By Laura Arnesen
As the school year comes to an end, so do many of our youth sports programs. However, many youth programs continue throughout the summer. Many thanks to our volunteer coaches, the parents and other interested adults who make these programs so successful and the towns of Waitsfield, Warren and Fayston for supporting youth sports financially. In 2024 the Mad River Valley Recreation District (MRVRD), because of funding from the towns, put more than $40,000 toward youth sports teams and facilities. And in our list of thank yous don’t forget the volunteer boards that meet regularly to plan and pay for youth sports as well as the registrars and other administrators that make these programs run smoothly. As a community we are incredibly lucky to have so many enthusiastic and well-qualified volunteers.
I loved every minute of watching my kids play sports from Little League to competitive high school sports. Well, maybe not every minute of driving, but hey, that’s part of life in rural Vermont. When my oldest child was starting to look at colleges, I attended a workshop at St. Michael’s College to help families prepare for all aspects of the college process. The students went to a workshop on essay writing and the parents had a Q & A opportunity. My question was this: “How do colleges look at participation in sports and weigh that against other extracurricular activities?” I asked this in light of having a child who had played three sports each year since first grade, but wasn’t in any other clubs. The answer was that colleges viewed sports favorably because: they sharpened teamwork skills, required determination and hard work, focused on short- and long-term goal setting, helped develop a respect for authority and structure, forced kids to become better time managers, etc. I had thought my child was just having fun with friends and enjoyed being physically active. Well, it turns out colleges like athletes even if the student isn’t applying for a sports scholarship or intends to play sports in college.
As the executive director of the Mad River Valley Recreation District I was researching youth sports and came across a post that sums it all up. On Facebook from Florida Fastpitch Forum:
“People always asked, "Why do you pay so much money for your kid to do sports?” Well, I have a confession to make; I don't pay for my kid to do sports. Personally, I couldn't care less about what sport she does. So, if I am not paying for sports what am I paying for? I pay for those moments when my kid becomes so tired she wants to quit but doesn’t. I pay for those days when my kid comes home from school and is “too tired" to go to her training but she goes anyway. I pay for my kid to learn to be disciplined, focused, and dedicated. I pay for my kid to learn to take care of her body and learn how to correctly fuel her body for success. I pay for my kid to learn to work with others and to be a good teammate, gracious in defeat and humble in success. I pay for my kid to learn to deal with disappointment, when they don’t get that placing or title they'd hoped for, but still they go back week after week giving it their best shot. I pay for my kid to learn to make and accomplish goals. I pay for my kid to respect, not only themselves, but others, officials, judges, and coaches. I pay for my kid to learn that it takes hours and hours, years and years of hard work and practice to create a champion and that success does not happen overnight. I pay for my kid to be proud of small achievements, and to work toward long-term goals. I pay for the opportunity my child has and will have to make lifelong friendships, create lifelong memories, to be as proud of her achievements as I am. I pay so that my child can be in the gym instead of in front of a screen. I pay for those rides home where we make precious memories talking about practice, both good and bad. I pay so that my child can learn the importance of time management and balancing what is important like school and keeping grades up. I could go on but, to be short, I don't pay for sports; I pay for the opportunities that sports provides my kid with to develop attributes that will serve her well throughout her life and give her the opportunity to bless the lives of others. From what I have seen so far, I think it is a great investment!” – Anonymous.
So, the next time you think about your child swimming, skiing, dancing, playing basketball, soccer, lacrosse, softball, baseball, or any number of other sports, realize there is more to it than you see at that moment. By the way, there are some great local youth sports camps being offered this summer, www.MRVRD.org.
Arnesen lives in Warren.
