It was hot last week. Really hot!
As someone who is responsible for the safety of hundreds of kids over the Summer at camp, I take safety - especially about heat, shade, and water breaks - really seriously. Extra water breaks, extra shade breaks, and hose downs are a regular part of the Summer Camp day!
That said, while the heat yesterday made our first Fall practices uncomfortable, it did not pose any health or safety risks to the kids so we played ball! We were lucky that by the time practice started at 4pm the temperature had dropped into the mid 80s and there were no air quality issues from the recent fires, so, unlike in some parts of LA over the weekend, it was safe for us to hit the field.
Still, it was hot!
Why was it so important to me that we held practice despite the heat? 3 big reasons!
- It's really important for kids to learn how to get comfortable being uncomfortable.
- It's really important for kids to face adversity head-on as a challenge to overcome, not as something to run away from.
- It's really important for kids to learn that they CAN do hard things.
The single biggest value to youth sports is that it can, when done correctly, teach kids critical life skills in a learning environment that allows for failure and growth. Learning how to effectively manage the temporary disappointment of striking out or losing a heart-breaking game (two results that have absolutely zero long-term effect on the direction of a kid's life) will better equip them for inevitable real-world disappointments like not getting into their first choice for college, getting dumped by their girlfriend, or losing their job.
Facing adversity and being resilient are essential skills for all adults to have and it is my strong belief that the youth sports field is the best venue for that learning to start taking place.
So, back to practice yesterday.
Was it hot? Yup!
Were some of the kids uncomfortable and extra sweaty? Yup!
Would it have been easier to cancel practice so we could all stay home in the air conditioning? Absolutely!
But what lessons would that have taught the kids...?
When things get hard, you should give up?
When you're uncomfortable facing a challenge, find the easy way out?
Those definitely aren't lessons I want my kids to learn!
Not only do we as parents and coaches teach resiliency by encouraging (and sometimes forcing) our kids to be uncomfortable at times, but as anyone who has ever faced adversity and then overcome it knows, that sense of satisfaction is a REALLY rewarding feeling.
But by not even giving our kids the chance to "battle" because we're worried about them failing or being uncomfortable, we rob them of the opportunity of feeling that incredible sense of accomplishment that comes from successfully doing hard things!
So, this Fall sports season and this academic year, let's all commit to letting our kids struggle sometimes, let's commit to giving them the opportunity to fail, and then let's celebrate their effort (win or lose), so that when the REAL challenges of life come at them a few years down the road, they'll be better prepared!
PLAY HARD, HAVE FUN!