I didn’t get to play many sports as a child and even though I was never really coordinated or athletic, know it would have helped me in so many ways. Consequently I really enjoyed watching my children grow up in sports, and now the grands, find their spots to shine in. Each one is so different and sometimes takes trying out a few things, to see what fits. Playing sports helps develop our social and emotional development, and it has been interesting to watch the weak become strong, and insecure become confident, as they grow weekly in their skills.

The friendships they form, regardless of color, religion, or culture, along with a sense of fair play and teamwork, are one of the first things to surface. But then I’ve watched it be a learning playground in teaching respect for authority and opponents, self-discipline to practice, time management, conflict resolution, deal with defeat and accept disappointments. So many win-wins and so proud of my grands for risk-taking and stretching themselves!