[goodroot]

Team sports. I grew up playing competitive hockey. I learned from a very young age that I am not special, that the team is stronger than an individual, and magic happens when everyone commits to their role.

I am grateful for this gift, and attribute to it much of my present success.

[malyk]

Same for me. I’m nit sure if it requires playing at a competitive level or not, but playing on a team trying to accomplish a goal, battling adversity, sacraficing for each other, etc are really impactful experiences that I attribute most of my personal success to.

[bsenftner]

Team sports has too much 'coach as dictator' for non-competitive kids to develop. They are left to pasture, literally. Only the star athletes receive attention, then they bully the rest.

[csa]

This definitely happens, but that’s also a bad coach.

Good coaches will develop kids across the entire range of skill levels, and will consistently give them tasks that they can succeed in (at least in practice). In the US, most little league teams have “must-play” requirements, so both coaches have to play their weakest players optimally.

[yowlingcat]

I think both are true. The must-play requirements are present, but they don't stop certain things from happening -- things like the coach's kid from getting the most playtime, attention and opportunities in game. I saw this happen firsthand.

[csa]

Absolutely.

Then again, that person is probably a bad coach.

For anyone out there looking to give back to their community, learning how to be a good youth sports coach is probably high on the list of value add. It’s not easy, but you can have a positive impact on people that will last a lifetime.

[watwut]

Dunno why this was downvoted. I have seen same dynamic to develop too.

[ams6110]

Love hockey. It's expensive but the most fun thing my kids have done. Great life lessons on teamwork and working together to achieve something.