Life of a sports family in one word, what would you say? Crazy… That’s right. Sports family life is super busy, but enjoy it because one day it will all be over. Whether you are the athlete or the parent, sports life can be a grind. I think of the days when it rains before or during practice, and we are all on our phones. Some of you are looking at the weather channel and others are calling or texting other parents. Then there are the weeks that practice gets changed to another day, all while juggling other kids and events.
Sports family life shows support from many
Through all the different seasons and challenges as a team and family you know who’s got your back.
Family, teammates, friends and coaches are all in the awesome sports life together.
Find the people who support you can then support them back.
Learn from parents who have been down the same road. But know that things are always changing and the journey will be different than yours.
Your sports life is one of many, but it has it’s own story.
Keep good relationships with all the parents and coaches because you will see many of them down the road on day.
Being able to help them and received help back is going to help you.
5 ways to better organize you family sports life
- Planning ahead in knowing the daily routine. This way homework can get done on time. Some choose to do homework on a long drive to practice and others use the travel time to catch up on family life. These can be great bonding times. But then some choose for this to be their solo time. Kids might have their ear phones in and mom or dad is listening to music. Finding what is best for your family is the goal.
- Parents can manage time getting exercise, work or relaxation time during practice. All of these need to be done, so maybe this is a good choice for you.
- Pack your gear ahead of time, or at least know where it all is. This way when it’s time to leave the house, you have all your gear. Adding extra worry or stress is not what we want before going to play.
- Having a backup plan can really come in handy right. Having an extra pair of sock, shinguards, shoes, ball are all things that can help us or a teammate out. During Winter I try to have an extra warm top in the car in case I forgot one at the house. While on the topic of warm clothes, I highly recommend gloves when it’s cold. For a soccer player in the Winter a warm top and gloves are top 2. Something for the ears is good when its Michigan cold.
- Apps are great ways to organize your sports life. 3 good apps are 1) ToDo together which cost money and is great for if grandparents or neighbors are helping with travel. 2) intuition which was designed by moms for moms and is a free app. 3) cozi family organizer app is also good and has a free version.
Why sports life parents are amazing
The opportunity and life lessons kids learn from sports is something you can’t get anywhere else.
Not all is positive or what we expected or wanted, but the opportunity is huge. And I’m not talking about scholarship.
I understand only 2-4% of youth soccer players are going to receive scholarship.
The opportunity through sports life, teaches us so much about people. One of the greatest challenges for a human is working with other people. Some are easy to work with and some are impossible.
Sports fast tracks this learning and that is opportunity.
Learning to win and lose and what happens when people cheat or get something they don’t deserve.
Controlling our emotions is one of the hardest things to do and the faster we learn to do that the better we are.
Imagine being 14 years old with the knowledge of a 40 year old… So parents who give their kids this opportunity for that is enough alone.
Sports life is healthy both physically and mentally
Learning how important exercise is and how to eat healthy are so important.
I remember learning about the importance of stretching and how all the muscles, bones and ligaments work together.
Although, I wish I learned faster how and why the foods are good for us.
I learned all of this by last few years in college and playing pro soccer… From older people in my life.
Some of the people who gave me the knowledge were coaches or older teammates. Because when you’re 23 years old, getting wisdom from a 34 year old has value.
That is one reason I love to help younger people!
I know that they will remember it and spread it to the people in their life.
Cut certain events out to help simplify your sports life
Just today I was speaking with a friend who played over 15 years of Major League Baseball…
I asked him to give me one way to simplify a family sports life… He said with a laugh “play one sport at a time… Or else you’re driving everywhere and don’t get time with your family.”
Keeping up with all there is to offer can be overwhelming, so don’t feel like you have to be involved with as many things as your friends.
Maybe that works for them, but it doesn’t work for everyone.
I see some kids are involved in something every single night. Maybe that works for that family, but I know my family needs a few days/nights to be at home.
Sunday is our day we chill out! I can tell that my kids enjoy the time off when they get it too.
Therefore, do what is best for your family and it might be different every single year lol. Sometimes adapting is part of it right.
Older players ages 14-15+ are the ones who usually have to finally decide to choose one sport.
Things get so busy with school and sports that it’s hard to keep playing 2+ sports.
Check my blog post on when is it time to choose 1 sport.
Remember we all have very different lives so you have to do what’s best for you, not what everyone else is doing.
For me, I want to make memories with my family… Therefore, we try to take days where we go hiking, fishing or something we don’t do weekly.
Sports family life style
For me the sports life has been something special…
Growing up learning from coaches who shared their passion in how to get through things together and alone.
Sports helped me have confidence in middle school, high school and college.
Without sports I personally would have been unhappy… Even with the days that weren’t fun, the lifestyle was worth it.
Being able to be healthy through sports and learn to compete.
These things helped me with what I do now in business…
I want to be the best at what I do!
Most important for me is putting God over everything… Never forcing, but if you’re interested check out this 5 day bible study for athletes published on YouVersion that I wrote
Wanting to be the best
Growing up there were many years and times I wanted to be the best or one of the best.
Then there were days I didn’t because I felt like I was already there… But what a lie that was.
It’s important to stay humble and keep looking forward and setting new goals.
I was never the best or even one of the best in America… Maybe in my school, team or town…
What about wanting to be the best in the world? Nothing wrong with that… Not if you believe you can be. The best pros wanted this.
I don’t think I could have or could be the best Piano player or dancer.
But soccer is my passion and so why not try to be the best? Even if you don’t believe you can be… Everyone deep down as doubts and we can’t let them stop us.
Try to be and see what happens and I bet you will become better than you would have without trying.
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