The Essence of Sports: Part 1

8/12/2019

Chad Griffin

Welcome back to another school year. Summer is a great time to reflect on the past year-- To slow down and start to grow from the past year’s successes and areas that we want to improve. These past two months, I have been really pulled to get better as a Parent, not just any parent, but a Sports Parent!!! I live in the world of youth and high school sports. I also have a 12-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter that are involved in athletics, and I am trying not to mess it up for them. Yes, we as parents can do that from time to time.

My next several blogs will center around the Essence of Educational based Sports-The Value of Failure and why it is essential in the growth of a student-athlete. Also, a Guide to Successful Sideline Parenting- Excerpts of the blog will be pulled from two great books: First, The Gift of Failure by Jessica Lahey- How the best parents learn to let go so their children succeed and the second, Grit by Angela Duckworth. These two books combine to open up and understand that failures and perseverance better prepare our young students for long term success in the wake of short term setbacks. Also, there are some brutally honest reflections when it comes to being a Sports Parent!! Beware reflection in imminent. Trust me, I have to look in the mirror a lot!! It is not easy, but nothing in life worth doing is.

Competitive sports can be a great place to discover and learn from these moments of courage that look like failure. Competition challenges our children to appreciate the skills of opposing players even when they seem like mortal enemies, to find weaker teammates’ strengths even when those players are jeopardizing the team’s chances of winning a game, to take the referee’s perspective, at least after the game, even when he or she makes a bad call at a critical moment. That’s the kind of demanding morality that helps to develop over time your child’s capacity to see beyond their own intense feelings, to accept others imperfections, to place other’s perspectives and needs on par with their own.

“Have a fierce resolve in everything you do.” “Demonstrate determination, resiliency, and tenacity.” “Do not let temporary setbacks become permanent excuses.” And, finally, “Use mistakes and problems as opportunities to get better—not reasons to quit.”

― Angela Duckworth,Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

I have said this a thousand times: to me, athletics is the last reality show going--Instant success and instant failure. How you handle both will greatly help build and determine your character. How we as parents handle that for our children will define our character as well.

Chad Griffin is the Athletic Director for Calvary Day School. He is thankful for the ability to serve our student-athletes, coaches, and support staff through athletic endeavors. Griffin sincerely believes the values of “Building Champions through Christ,” and uses this motto to challenge our student-athletes to be the best young men and women they can be. Griffin prays that student-athletes will not only find individual success, but also spiritual success through true salvation that matters — a relationship with Jesus Christ.

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