For Parents Disappointed By Their Child Being an Average Athlete
I often write about what it takes for a youth athlete to mature over their sports journey from average to good to great. Yesterday, I specifically wrote an article about going from average to great in the context of youth wrestling. Without doubt, this is a topic I love to research. Consequently, I may have inadvertently put too much emphasis on great being the goal when this is not necessarily the case.
Undoubtedly, all parents aspire for their children to one day be great at something. Most hardcore sports parents dream of their children one day competing at the highest levels of sports. Why else would nearly 20% of American families spend $1,000 / month on youth sports?
The fact is, when a parent spends this amount of money on their child it’s hard to accept average results. The goal is for their child to develop elite talent and separate themselves from the competition. Unfortunately, statistically it’s not possible for every child to be elite.
By definition, the majority of children will always be average. So ultimately it’s just a numbers game. The reality is that youth sports is more competitive today than it has been in any other moment in history. As a result, the average athlete today would have been a superstar 30 years ago with the same level of training. But those days are gone. The average child today is average not by any fault of their own.
Changing Perspective on the Idea that Average is Bad
With this in mind, parents who dream of their child being an elite athlete should really put things in a different perspective. As eloquently stated by writer Cheryl Butler on her blog The Unexpected Joys of Raising an Average Child:
Society has attached negative connotations to the term “average.” But the idea that average is bad couldn’t be further from the truth. As parents, we want our children to reach for the moon and the stars, but what if “middle of the road” is where they’re at and it suits them just fine?
If you don’t have a superstar in your midst, no worries. In my experience, being average is better than OK—it’s great! There are many positives to being average.
Butler’s perspective on average is extremely refreshing. I recommend that you read her entire article for yourself. As a father of two young athletes, I will be the first to admit that accepting this perspective on average is not only difficult but counter to everything I’ve been taught through the years. However, as one who prides himself on being open minded to life philosophies that lead to more happiness and productivity, I truly believe a parent changing their perspective on what it means to raise an average child is the healthy thing to do.