a different take. Sports can be a place to let them practice this. They can lead the prayer (if allowed). Treatment of their teammates goes a long way in helping a child use some of the things you are trying to teach them. Finally, treatment of their opponent and training in that area, is one of my favorite things to see exercised while watching sport competition for my son or daughter. I've seen some beautiful lights for both of my sport playing children. I've seen my son reach down and help an opponent off the basketball court floor. I've seen both my children check on a hurt opponent and high five the other team win or lose. I've seen children flip jersey's inside out and join the opposing team just so they all could play a game when enough opponents couldn't show up. I'll sum up by saying that sports have provided opportunities for my children to shine. Sports make them reach out to their fellow man and shake his hand even when on opposite sides.
5. They have fun! Now if a child, does not enjoy sports, this is a reason to not participate! However, my children really enjoy playing. My conversations, with some people say that sports eat up too much valuable time that takes away from more worthy pursuits. Okay, that may be the case for you, but for my family, the fun, character building and teamwork, among other things they learn through sports programs make them a great bang for my buck.
So I say, if they want to play, let them play! I try not to compartmentalize our life too much. Our life is a journey of endless learning. Every time my son straps on equipment or walks onto a court or my daughter takes the field, they are learning. They are growing and forming. I thank God for those lessons they learn and have learned while playing competitively. They are invaluable.
