| It has become quite clear to me that sports may | | | | and with it a whole new set of friends and |
| be even more beneficial than we realize in the | | | | opportunities. |
| lives of young people. In addition to all the known | | | | Something happened to me very recently that |
| benefits of being involved in sports, like exercise, | | | | reconfirmed what I had already thought about the |
| the learning of new skills, making friends, etc. | | | | value of sports. I ran into a friend today who has |
| there are also enormous benefits of rescuing | | | | a son in the 9th grade at a nearby middle school. |
| young people who find themselves on the | | | | Learning has always been a challenge for him and |
| "outside" of things. No one doubts how difficult it is | | | | he has developed a pretty low opinion of himself |
| for young people to grow up these days and to | | | | over the years as he has struggled to find his |
| try to make good choices with so many things | | | | strengths. He was not one for team sports and |
| pulling against them. It is tough to find yourself a | | | | felt he didn't have what it took to make it in that |
| loner with very little in common with most of the | | | | arena. By chance, however, he happened to be |
| people that are in your midst. It is also great to | | | | on the school grounds one afternoon after classes |
| be an individual and be your own unique self and | | | | had concluded and found himself intrigued |
| not feel like you need to be a carbon copy of | | | | watching several girls and guys participating in a |
| everyone else. However, it is doubtful that | | | | long-jumping practice session. The coach noticed |
| anyone enjoys the prospect of having no friends | | | | him and after the other kids had left, suggested |
| and no one to hang out with. After all, isn't that | | | | he come and give it a try himself. On this |
| an important part of being young? | | | | particular day, for whatever reason, the young |
| Many young people are not very socially adept. | | | | man decided that he would give it a try. To make |
| They do not find it easy to engage others in | | | | a long story short, he was quite surprised at how |
| conversation and often find themselves with very | | | | far he could jump and became interested in |
| little common ground to those who would be | | | | pursuing this activity. That was 2 months ago and |
| considered their peers. This has proven for many, | | | | since then this young many has joined a team of |
| a very tough position to be in. A great many of | | | | youth who are improving their skills on such things |
| the young people who find themselves as loners | | | | as long-jumping, discus throw, high-jump, etc. He |
| also have low self esteem and that has been | | | | has found a "spot" for himself and his self esteem |
| proven to cause all kinds of problems in their lives. | | | | as well as his grades are showing it. His mother |
| Also, many young people (or people of any age | | | | feels that this is saving her son from some very |
| for that matter) do not have great athletic skills | | | | difficult problems that he might otherwise be |
| and would be unlikely to try out for mainstream | | | | facing. |
| sports such as football or basketball or perhaps | | | | This is not one of those "one in a million" kind of |
| cheerleading for the girls. That does not have to | | | | stories. It happens over and over for young |
| end their quest for a sport to participate in. There | | | | people who desperately need to find an area in |
| are dozens of different types of sporting | | | | their lives where they can feel confident and able. |
| activities that might be just the right fit for | | | | Finding ways to help young people feel involved |
| someone you know. It could turn out to be the | | | | and worthwhile might be one of the very best |
| very thing that could help them find their niche | | | | things any of us can ever do. |