Fort Collins — Get Involved and Make a Difference in Children’s Lives
Youth sports are great. Not only will they burn some energy in your children, get them active and outdoors, and help them make friends, but most importantly, sports are an outlet for children to relieve stress and gain confidence.
There are hundreds of other articles out there that can convince you to do so by sharing the benefits and importance of youth sports.
According to the Washington Post, “Athletic participation for kids ages 6 through 12 is down almost 8 percent over the last decade.”
But have you thought about that it’s almost equally important that adults in the Fort Collins community volunteer themselves as well.
While it is important that we get our children involved and active, it’s almost equally important that adults in the Fort Collins community volunteer themselves as well.
Yes, that means you. I know how easy it is to think of why you can’t get involved.. busy schedules, low energy, etc. And you might feel like you aren’t even qualified enough to be a part of teaching children’s sports. But I can guarantee that once you begin, it becomes clear that it’s about so much more than the rules of the game and how to be the best player.
Two years ago I took on four little league soccer teams and I got to coach preschoolers and second grade boys. Not only did they make me laugh daily (they voted the team name to be the Flying Burnt Chicken Nuggets), but they also taught me how to have a level of patience I never thought was possible.
And of course other than the basic rules of soccer, I also taught them how to be good teammates, in life and in sport. When it became obvious that one boy was being left out and wasn’t feeling valued by others, I used his unique strengths to better the team and he became a hero! I like to think that made a big difference in his life.
As a coach, or even a team volunteer, you have the ability to make children in your community laugh, and forget about anything stressful in their lives. You get to encourage them to be the best they can be, and exercise while they’re at it. And those children will look up to you, so you get to set an example for how to treat other people, and how to have a good work ethic as well. As a former athlete myself, I am most thankful and fond of my memories from slow-pitch softball/ t-ball, soccer, and basketball.
By participating yourself, you may be helping your children get involved too. Growing up, my family never had much money, but my parents always found a way to pay for me to get involved in sports. My dad coaching teams sometimes allowed me to play for free, this could certainly be an option for you if you feel the fees are too much.
Depending on age and sport, pricing in Fort Collins may range from $41 for younger girls softball, to $120. Tackle football is the most expensive, but all equipment is provided. The city also provides scholarships to young athletes and their families who can’t afford the fees!
But besides my dad, I remember other coaches that I had made a huge difference in my life. Mostly because if they hadn’t stepped up, the team would have been coach-less and never would have survived the season.
While numbers surrounding youth sports are diminishing in almost all areas, there hasn’t been a time where you are needed more. Your time, positivity, and encouragement can and will make a difference in a young athlete’s life as they make decisions and judgments as to how they feel about not only sports and being active, but also the Fort Collins community.
For those of you who have children, sure, get them involved, you won’t regret it! But just as importantly, get yourself involved! At the very least, volunteering for your child’s team will allow you to see the direct benefits they are getting, and the coach will be able to do their job more efficiently with your help. Also, your children will love knowing that they have your support when you volunteer your time to help them and the team.
For those of you who don’t have children, you should still be getting involved. High school students, college students, etc. It’s amazing the differences that you can make in children’s lives by being there and helping them learn their own unique skills and talents.