Are we a select team?

Are we a select team? I was innocently asked this question tonight by one of our 8 year old basketball players. The very question itself, especially the fact it’s being posed by an 8 year old, draws attention to one of our biggest challenges as promoters of youth sports.

I won’t pretend to know exactly why the question was asked or understand why it was top of mind on this particular night. But it doesn’t take much to realize our kids are already feeling pressure and its up to us as parents and coaches to make sure our kids aren’t negatively affected by the reality of our youth sports culture.

I’m fortunate as a youth sports coach that I’m blessed to be involved with great families that offer fantastic support networks for their kids. It’s not uncommon to see multiple sets of grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and family friends in the stands at any one of our games. But even still I’m not 100% sure these extended support networks understand the power of this simple, innocent little question – are we a select team?

So how did I answer the question?

“Yes, we’re a select team.  I selected you, and you and you” (pointing to other boys standing around us at the time). I opted to spare him a “deep dive” discussion on the topic and leave it with my simple response. But this likely won’t be the last time this question is asked and I’m more than happy to offer a broader explanation, even in terms an 8 year old can understand when the time is right.

A few days from now I’m hosting a Parents Meeting in preparation for our upcoming baseball season. At this meeting I’m going to share this exchange and offer a slightly broader answer to his question.

Only one of the boys on my 8U baseball team and basketball teams was hand selected, my son. If I was going to coach a team, my son was going to be on it. The rest of the team was assembled through random placement and then subsequently through introductions from team members. While that was how the team was originally formed, each and every year I make a choice. I make a selection if you will, to invite these boys to come back and play baseball or basketball in our program. So yes, each of these boys, and their families, have been selected.

Now as the program grows, will each team look the same each and every year?  Likely not. Hopefully as more players are integrated into the program, we as coaches, can construct teams to afford each player the appropriate challenge. But if we build this the correct way, nobody will get left behind if they are interested in playing and each player will have the opportunity to realize their potential.