The author reflects on their ironic journey from opposing competitive sports to becoming a coach for four childrenâs teams. Their experiences in coaching expose personal traits, revealing unexpected competitiveness and the stress of performance evaluation. The article discusses the dichotomy of childhood as a time for fun versus competition and highlights the pressures faced by both parents and coaches in youth sports. Despite valuing freedom and creativity, coaching has emphasized how seriously decisions can affect team dynamics and individual development.
Coaching competitive kids sport often feels like a pure and highly concentrated form of parenting, revealing oneâs failings and character traits in short bursts.
In my pre-sporting life, I prided myself on being rational and easygoing, yet coaching revealed my ruthless competitiveness and inability to indulge benched players.
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