Being raised in an athletic family like mine, I have been surrounded by sports for as long as I can remember. I started skiing as soon as I learned how to walk and played soccer, basketball and T-ball by kindergarten. As I grew older, I tried every sport imaginable and fell in love with the sense of accomplishment and pride gained while competing. I was involved in sports in high school and have such a passion for them that I became a collegiate athlete.
While I enjoy playing sports to stay active and have fun, it has always been more than just a game to me. The sense of structure at that early of an age prepared me for the teenage and young adult years that followed. There are so many valuable life lessons to be learned by playing sports, and here is what I have gotten out of them!
1. Practice makes perfect.
While this seems like an overused statement our parents constantly say, it is so true. Working hard outside of practice improves the game and makes you stronger. Aside from sports, this saying can be applied to other things in life such as music, driving, math or public speaking.
2. Quitting is not an option.
When the going gets tough, sometimes giving up seems like the best option. Even on those off-days, it is incredibly important to remember that your teammates are relying on you, so push through it and continue for them.
3. Teamwork is necessary for success.
In team sports like lacrosse, football and soccer, group cohesion and the ability to work together well is a fundamental need. Teammates are great to rely on and can end up being your best friends.
4. Competition is good.
Competition is the basis of all sports and is a major motivating factor to improve yourself. Having rivals, or at least equals, in the real world helps push you to better yourself and reach your goals.
5. Respect others.
A major part of being on a team is respect, whether it be for coaches, teammates, referees or opponents. Having that instilled in children at such a young age helps to build character off the field.
6. Time management is a lifesaver.
While balancing friends, schoolwork and practice is sometimes a challenge, I have never regretted my decision to become an athlete. I have found that proper time management and organization make juggling it all a little easier.
7. Failure is inevitable.
It's just a fact of life — �there's always a winner and a loser. No matter how talented you may be, you can't win 'em all. Athletics give children the opportunity learn how to be a "good sport" and lose with dignity and humility.
8. Hard work yields positive results.
Athletes are known for being dedicated, sometimes too much so, to their sport and team. There is an extremely high level of commitment it takes to be an athlete, but we all know that putting in the work promises success.
