When I first signed my son up for sports, I thought I was doing it for him. I expected lessons of teamwork, discipline, regular exercise, and meeting new people. And yes, he’s gotten this great exposure, but I was surprised at what we both started learning from the sidelines.
Here are 5 lessons I learned from signing my kids up for sports:
1. Practice at practice.
Seeing him understand the importance of practice, formal sessions with the team, and then at home, has been amazing. Watching him put the pieces together and get better is so exciting for both of us to watch. Some days click better than others. But that’s the beauty of practice.
2. Watching others is important too.
When you’re not on the field or in the pool, watching others is a lesson in itself. Seeing others score goals or hit the ball is how he can learn how to change his approach. Instead of playing catch or hitting the playground, hanging back and watching the other kids is important to learn more, but also an opportunity to cheer them on when they need it too.
3. Letting someone else teach him and learning from that.
On the sidelines, I have to watch from a distance. I didn’t sign up to coach, so I have to let him learn from those who did. I can’t tell him instructions from the bleachers, and seeing the coach explain things helps me word things differently, so hopefully it will click when we’re working on something in between practice. Plus, he loves waving to me over on the sidelines.
4. Everyone has a role—and they all matter.
Not every kid is the star. Last year, when he played soccer, he definitely liked picking at the grass more than chasing the ball. But he was the first to celebrate his team scoring, and that’s beautiful. Not everyone has to be the MVP to be essential.
5. Show up. Over and over.
Even when it’s bad weather or they have a tough game. Even when they don’t want to talk about the prat after. Just show up. Your presence matters more than your feedback.
So yes, weekends are filled with muddy cleats, games, and sideline small talk. But they’re also filled with lessons that are shaping me as much as they’re shaping my son. We’re just entering the weekend sports phase of my parenthood journey, and I’m so excited for what we both can keep learning as he grows.
