With our kids involved in sports throughout their school years, we’ve had our share of watching many, many sporting events. Despite bleacher butt, it has been sheer pleasure, adding color and fun to life, and especially so in the dreary throes of a drawn-out winter.
My husband had the honor of being involved with coaching basketball with our kids from third grade up to seventh. It was wonderful bonding, with memories to last a lifetime. Gassing up the car, we’d head out on countless Saturday morning trips to play ball, many times participating in two-day weekend tournaments. Laughs, as well as a few tears, were shared. There were wrap-around hugs to console and high-fives to congratulate.
Whenever I speak to parents of young children, I encourage them to support their kids if they want to play sports. It’s such a wonderful, positive experience, and even if it may be a little emotionally draining and demanding on time, energy and resources, it is all so worth it.
There are many benefits of participating in sports. A young adult learns teamwork, self-sacrifice and time management skills. They benefit from the camaraderie and develop new friends with like interests. Participation in sports takes unwavering discipline, hones motor skills, improves physical health, endurance and stamina, dexterity — the benefits are endless, not to mention learning sportsmanship and acquiring the life lesson of handling defeat as well as success.
Being involved in the music program is another wonderful way to enhance a child’s school years. To support our daughter, my husband and I attended the Senior High District Solo and Ensemble contest held at Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School recently. Looking around, I recognized many kids from Marion who were performing in vocal and instrumental choirs, jazz band, vocal or instrumental solos or small ensembles and who were also involved in football, volleyball, cross-country, basketball, track, softball or baseball. I was touched to notice how many young adults participated in music in addition to sports. It was amazing! I loved it.
As of this writing, the Marion Lady Mustangs have clinched sole possession of the Central Wisconsin-10 Conference title. It feels so good. Am I bragging? Sorry! I can’t help myself. They’ve earned it and we are so proud of all of them. As an added accomplishment, all five starters have posted high honors academically this last quarter. They’re working through their high school careers in stellar fashion, excelling academically, musically and in the sporting arena. They have worked long and hard and sacrificed much in order to succeed. The seniors have been playing together since they were in third grade. These girls are like our other daughters.
Many basketball practices were grueling, the girls ran hard, even at times when they didn’t feel well. Every day after a long day at school, they’d run conditioning lines, shoot free throws, go through drills and offensive/defensive plays. It is paying off. Coach has them ready for the postseason. No matter how far along we get, we can hang our hats on the accomplishment of a CWC-10 championship title. Sweet.
Playing one game at a time, it’s a whole new season. We start out 0 and 0, not 18-2, our regular season record. We are facing tougher competition, and every team has the mindset of either win this thing or go home.
One day a few years ago my husband was chatting with a gal who had a daughter in sports as well. They were talking about winning state championships and how much it took to get there. She made a comment that we have since taken to heart. She quipped, “Somebody has to win a championship, why not one of our kids?”
That prophetic remark rang true a few years later as her daughter pitched their team into the finals, eventually winning a state title in softball for Shawano. In 2009 our son pitched their team into the finals, eventually winning a state title in baseball for Marion. It’s doable. With heart, determination, self-confidence and a whole lot of hard work, it can be done, despite the odds.
Ah yes, wonderful sports. It adds color and fun, spicing up even a dreary winter!
(“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13)
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