This past weekend was my son's first floor hockey game of the season. He met the day with a lot of anticipation. He was excited for the opportunity to get out and compete with his fellow 5 and 6 year old athletes in a "good ole hockey game". Many times we hear that kids don't know the score, that they don't care. I even read an article that quoted a USA Today/NBC survey that nearly 75% of kids between the ages of 10-17 would not even care if the score was kept. That seems strange to me because even though there was no score board at my sons floor hockey game every single 5 and 6 year old knew the score.
Competition is a positive thing when kept in perspective but I can't help but wonder if the reason we have become such a anti competitive society is because that perspective has been lost. I think it is important that as the Athletic Director and a Dad that I spread the message that we are to be competitive but not at all cost. In other words, whenever we take the floor or field in a practice or game, we should be focused on competing and working towards the ultimate athletic goal which is to win. Conversly, we should not be pushing so hard that we damage the relationship that we attempt to establish with our players or children.
Keeping this perspective is difficult when you are talking about our own children or athletes, because we all want them to experience the joy of victory and avoid the agony of defeat. The beauty of competition that should always be remembered is that there are lessons learned when you win and when you lose. Don't avoid the "Agony of Defeat" teach to it so that our students learn to handle the ups and the downs that life offers. Competition should and can be positive. There are many life lessons that we learn when we compete hard but the perspective should not be loss in an effort to win at all cost.
Waterford Athletic Department
