When I watched my son’s soccer match, I wanted him to play aggressively, score goals, and win.
I screamed at the sideline “Run!”, “Dribble outside!”, “Don’t give up!”.
My son didn’t want me to watch the game. My scream was the reason why my son couldn’t enjoy playing soccer.
I enjoy watching his soccer match but he doesn’t.
After the match, I always talked about his mistakes and how to improve them… I had to change my attitude otherwise he will quit soccer sometime in the future.
The soccer match is not for parents but for my son.
I found the answer in the “Changing the Game by John O’Sullivan“
Releasing child to the game
That’s the answer I had to learn.
When I was about 10 years old. I have a classmate whom I don’t play with because he always wants to win even if it was 3 vs 3 baseballs in break time. It was a play for me but it was like a serious and important game for him. I wanted to swing if the ball was slightly out of the strike zone. That’s a play in break time, right? But he advised me not to swing and aim for a walk… Walk? He played baseball better than I did, so he wanted me to choose to walk to 1st base, and then he wanted to hit to win. I couldn’t enjoy playing it at that time. And I thought I don’t want to play with him.
When I read “Changing the Game by John O’Sullivan” that memory comes to me. And I know how my son feels when he heard some advice from me. I want him to enjoy playing and get goals to win but I forgot the most important thing.
Most importantly, my son is having fun! And parents will be his fans!
Wins and Goals are secondary and nice to have.
Why my son can’t enjoy playing soccer? This is because I want him to improve his skills to win and get a goal. This is because I put a higher priority on the result than his joy.
When you were in elementary school, did you want your parents to expect results?
I learned many things from “Changing the Game by John O’Sullivan” about life lessons and core values.
Please check!
