Training for the Game of Life

The Feeling

      Begging your lungs to expand, you frantically gasp for more air as your leg muscles burn with every stride. Your body tries to convince you to stop running, but as your teammates cheer you on, your mind and heart tell you otherwise. You use every muscle in your body to get the black and white ball through the obstacle course of the opposing team members charging at you with attack in their eyes.Salt pierces your taste buds as sweat rains off of your face, and at last your mud-soaked cleat makes sharp contact with the ball. Your stomach leaps into your chest as the ball projects into the corner of the net. Enthused teammates tackle you as they chant your name. As you experience the support around you, an inevitable feeling of ecstasy overwhelms your emotions.

BGSU Woman's Soccer Team

The Challenge - Everyone should get the opportunity of experience the thrill and sense of accomplishment that a team sport provides(find a sports team near you). Being part of these support system provides you with:

• Self-discipline - Sports are a mental and physical journey. As a player you must constantly push yourself to work a little bit harder in order to have an advantage on the field. No matter how intensely your leg muscle are burning, you must run a little bit longer to challenge not only your body but also your mind which is telling you to stop.
•  Real World: The quality of being able to drive yourself to accomplish things you never thought possible can help you succeed in every day life. The fact is that life is never easy and constantly throws you challenges. If you know, however, that you have the ability to keep driving yourself like you did on your team, you can overcome and accomplish anything.

Photograph from Home Business Cafe

• Ability to work with others - No matter how fit and prepared you are for a game, you cannot achieve anything without your team. Using soccer as an example, you and your teammates are required to communicate verbally with each other in order to advance the ball toward your opponent's net. Some of your teammates must defend your net while others play offense, but none of you can win the game alone. (More on Teamwork)
• Real World: The scholastic environment challenges you to work hard as individual, whereas the team environment challenges you to work hard with the support of others. This team quality is carried into the work environment because you must combine ideas and help one another in order to succeed. 

Picture from Career CurveTM

• Capability to Lose - No matter how long your team practices or how well you work together, the reality is that sometimes you will lose. You must learn how to deal with this disappointing situation in a positive and mature manner. On an emotional level, it is important to learn how to move forward and concentrate on improving for the next game. (More on dealing with losing)
• Real World: Just as on the field, losing is an inevitable occurrence in professional and educational settings. Whether it is losing a court case or not getting a desired job, with the coping mechanisms you learn on the field, it is possible to turn these negative situations around. You can improve upon yourself and get ready to attack the next case or interview.

Photograph from EHow

So Go Play! - The constructive skills and character development that result from team sport experiences are invaluable. The physiological and social abilities you gain from team experiences undoubtedly follow you off of the field and into the real world. The self-discipline, skills needed to work effectively as a team, and the ability to deal with losing in a constructive manner which are gained from the experience of a team will train your for the game we call life.

Photograph from Mommy's Little Helper

If you are a parent looking for support or information, please visit the following sites:

http://www.momsteam.com/
http://www.educatedsportsparent.com/
http://www.responsiblesports.com