By Ken Reed
I received quite a bit of feedback on my latest Huffington Post column, “Are Sports Really Fun?” A lot of the input I received centered around questions and thoughts about how to tone down our win-at-all-costs mentality in sports — especially at the youth level. So, I decided to take a shot at a way to evaluate a sports experience besides the scoreboard. Let me know what you think …
When it comes to sports, we all need to occasionally reset our priorities. Do this: Sit down with a pen and paper and ask yourself, “Why do I like sports? What makes me happy when I’m involved in sports?” (If you have kids in sports, ask them to do it as well. Their answers could be enlightening.)
List everything (including winning and playing well). Consider things like: being with people I like who share my passion; enjoying the sporting venue (whether a beautiful golf course, youth soccer field, or classic stadium); the competitive nature of sports (win or lose); the exercise, recreation and entertainment aspects; the excitement and spectacle of sporting events, learning about myself and others, developing skills, etc.
When you’re done, give each item on your list a % with your total adding up to 100. It should help you keep winning in perspective, but more importantly, help you be happier the next time you play or watch a sporting event.
— Ken Reed, Sports Policy Director, League of Fans
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