What sport should my kid play?

Not that we think that parents should specify what sports their kids could play, we at HomeTeam Sports understand that there’s a definite preference that some parents “want.”

Since the twenty-something editorial staff at the publication don’t have kids yet (our publishers are quite happily married and have their kids involved in so many youth sports we think they’re trying to create the next Bo Jackson), we feel that we’re detached from the situation of parenting far enough that we don’t have to worry about painting some kid into a corner they don’t want to be in.

However, if the question was presented to us, hopefully in the far, far away future (especially Anna. We’re sure she’ll never have kids, maybe just a large assortment of small dogs), here’s what we would think.

Brandon’s Take - While I understand that there have been technological advances in equipment and the chances of a head injury are very slim, I don’t think I’d let my kid play football. High school and youth head injuries are much more common because their brains are still developing. Hits are just part of the game, but I think I’d much rather have them play basketball so I could spend the entire contest making up clapping chants. Ask anyone at Reese Court at EWU about me and clapping chants – in fact, ask my former professors about clapping chants. Sometimes I still just break out in random clapping chants.

And besides, with basketball I can over-hype them in high school to the point where they get scouted by NBA teams based purely on hypothetical potential, spend one year in college on scholarship and then make millions of dollars in the pros regardless of actual accomplishments. Cough! Cough! Greg Oden. Cough! Cough!

The other sport would be golf, which is something of an expensive hobby, but if the kid was good and eventually won the Masters someday, I’d love to be on the receiving end of a tearful, heartfelt hug from them. Or it would be just for the fun weekends hitting the links with them and enjoying the great weather. Either or. Forget the money, it would be for the memories.

Dylan’s Take - As an avid baseball fan, I’ve already envisioned watching my child growing up on the baseball diamond. I would hope my child would share the same passion for the game that I did growing up.
However, I would be very hesitant to sign my kids up for baseball leagues because of a growing trend… abrasive parents.

I don’t fear myself becoming one of these, but I would not want to subject my children to a group of these, who are becoming more prevalent in most sports, but particularly baseball.

Berating umpires, coaches and other players is something that shouldn’t be tolerated at any level, but particularly when the players are still developing the fundamentals of the game and are playing to have fun.
Should attitudes and perspectives of future parents change by the time I have children, I would want my kids playing on the diamond. But until that point, I wouldn’t want those parents setting examples for my children.

Darren’s Take - While I value my child’s safety, I am more concerned about what sports they play because of my potential for being “that parent.” You know the one… the guy with head-to-toe school apparel, whose vociferous tones bellow through the gallows of an eighth-full elementary school gymnasium. Perhaps my child would be best suited in sports that have the least outside influence possible. How about golf? Swimming? Track? Distance running? Those are still great sports for participation and activity, and would not be prone to my going postal on an unsuspecting 11th grader. Don’t get me wrong, I love basketball, baseball and football, but I am being proactive in preventing my likely incarceration.

Anna’s Take - Of course I’d like to start by saying if I have children I will encourage them to pursue any interest that seriously engages their mind and physical abilities. Not to say there aren’t a few activities that I would be wary about, say racing cars or blind base jumping, but as long as they’ve got that insurance card handy I’d be willing to let them try it! That being said, there are a few sports that I’d love to see my kids try or play, and I’d be more than ecstatic to help them practice.

Tennis- My school didn’t even have a tennis program, but after picking up the sport in college, I can appreciate its challenges and merit. And scorekeeping isn’t rocket science, another plus for the distracted spectator.

Swimming- I promise this doesn’t stem from Michael Phelps or the Olympic fascination with the sport, but swimming is a great activity to push your personal limits in a whole different element.

Snow sports- Well this is pretty much a no-brainer with the Northwest’s winters providing several months of the wonderful fluffy stuff. Plus you can get away with throwing snowballs at your kids.

Competitive Cleaning- OK, well I don’t think this is an actual sport, but in my house I figure I could get away with an elaborate game for several years, especially so it would become a habit.

Story by the HomeTeam Sports staff.