Sports of All Sorts
I didn’t play team sports as a kid. I didn’t really play any sports, except in PE class, which caused me so much anxiety I frequently vomited on my way to the gymnasium. Don’t get me wrong, I was a physically active kid, spending most of my days outside. Growing up on a farm, there are endless options—barns, wooded areas, ponds, creeks, sheds—and I had 60 acres to explore. But I was clumsy and lacked coordination and grace, so instead of working on those things, I just avoided using my body except when necessary.
Once I had given up on sports, I settled in on music, taking piano lessons for 8 years and joining the concert and marching bands. I convinced myself that athletic endeavors were for the dense who used their bodies instead of their brains. But on some level, I was envious of others who were comfortable with using their physical form. Sure, I was able to lift hay bales and shovel cow manure, but I didn’t have the coordination to spike a volleyball or the stamina to run a full mile.
In high school, I went to every football game because I had to perform at half-time and I attended the mandatory basketball games to play in the pep band. I never paid attention to the field/court action and spent most of my time making fun of the cheerleaders. My thoughts surrounding high school athletics had more to do with figuring out how to get just tipsy enough before the game to numb the boredom without also getting busted for drinking, than who would win the championship.
For the next 15 years the only time I had anything to do with sports was when it involved my bff, Molly, who is an athletic trainer. She also convinced me to sign up for the Columbus Marathon, which I miraculously completed the day after I turned 30, and kept me abreast of major sporting events so I didn’t seem like a complete moron. Oh, and one time we saw Peyton Manning in the tunnels at Paul Brown Stadium when we were there for a concession stand shift to raise money for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. She was all befuddled and I had no clue who he was—still couldn’t pick him out of a lineup.
Even though Jason or I have very little interest in sports, our oldest son, Ollie, is obsessed with all things athletic. For the past 6 years we’ve watched him play soccer, basketball, baseball and flag football. He even helped me win my office fantasy football league two years in a row—and I still don’t know the difference between running back and wide receiver. Now, even our youngest, Harry, has taken up cross country and baseball.
All of the time I’ve spent on the sidelines have taught me that the assumptions I made about sports were dead wrong. Just for starters:
Sports are a metaphor for life - Everything that happens on the baseball field can be related to valuable life lessons. For example, Ollie is on a new team this year and he really wanted to play catcher. He asked me to ask his coach on his behalf. I refused, telling him he needed to have a man-to-man discussion and ask for what he wanted. This took several weeks, but once he worked up the courage, the coach obliged and Ollie learned you have to ask for what you want.
Coaches are great mentors - My boys have been blessed with coaches who model good sportsmanship and value improvement over winning at any cost. I love seeing them look up to adults who are a positive influence—takes some of the pressure off me.
It’s using your mind and body together - I always assumed that athletes were meatheads. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In order to be a great athlete, you have to connect physical performance with strategy. I’ve also seen my boys perform and fail during pressure filled moments. This is great practice for when life will inevitably throw them a real curve ball.
It’s really a mental game - I saw this during my marathon, but it didn’t sink in until I watched Harry run cross country last fall. Sports teach mental toughness and how to power through even when you’re uncomfortable. That bleeds over into all areas of life and is beyond valuable to learn at an early age.
So, there you have it. I’m now an advocate for sports and all athletic endeavors. I’m happy that my boys are learning many of life’s lessons on the field/court/track. I also see them building friendships and learning how to navigate all type of personalities, which is something I wish I would have learned at their ages.
On a related note, I recently read that more than mind games like crosswords, one of the greatest way to improve cognitive function after age 50 is through exercise. Anecdotally, I have a much clearer head now that I’m moving more. I’m also sleeping better and have less anxiety.
If I’ve ever made fun of you and your love of sports, I’m sorry. Although, I’m pretty sure I’ve been called band nerd more times than I could count. Who knows, as I’m losing this weight and getting into shape, maybe I’ll evolve into a midlife athlete. Stranger things have happened, right?
