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A Letter from the Managing Editor: Getting Involved in Sports

By Special Guest Chris Steadman October 14, 2016
I love publishing this newsletter. I spend the month gathering content, taking suggestions from you and I try to put together solid information that will help you and your family on your path to wellness. This monthly column is to let you know I am here with you! I'm a mom with young children and a crazy schedule; I don't get enough sleep and have trouble eating well. We are in this together and, as a team, we can improve our lives, our families and our communities. 

My husband is a lifelong wrestler, a middle school teacher and a wrestling coach. He recently wrote a piece for his school newsletter about the benefits of organized sports and being part of a team. I love the message and am excited he agreed to share it with all of you.

The Road Less Traveled

Middle School sports are critical for our students. Not only are they a great way for kids to relieve some energy, but being involved in sports is an excellent way for individuals to expand their boundaries, explore outside their comfort zones, and excel beyond their limits. Sports also create community between athletes, peers, and coaches, and these relationships travel beyond the field and into the classroom. When one plays as part of a team, he has a second family that is on the same adventure; a team that is working to break through the same barrier that stands in the way, such as achieving a goal or gaining the right to compete at the next level. The way a team comes together to work towards a common goal is not always easy. It is not about taking the shortest path and often involves taking the road less traveled. It may involve sweat, failure, or even tears. However, it is reassuring to know that other teammates are on the same path. They are also stretching their boundaries and challenging their limits. The benefits students gain from athletics hold true whether they are involved in an individual sport, like cross country or tennis, or united together on a court or a field.

As I think back on my own athletic experiences as a child, the skills I learned through wrestling helped mold the person I am today. Wrestling taught me discipline and perseverance by reminding me to never give up and to try not to make the same mistake twice. I always thought of sports as a mathematical function table: one’s outcome is what he decides to put into it. Competing in a one-on-one sport, a wrestler learns to give his best at all times. Wrestling also builds confidence. Imagine stepping on the mat for your first competition with no teammates to hide behind. As the whistle blows to start the match, it is good to be prepared! Once you get over the first match jitters and performing in front of a crowd, everything else seems easier. Wrestling also helps instill core values of hard work and collaboration. As a coach, I try to pass on to the kids the lessons I have learned through my own journey.

The lessons and skills learned through sports are beneficial in almost every work place. Sports teach students to work towards a common goal to find success. Whether or not an individual is good at sports, participation in sports is a great experience, an important vehicle for learning life lessons by taking the road less traveled, and a wonderful way to make friends and to find out something new about oneself.

Until next time,

Jenny