Encourage Team Sports for Tweens

Source: Tween Parent Staff

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With all of the sport practices, meets and games for even the youngest of children, it's no surprise that some parents wonder what's wrong if their tween isn't all that interested in sports. Let's face it, the picture of the prodigal son playing catch with his father is a well-documented cultural visual!

With recent studies illustrating a cause for concern related to childhood obesity and the potential impact of sedentary gaming technology on the youngest generation, it stands to reason that engaging pre-teens in sports programs is a noble quest. Team sports, perhaps the most obvious in school environments and intra-mural programs, provide physical benefits and offer character-building life skills.

• Team work - seeing themselves as a piece of a bigger picture; everyone has to do their share for the benefit of the team.
• Creative thinking - seeking alternative solutions and being open to others' ideas to help improve performance.
• Strategic thinking - considering new ways of doing something and planning an approach to move to the next level of performance.
• Comfort with repetition - some aspects of life require tedious repetition in order to master!
• Discipline - staying on track; often, the most valuable achievements are the ones we work hardest for.
• Risk taking - very few teams win every time; getting comfortable with taking risks (and possibly failing) is an important part of setting appropriate goals for ourselves.

A hidden value of participating in sports is that it will likely open social doors beyond the day-to-day world of school. And when tween life gets tough, it can be a relief to have different groups of friends to reach out to. Basically, all of this adds up to a positive impact on pre-teen self-esteem.

If getting your tween to consider participating in a sport (team or otherwise) is something you're looking to do, encouragement and inspiration will most likely be better received if it doesn't come from a parent! And, there are many other choices beyond traditional team sports that have great outcomes to offer.

• Pick up or rent an inspirational movie for a family movie night that illustrates the commitment and benefits associated with hard work and a passion to succeed. Movies you might consider: "Bend it Like Beckham" (soccer), "Chariots of Fire" (running), "Miracle" (hockey), "Rudy" (football), "Hoosiers" (basketball).
• Attend a local sporting event with your child by getting the schedules of high schools, local colleges or other intra-mural or professional teams. Consider less obvious choices, such as: swim meets, wrestling tournaments and even dance recitals.
• Take advantage of what's unique about your area. For example, if you live near mountains, explore physical activities associated with the environment, such as: hiking, speedy trail walking, etc.
• Collude with your school! Get your school librarian or child's teacher to recommend a level-appropriate book that features an inspirational sports-related theme.
• View sporting programs on TV as a family activity; figure out the rules and goals together, then choose a player to "cheer" for.
• Consult your local YMCA to see what programs they have to offer; do some research to find local leagues outside of school.
• Consider sports that aren't as obvious, such as: tennis, golf, bowling, archery, kayaking, horseback riding, fencing, skateboarding, swimming, squash, racquetball, karate, volleyball, rollerblading, gymnastics, track, ultimate Frisbee, etc.

If your tween is just not interested in sports, on the bright side, you can use the opportunity to spend time together pursuing other activities. Sure, you won't have the benefits that are associated with teamwork, but the silver lining is that it will give you more time together. On a final note, if they find their passion for a sport in their teen years, they'll probably be more inclined to stick with it since it will be fueled by their own passion, not their parents' expectations!