Youth sports in Lane County, Oregon. It is hard to think of a better place than here in the Willamette Valley to raise a child. While few of our small towns have movie theaters, skating rinks a YMCA other youth center or video arcade we have good schools and lots of choices in kid’s sports. In fact there are so many choices that some youngsters find it difficult deciding which sports to play!
The 2009 baseball season for Pleasant Hill Babe Ruth, which is part of the Willamette Valley Babe Ruth League, recently ended. On many days during the season families would drive 40 or more miles round trip so that their child could play at the Babe Ruth fields in Eugene, Oregon. While a few games were played in Pleasant Hill, Junction City and Springfield none were played in Cottage Grove, Creswell, Dexter, Lowell or Oakridge small rural Oregon towns where so many of our players live. And yet the families were happy to devote their time for the many practices, game days and travel for they truly supported their child and Babe Ruth Baseball.
Some people may ask, “With so many extracurricular activities for a family to choose from is sports one of my better choices?” Soccer, baseball, football, basketball, wrestling, track, swimming are all good youth sports as are many others. It is true that with all of the options we are faced with we need to make choices and youth baseball or a different sport may or may not be the best choice for your family. This is a choice that each family needs to make on their own but allow me to share a few benefits of youth sports.
I am a grandfather that did not play organized kid sports as a child. I did not learn the true importance of physical exercise until I joined the Marines and boy did I learn it then. My first experience with youth sports did not come along until I had children of my own and to my disappointment they did not have the same interest in sports that I had for them. For the past 5 years I have had the opportunity to watch my grandson Seth participate in sports. Seth’s favorite has been Babe Ruth baseball though he also enjoys playing other sports.
Sports offer children many mental and physical benefits along with fun. I have seen how an interest in sports encourages young people to respect their bodies. Obesity is a problem in our nation and with all of the distractions young people face from television and video games they fail to get as much exercise, as they should. Even many schools today have cut back on physical education as budget cuts have caused them to make those tough choices between physical ed. and algebra. A child that is active in sports is able to get that needed exercise while having fun at the same time.
I have had the opportunity to see first hand how a sport teaches a child to take direction, work as a team and honor commitments. A child learns that you do not just show up and play a game – that you must first practice and learn the proper techniques for that game. A child learns how to develop a winning attitude something so dearly missing in many adults. Strategic thinking is another skill that is fostered by many sports. Kids can learn to think ahead to execute plays on the ball field or figure out how to compete in solo sports to their best advantage given the competition.
Youth sports improve more than physical skills in the specific sport. Better body coordination, hand-eye coordination and better balance are additional benefits that one might not expect.
These are all lessons that a young person will carry with them through school and on into whatever career or profession they are to later choose. Teamwork is a very important skill in today’s marketplace. Studies have shown that kids who have a background playing team sports adjust better to teams in the work environment than those who have not had that experience.
My grandsons interest in sports have helped to keep grandpa on his toes for he constantly reminds me that I need to exercise more. It has also enabled grandpa to remind him of how important it is to eat his vegetables.
Eugene, Oregon our largest nearby community is a college town. Eugene is the home to the University of Oregon, Northwest Christian University and Lane Community College. For the families in its neighboring towns education is very important. Sports are an important part of that education that should not be overlooked for sports gives a child an additional reason to excel.
Youth sports can indeed have a profound impact on a child’s future. I truly believe that should your child wish to participate in organized kids sports parents and grandparents are making the right choice by encouraging and actively supporting that participation.
