Sports are valuable for kids to play

Riptides 12 U team wins Districts in 2017

This past weekend, my daughter played six games of softball and four of the games were played in one day. Yes, softball is in full season. Both of my girls play softball and they are on two teams each. One is recreation softball and the other is an extreme team, which is a travel ball team. It is quite a commitment. I know a lot of families who are on travel teams travel all over the US. We are fortunate our travel team plays within a few hours radius from home.

Randi and Graci started out playing tennis when younger.

My two daughters’ have been playing sports since they were 4 and 5 years old. The first sport they wanted to play was tennis. I think they started out with tennis because their cousins played tennis. The next sport was soccer, then T-ball, baseball and it eventually lead to softball.

Being in sports has helped my girls in so many ways. They learn how to win and to lose. They learn how to play as a team and as an individual. They learn how work for a goal. They also learn camaraderie and sportsmanship. Another benefit is they are exercising and in today's world of electronics it's important to get them some physical activity.

Since my girls have been playing softball for the past four years, it's amazing to see how their skills have developed over the years.

My husband and I always try to encourage out kids.  Sometimes they get upset if they strike out, don’t get a hit or make a bad play. When we go to baseball games or watch on television our favorite teams the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago Cubs, we can show the girls even the professionals strike out and don’t get hits every time.  We tell them even their favorite players make errors, but they don’t let it get them down and get right back in the game.

I know from my own experience that when I was playing sports and going to school, I didn’t have time to do much else. I played soccer, basketball and softball. I wasn’t good enough to go to college on a scholarship, but I still enjoyed playing.

I think it was even more important for kids to play sports in middle and high school because those are the years that kids seem to get into trouble, if they don’t have anything to do. When you are involved in sports you don’t have time to be bored and get into trouble. The other good thing is you have to keep up your grades to play sports. Most kids like playing sports, so they get good grades.

Parents try to help your kids find a sport they like to do, whether it’s a team sport or an individual sport. It can make a big difference in your child’s life and who knows they may even end up receiving a scholarship for college.

Randi and Graci at a softball game.

The Perfect Balance

 

 

Have you figured out the perfect balance of school and after school activities for your kids? I am still trying to get used to a new schedule with driving to two schools and work. I am in the car a lot more since one daughter is in elementary school and the other in middle school this year. I can't complain though my brother and sister-in-law have four kids at four different schools.

I work part-time and find during the week my schedule consists of  making breakfast, packing school lunches, driving to school, picking up from school, signing school agendas, helping with homework, cooking dinner, cleaning the house and washing clothes plus other miscellaneous things.  

Now add in sports activities, tutoring or lessons for dance or musical instruments. It can be a lot not only for you, but for your child. I think it's important to have a well-rounded child, but you want to make sure you aren't doing too many activities that you burn your child out. I know kids love being busy, but too busy is not good for anyone.

My husband and I usually let our girls pick two activities they want to do. These activities are usually for a few months or a season. Our girls like soccer, softball, golf, swimming, tennis, piano and guitar. In the past our girls have played on the same teams, since they are so close in age. Since they are getting older now, they don't want to do the same activities, which means more practices, games, meets and recitals to attend.  

Even two activities for my older daughter, who just started middle school is a little challenging at times because of homework.  In our house, school comes before playing sports. So if my daughter has a lot of homework and doesn't think she can go to practice and finish homework, we have her skip practice and do homework.  

It is hard sometimes to find that balance of school, homework and after school activities. I think a lot has to do with the child and the activity itself and how much time is spent practicing and on games.

From personal experience with my family, I have found several really good reasons for why it's important for kids to be involved in sports or some kind of  activity besides school. If they are involved in activities, they can't be playing their electronics, which kids today are on all the time. Another good reason is, if they are doing a sport they are getting exercise. One of the biggest reasons is it gives your child something to do, so they aren't bored and getting into trouble. 

An added bonus is that some activities can lead to scholarships for college. If a child becomes good enough at what they love doing, they may be offered a scholarship. I am hoping my two girls will get scholarships. Scholarships can really help out when you get the tuition bill for college.

Studies have been done to document the benefits of having kids involved in activities. According to a study by the US Department of Education in 2005, they found high school athletes are more like to attend college and get degrees than non-athletes. Other studies show that playing sports can positively affect young people with their self-esteem, goal setting and leadership. A study in 2004, with the  Women's Sports Foundation compared non-athlete peers to female high school athletes and found the athletes to be less likely to be sexually active, to use drugs and to suffer from depression.   

I am not sure if there really is a "perfect" balance to school and activities, but at least we can find what works and what doesn't work. Somewhere in between all of this is a balance that hopefully works for you and your child.

 

Benefits of kids playing sports

Recently in one week, I went to four ball games. Two were baseball games, the USF Bulls and the Tampa Bay Rays and the other two were my girl’s softball games. As I was thinking about the games, I was reminded about how good it is for kids to be involved in sports.

Graci, center, helped announce the lineup during
the fourth inning of the USF Bulls Baseball game
 on March 16. She is pictured with USF baseball
announcer Alfredo Muente and Marketing
Coordinator Allison Minisce. 

My two daughters’ have been playing sports since they were 4 and 5 years old. The first sport they wanted to play was tennis. I think they started out with tennis because their cousins played tennis. The next sport was soccer, than T-ball, baseball and this year they’re playing softball.

Being in sports has helped my girls in so many ways. They learn how to win and to lose. They learn how to play as a team and as an individual. They learn how work for a goal. They also learn camaraderie and sportsmanship. Another benefit is they are exercising.

Since my kids are young only 8 and 9 years old, they are still learning how to play. This is the first year they have played softball. Most of the kids on the team are learning the positions, how to throw, pitch and catch. In just a few weeks, I have already seen an improvement.

My husband and I always try to encourage out kids.  Sometimes they get upset if they strike out, don’t get a hit or make a bad play. While we were at the Rays spring training game, we were able to show the girls that even the professionals strike out and don’t get hits every time.  They even make errors, but they don’t let it get them down and get right back in the game.

Kristi Bulluck sings National Anthem
at USF Bulls Baseball Game March 16.

My daughter Graci and I attended the USF baseball game to watch one of my sister, Kristi, sing the National Anthem. While we were there we not only saw the baseball game, but had the chance to see the girl’s softball team play for a few minutes. It was a great chance to tell my daughter that if she gets good enough, she could get a scholarship and play softball for college if she wants.

By the way, if you haven’t been to USF for a game it’s pretty neat how the baseball and softball fields are right next to each other. The stadiums are beautiful and kids get in free to the games. It’s a wonderful experience. Graci even got to be the kid announcer during the 4^th inning and go into the press box to announce the Bulls players who were batting that inning. That made her day!

I know from my own experience that when I was playing sports and going to school, I didn’t have time to do much else. I played soccer, basketball and softball. I wasn’t good enough to go to college on a scholarship, but I still enjoyed playing.

If I can encourage parents to help your kids find a sport they like to do, whether it’s a team sport or an individual sport. It can make a big difference in your child’s life.

Here's a clip of Graci announcing the game: