Building Character in Youth Sports

Recently, I was reading a friend’s post on social media regarding his son’s Pop Warner football team. I had been following the posts to see how the boys were fairing in their end of the season competition. My friend had stated that they went into triple overtime to win the game. I thought to myself, Wow, that takes some perseverance and patient coaching. Additionally, I thought to myself, Does this coach have enough discipline to be able to determine the personality traits that will affect his athletes in these situations? Does he know each player individually enough to know who will step up and rise to the occasion? At this age, does circumstance determine certain behaviors?

As a coach myself, and sports psychology consultant, the belief is that events such as these begin to shape personality. Personality is defined as the “sum of the characteristics that make a person unique” (Weinberg and Gould, 2015, p. 27). People behave by variables which affect them in their environment. In these particular series of games, the coaches began to see young leaders that stepped up and some players who bowed out due to the pressure of the game. Sometimes there is no way to determine how young players will react in the face of adversity and pressure. What is good about this type of competition is that these players are young and they are able to learn who they are and how they will react. Players cannot always determine how they will react in the future. They can choose to try and change their actions, but they may still crumble in the face of adversity. This is what builds character and teaches lessons beyond their years. It goes back to fight or flight.

There is something to be said for building character with children who face games that create so much pressure. When these players had to play in triple overtime, they just played. These coaches must have mastered poise and a demeanor that inspired these young athletes to get out and play to win.

Source: David Robbins

While there are fundamental traits instilled in personality, there are many variables that will contribute to the endurance and consistency of behavior during sporting events. I am proud to say the team I speak of is from my area (Abington). These boys deserve everything they have accomplished this year. The lessons they have learned this season will carry them for a lifetime. Kudos to the coaches for not pushing the players who stood back a bit due to the pressure, as some coaches would have thrown those players to the lions.

Source: David Robbins

When coaching children, we have to remember that they will mature in different ways at different times and in different situations. Allowing them to grow as these coaches did, in this stressful series of games shows a true concern for both the players and the welfare of their psyche. Allowing these boys to sit out may have inspired them to step up moving forward or assisted them in realizing that playing football may not be something they want. None the less, this has been a valuable learning experience for these boys from which they will be able to grow as athletes and individuals. Again, Congratulations to the Abington Raiders and their coaches.