Kids sports sure have changed since the days when I was growing up. I remember growing up the kids sports teams would always have a winner and a loser. Tournaments saw winners get medals and losers walk away empty handed. This isn’t the case anymore. Losers don’t seem to exist. Everyone gets a medal. You get it just for participating. Win or lose every kid gets one. Well call me strange but I want my son to be a loser.
I noticed this new phenomenon of everyone is a winner this season when we signed Big Brother up for soccer. My son came home from his game and I asked him if he won. He told me no but there were no winners or losers and went downstairs to play minecraft.
This irked me. Why are there no longer winners and losers in kids sports?
Losing builds character, drive and the desire to succeed and better yourself. Winning builds character, grace, and gives one pride in their success. What is wrong with these qualities? NOTHING!
The world is not a friendly place. Our children will grow up and learn about failure and success. They will learn about being beat in something by their peers. Why are we shielding them? Why are we not building their character, their drive and determination? Why are we not teaching them how to win gracefully? Why are we not teaching them to take a loss and turn it into a way to better themselves?
I think it is total BS that everyone gets a medal. Hey thanks for coming out, here is a medal. There is no point in hanging these on the wall. They do not say “Look at my accomplishment”. They simply say “My parents made me get off my butt and take part in a sport”.
In school this year the children will receive an award when they have read 100 books. Guess what, I am on board with this and am having my son read me a story every night. He is learning to read and will get recognition once he hits a milestone. We will celebrate that award and a job well done when the time comes. Because THAT award he will have earned and deserved. Unlike the medal he got at the end of the soccer season.