Teamwork and Sports
Column by The Grand Cyclops of the Anti-sports Illuminati
One of the most common arguments as to why participation in sports is important for kids is that it builds teamwork. In fact, this seems to be the central and only reason pro-sports families have for subjecting their children to the little league experience. And it's total HOGWASH.
Why is it that participating in organized sports is the ONLY way of teaching a child the value of teamwork? There are dozens of other, healthier, more positive ways to help your child learn the advantages of teamwork:
- Joining the Scouts or other positive youth groups
- Building a soapbox car or a tree house
- Activity in school drama, art, or science clubs
- Serving as a school band member
- Organizing or participating in a school event
- Support of community programs like Junior Achievement
- and simply socializing with other kids
All the above activities demonstrate, through experience, the importance of leadership, negotiation, compromise, followership, the subjugation of individual need in the interest of the collective, and the advantage of many people working toward a common goal versus individual effort.
What does participation in sports teach your child?
- That you're either a winner or a loser
- That whoever shouts the loudest is the person to listen to
- That whoever is strongest is the leader of the group
- That being a loud-mouthed bully will increase your stature much more than being quiet and supportive.
- That rude and boastful behavior is acceptable
These sporting qualities can be found in people involved in any endeavor. And that's just my point. Participation in sports isn't required to learn how to deal with bullies or how to interact with other people. Participation in sports isn't necessary to grow up to be a healthy, confident adult. A person can develop social skills and learn to co-exist with or rise above these toxic personalities just by participating in life.
And they can avoid the ever-present, inescapable childhood trauma their parents were subjected to. Organized sports are the refuge of the bully and the ignorant. Sports suck!
Lessons of the Locker Room: The Myth of School Sports