Counterpoint: Youth Sports Does NOT Build Character
There is a common misconception that youth sports builds character in children. This simply is not true. Youth sports reveals character, parents and coaches build character.
This is nowhere more evident than in seeing the number of professional athletes who have severe character flaws. Most if not all of these athletes played youth sports from the time they were able to walk. Yet, time and time again we see high profile cases of athletes who display extreme character flaws such as cheating and violence. In addition, just as often we hear undertones of cases of athletes with the less extreme character flaws of laziness and selfishness.
Does this start with the coaches who put their best athletes on a pedestal instead of holding them to a higher standard? Or coaches who teach kids that winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing? Or does this start with the parents who lie about their kid’s age or who dope their kids up with caffeine and other artificial stimulants?
I believe each type of bad apple has a role to play. What may seem like a harmless attempt to gain an edge over the competition is in reality teaching an impressionable child a lesson in character. Teach a child to take an inch, and they will learn how to steal a mile.
Sports can build resilience and sports can build mental toughness, but sports can’t build character. Only good, consistent role models can do that.