On the Field
Just passed the park
Where peewee soccer was underway
Parents sitting out with their chairs
Mom and dad coaches organizing the mayhem
It took me back to the time
When my weekends were sports
Soccer, hockey, lacrosse and the like
And I was one of the army of parents cheering from the sidelines
What was most interesting though
Was a reflection on a conversation
I had earlier this week with Cameron
As we looked back on his youth sports days
We were traveling together
And started to talk about the kids he played with in youth hockey
Those that had been drafted into the NHL
And those that hadn’t
There were a handful that had made it
Some at the top level
Others in the AHL
A fine accomplishment for sure
As we talked about it
I came to realize that the kids that made it
We’re outstanding by the time they had turned thirteen
They were the ah ha kids you remembered
There weren’t any late bloomers
The talent was innate
And on display from go
They were the kids that had it
We talked some more
And looked at some kids that hadn’t made it
Some still hanging on - hoping
Others that flamed out
We went through some of his old team rosters
And then he stopped and said
Boy did some parents take this stuff so seriously
And he chuckled
Because he knew
As we all knew
That there’s talent and there’s trying real hard
And talent always wins out
So from the hundreds if not thousands of kids he has played against
Six or seven were pros
And some of them had parents who had been pros
Deep rich talent - with speed to burn
Think about that next time you cheer your kid
Most are just playing for fun
Not for a scholarship or pro contract
Just some time to burn energy
Because that’s what sports should be
Competitive
Team building
And Fun