The Demands of Kids in Sport

My son receiving his gold medal
at the Manitoba Summer Games

There was no prouder Mum in the universe than I as I watched my son being presented a gold medal in the Manitoba Summer Games recently. But that proud moment belies the huge investment in time, money, energy and emotion that got him there.

Which is why I find the following press release from Investor's Group to be spot on in terms of the commitment that it takes for both parents and kids to even participate in sports, much less excel. And I have to admit that there are times when I question the sanity of it all - whether we are teaching him the right life lessons by training him to compete - whether the vast resources used to build and operate expensive sport facilities for the few that use them is really justifiable - whether the many heartaches and disappointments that invariable go along with the triumphs and successes are really worth it - whether the potential for serious injuries should be so easily accepted - whether all the politics and favouritsm that sports seem to engender are dehumanizing us all.

But then there's that smile on his face when he knows he has achieved something great and all the hard work and sacrifice seems a little more worthwhile.

Nevertheless...says Investor's Group:

Canadian Champions in Training: Having Kids in Sports Demands Time, Money and a Plan.

WINNIPEG, July 23, 2012 - It's not just about going for the gold. Rather than focusing on creating the next bumper crop of Canada's elite athletes, 75 per cent of parents with children in sports are investing their time and hard-earned money to foster leadership qualities, discipline and team building skills, according to the latest research by Investors Group. Thirty-one per cent of parents with children involved in athletic activities feel their kids have a recognized talent or skill that should be developed or have potential for more. Twenty-one per cent have their offspring enrolled in sports because all of their children's friends are actively involved. "Whether you are raising an elite athlete, or view athletic activity as an important building block in character development, the end goal is the same," says sports parent and Investors Group Regional Director Daniel Collison. "Canadian parents are investing in the future success of their children." Time and money  Twenty-eight per cent of parents say the time required to support their kids' athletic activities is the greatest contributor to stress while 26 per cent cite the burden of financial demands. Emotional (11 per cent), physical (10 per cent) and relationship demands (7 per cent) were also cited as stress factors. The survey reveals that Canadian parents invest an average of $1,658 per year on their children's athletic pursuits. While 51 per cent of parents say they have not made sacrifices as a result of these financial commitments, nearly four-in-ten (38 per cent) parents say they forgo personal expenditures on shopping and entertainment and 19 per cent have given up family vacations. Investment of real dollars is only part of the price tag of having kids in sports. Attending games, practices, classes, chauffeuring, fundraising and other means of support involves an average parental commitment of 15 hours per month. 31 per cent spend even more time per month. These activities also have an impact in the workplace. Eighty per cent of parents whose support resulted in losing time at work say they spend anywhere up to ten hours away from work per month to accommodate their children's athletic interests. For 20 per cent of parents who lost time, this translates into up to five per cent loss of income; for another seven per cent of parents, it is as much as 15 per cent loss of income. See the full report below: