For Parents of Athletes v2

People always ask "Why do you pay so much money for your kid to play sports”? Well I have a confession to make; I don't pay for my child to play sports. Personally, I couldn't care less about what sport they play. 

So, if I am not paying for sports what am I paying for?

• I pay for those moments when my kid becomes so tired that he 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 goes anyway.
• I pay for my kid to learn to be disciplined, focused and dedicated.
• I pay for my child to learn to take care of their body and learn how to correctly fuel their body for success.
• I pay for my child to learn to work with others and to be a good team-mate, gracious in defeat and humble in success.
• I pay for my child 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 child 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 child to be proud of small achievements, and to work towards long term goals.
• I pay for the opportunity my child has and will have to make life-long friendships, create lifelong memories, to be as proud of his achievements as I am.
• I pay so that my child can be involved instead of in front of a screen. 
• I pay for my child to learn that life is not a spectator sport, and that her place is on the field striving and persevering.
• I pay for those rides home when we make precious memories talking about practices and games and life, 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 provide for my child.  The thousands of hours spent learning, growing and maturing are priceless.  And I wouldn’t change a thing.