'It's a Choice'
The path of the youth sports journey rests on decisions that only the young performer can make
All stages in the youth sports journey involve a certain level of commitment. Whilst early on kids are simply asked to participate, even at this early stage there is a commitment to abide by the rules and code of conduct. The minimum level of commitment required to participate successfully typically rises with the passing years. The additional requirement to attend practices is progressively introduced and thereafter the number of weekly practices and length of the competitive season both tend to increase. The conditions of being allowed to participate, such as the rules for selection in team sports, also tend to grow over time, along with the competing demands on their time, not least schoolwork. That said, as kids get older, they are also afforded more freedom to choose how they spend their time. From the ‘tween years onwards, there is a growing onus on the young performer to make choices on behalf of their future selves. This is something worth highlighting to allow kids to not only realise the level of control they have over proceedings but also to appreciate what rests on their choices.
The minimum viable level of commitment to participate successfully further depends on the young performer’s aims. If they are taking part for fun or simply seeking to enjoy the many ancillary benefits of youth sport, then they essentially just need to attend sufficient practices to be keep up with their peers. However, if they are striving for competitive success, then the required level of investement necessarily increases. What an individual is expecting to get out of participating must be matched by what they are willing to put into the endeavour. The higher the aim, the bigger the level of commitment required and greater the sacrifice demanded. This may seem logical, yet it is not uncommon for there to be a disconnect between a young performer’s stated goals and their readiness to make the necessary investment.
Making the commitment to participate at whatever level reflects their aspirations means accepting the terms and conditions involved. To help kids make an informed choice, we should make sure that they are clear at the outset what those terms and conditions are. However, we should also underscore that the decisions surrounding their participation are all choices that they are making of their own free will.
Part of making the commitment to participate in organised sports is voluntarily submitting themselves to being subject to certain constraints. Depending on the level of the undertaking, the constraints can be considerable. This requires kids to be selective in how they spend their time and where they invest their energies. In other words, they must choose. Young performers are often reticent to make the necessary choices, especially if it involves giving up certain things. When it comes to the crunch, many are unwilling to make the hard decisions. Of course, by opting not to commit fully they are also making a choice!
To be a successful student-athlete at high school and especially collegiate level requires an ability to manage themselves and make good choices. There are only so many hours in a day. Decisions will need to be made. The young performer must learn to manage their time and allocate their efforts in a considered way to keep on top of their major commitments. These need not be all or nothing decisions. There are benefits to participating in multiple sports over the course of the year and maintaining a social life beyond sport. Nevertherless, how the individual chooses to allocate their time, attention and energy will have consequences. They must acknowledge and accept that every decision comes with certain trade-offs.
These trade-offs need to be managed to avoid compromising their chances in the arenas that are most important to them (which should include schoolwork!). The young performer must prioritise and ensure that they are meeting their primary commitments to give themselves the best odds of succeeding. Ultimately something has got to give - if what they choose to forego is screen time then this might even constitute a net benefit!
We should help kids come to terms with the reality that any significant commitment comes with associated opportunity costs. Choosing one option necessarily means declining the other options available and foregoing the benefits that they might have gained had they chosen an alternative path. Making the decision to proceed means accepting the costs and agreeing to make the attendant sacrifices. It is not uncommon for young performers to feel like they are missing out and many are envious of all the leisure time their friends enjoy. To avoid resentment creeping in it is worth pointing out - and reiterating periodically - that these are all choices they make of their own free will rather than something that is being imposed on them.
My experience running a university sport scholarship programme and interviewing applicants over a period of years taught me that most will say they are totally committed. I do not doubt that the majority genuinely meant it in the moment. However, commitment is demonstrated in actions not words. Whatever might have been said in the interview and however earnestly it was expressed, each student-athlete’s true level of commitment would only be revealed once the semester was underway.
Committing to the pursuit means acknowledging their responsibilities and accepting accountability. In choosing to commit to something they are effectively making a contract with themselves; to make this explicit we can encourage the young performer to put something down on paper. It can be useful to formalise this by entering into an agreement with those supporting them (i.e. their parents), particularly as the pursuit often entails significant investment from others. A parent of two young athletes I work with has used this practice to great effect with her daughters. The agreement specifies what each party is committing to delivering, including salient details, such as what, when and how often. Such an agreement might also be extended to other interested parties, notably the coach. As with any other contract, the penalty for failing to deliver on the terms agreed is that the other party (parent, coach) is released from their obligations and free to withdraw their support.
In our role as the grown-up, we should challenge the young performer to take a critical look at their current choices and actions. The truest test is to see how the individual is actually allocating their time and attention, as this will reveal where their preferences lie in practice. Undertaking this exercise will allow them to see if their present habits are consistent with their stated priorities and what they committed to. If they are wildly out of synch then this is something worth reflecting on, so that they can take corrective action. Alternatively, it might be a signal that they are not as dedicated to the pursuit as they supposed. In that case, they might want to revise their aims and expectations to something that is more in line with what they are actually willing to commit to.
Where the lines are in terms of what level of commitment is viable is something that the young performer and those guiding them will need to establish and reassess periodically. To some degree this will depend on the quality of the coaching provided. However, it also depends on the young performer’s level of engagement and the extent to which they make the most of each practice and workout.
Showing up means more than just attending practice. Being present is a necessary first step to give themselves the opportunity to improve; however, it is not sufficient. Once the young athlete has completed the first task of getting themselves to practice or training, they have further choices to make. How much mental and physical effort are they going to invest? Will they stay on task or allow themselves to become distracted? Are they going to go through the motions? Or, are they going to take full advantage of the opportunity to become better and persevere through difficulties and discomfort? We should help kids to realise that these day-to-day decisions ultimately have the biggest bearing on what trajectory their youth sports journey will take.