For The Love Of The Game

[NapoleonD]

Reading posts by DonnieS (Giving Up) and Numero Uno (Team Jumping...), where both mentioned time away from the game. Whether the time from Nationals to Fall try outs was too soon or how a daughter needed time off to capture her love of the game once again. When does it become too much? Sometimes we think we know the answer, waiting for our DD to say she is tired, but if she leads the charge out the door for practice or a tournament, she cannot be burned out. Well, think again.

This was aired on ESPN's Outside the Lines and is a great story. Just in Oct of 2007, ESPN interviewed this girl about being the next face of women's basketball. You could have never guessed that a year later, this same girl was the subject again. This can relate to more then just basketball or sports in general, but can also be applied to anything that a young child is being pressed into, such as playing an instrument or academically.

Here is the OTL story:
http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?categoryId=null&brand=null&videoId=3795996&n8pe6c=2

The one on one interview:
http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?categoryId=null&brand=null&videoId=3791753&n8pe6c=2

[MTR]

Nice catch, Napoleon. Wonder why I didn't catch that and post it under something like "Parental Support, or is it? Part 2.

[Skarp]

For every story about some kid who was pushed "too hard" and wound up quitting a constructive activity, I can give you 10,000 stories about kids who were pushed to stay involved, in fact did stay involved, and stayed away from all sorts of destructive alternative activities.

These anecdotal burnout stories are basically useless.

[jofus]

Not to mention the kids who have amazing talent and ability, but have parents that don't give a crap, or don't "have time" to take them to practices, games, etc., or worse yet, don't care about the kids at all, so the kids can't play even though they want to, and end up getting into trouble, running with the wrong crowd, or whatever.

[MTR]

For every story about some kid who was pushed "too hard" and wound up quitting a constructive activity, I can give you 10,000 stories about kids who were pushed to stay involved, in fact did stay involved, and stayed away from all sorts of destructive alternative activities.

These anecdotal burnout stories are basically useless.

No argument. I think Elena Delle Donne's case is a rare example that is amplified by the level of her accomplishments and expectations.

However, you may consider the story anecdotal, but I don't think it is useless. While very much in the minority, there are still some parents out there that need to be reminded it is the child, not themselves, who are the participants. Some of these folks need to be reminded that the child is more important than the sport or their bleacher bragging rights.

[blogndogn]

especially now days with video games its real hard to get kids of the couch,they rather play electronic sports than real ones. so kudos to any parent to get involved with their kid, some parents push their kids and dont know there being destructive, they just want whats best for their child. fame some,fortune some,an education most. it makes some parents probably impatient and the kid is not capable. thus getting pushed right out of the sport.

[Sam]

especially now days with video games its real hard to get kids of the couch,they rather play electronic sports than real ones. so kudos to any parent to get involved with their kid, some parents push their kids and dont know there being destructive, they just want whats best for their child. fame some,fortune some,an education most. it makes some parents probably impatient and the kid is not capable. thus getting pushed right out of the sport.

The video game industry has targeted athletic female fastpitch players and have come up with a game for them. Candrea 09 will be released at the end of February....still some bugs they need to work out....It won't let you allow Nueveman to do anything but bunt into double plays....and no matter what team you put together, it loses to Japan. It will let you put together a fantasy team called "Wilson University"...with head coach Crystal Meth and pitching coach Vi Codin...and hitting coach Mary J. Wana.

[Fasterpitch]

"""""""""""The video game industry has targeted athletic female fastpitch players and have come up with a game for them. Candrea 09 will be released at the end of February....still some bugs they need to work out....It won't let you allow Nueveman to do anything but bunt into double plays....and no matter what team you put together, it loses to Japan. It will let you put together a fantasy team called "Wilson University"...with head coach Crystal Meth and pitching coach Vi Codin...and hitting coach Mary J. Wana.""""""""""""

Enjoyed this a little to much, I am starting to feel a little bad..........

[Skarp]

For every story about some kid who was pushed "too hard" and wound up quitting a constructive activity, I can give you 10,000 stories about kids who were pushed to stay involved, in fact did stay involved, and stayed away from all sorts of destructive alternative activities.

These anecdotal burnout stories are basically useless.

No argument. I think Elena Delle Donne's case is a rare example that is amplified by the level of her accomplishments and expectations.

However, you may consider the story anecdotal, but I don't think it is useless. While very much in the minority, there are still some parents out there that need to be reminded it is the child, not themselves, who are the participants. Some of these folks need to be reminded that the child is more important than the sport or their bleacher bragging rights.

Useless perhaps wasn't the right word. Overblown is the right word. Way overblown.

It's like the 1 in a million accident that makes national headlines and causes the government to spend billions to prevent it from happening again. The one example gets all the coverage, leading to an idiotic response. For the vast majority of kids, parents pushing them into constructive activities is absolutely vital. Kids make bad decisions.

[HoosierCoach]

Sam: I will only buy the game if I can put together a fantasy team with a dominant lefty and a bunch of hitters that can hit anything except a change. (perhaps with custom orange uniforms?)

To the original post:
I do worry about burnout so I make my DD play other sports, take her to as many college games and practices as possible (we have 2 that are close by and have wonderful coaches that enjoy having her there, and let her practice with them). We also took her 300+ miles to Jennie Finch camp. There may have been 400 campers and far too few instructors, but there is just something about #27 that just electrifies 10 yr old girls.(not to mention 30something guys, but thats a different subject)
Tonight, our team had 1/2 regular practice, then I set up a projector, we ate popcorn and watched some team USA videos and the first Kobata video. In a couple weeks, we will all go bowling, and we also have a paintball trip in the works.
I believe girls (especially the younger ones) are motivated by different things than boys or even older girls. We were at a tournament this Fall, and the girls made up some silly can kicking game that they played between softball games, and I am not sure which one they had more fun at.
Keep em motivated, keep it fun, teach them fundamentals,to love the game that way hopefully when they get older and priorities change they will still want to play ball.