Making the move from recreational to competitive sports can be a big step for children and their parents. Recreational sports offer many benefits, such as teaching several physical, social, and developmental skills in a fun and relaxed environment.
Competitive sports allow kids who are passionate about a certain sport to advance to the next level and truly devote themselves to honing their skills.So what should you expect when you decide to level up and how do you know when it’s time to make the move?
Keep communication open
It is important that the decision to move from recreational to competitive sports is made by both the child and the parent.
Let your kid know what to expect. Look up the league’s current schedule and share it with your child. Write a pros and cons list to see which is longer. Talk to all members of the family who may be impacted, such as siblings who will need to tag along for away games or grandparents who may drop off or pick up for practices.
“You may need to reassess during the season,” says Marc McLaren, Boys Academy manager and head coach of Calgary Foothills FC U23s and Foothills Alberta Player Development League 2007 Boys.
“Until you get into it, you may not understand exactly what is expected of you and your child. You may need to see it before you know if you are ready for it.”
Talk to the coaches and current or past players and ask them what expectations will look like to assess whether it works for your family’s lifestyle.
All things are not equal
“One of the most important things that parents need to know when moving their child from recreational to competitive sports is that it is not fair,” says Marc.
“Every single child will not be treated equally. It is right there in the name – it is competitive.”
He says one of the biggest benefits of competitive sports is they give children and youth insight into what adult life looks like, often for the first time, through a sporting lens.
“As an adult, you might not get the job you apply for, you may not receive the raise you asked for, and you might not get to buy the house just because you bid on it,” he says.
“But if you are persistent and consistent, you can move toward a goal and make it happen.”
Certain level of commitment
Marc says there will be a different level of commitment expected from players and parents at a competitive level.
“You will be expected to turn up, be on time, and have your equipment and uniform together,” he says.
He adds that competitive sports almost always require some level of travel for players, which can mean a significant time commitment from parents and the rest of the family.
“Families may need to sacrifice,” Marc says.
“So, you need to decide, do you want it to be fun and loose in standards and expectations? If so, recreational sports is the place for you. If you want to be on the elite end, you need to be willing to make sacrifices and commit.”
Making the move to competitive sports can be incredibly rewarding to your child. They will learn skills and create memories that they wouldn’t get anywhere else.
Do your homework, talk to those in the know, and be sure to keep the lines of communication open with your child to make the most of their new adventure in competitive sports. CCM
See our related articles:
Calgary’s Child Magazine © 2024 Calgary’s Child
