I often hear parents complain that the “village” they always talked about no longer exists. Everyone is closed off. No one talks to their neighbors. No one wants to reach out, lend a hand, or start some kind of community. We’re all just so tired and that’s totally understandable.
But we still need a village. We still want our kids to grow up right, but one man says it’s all up to us to do that, especially when it comes to youth sports and the development of boys during the tough years of formative years.
“I have to coach a youth sports team,” TikTok user Arkansas Traveler begins in his now-viral video.
“You have to coach youth sports teams, and the people who coached you when you were a kid. old now. It’s your turn. ”
Then he turns to the adult man.
“Men, you have to coach youth sports teams and learn how to be vulnerable when faced with stressful situations in front of other boys. You have to teach them not to suppress their emotions, because that’s the message you give them on youth sports teams. Unless you coach youth sports teams, they will learn to suppress their emotions so as not to look weak in front of other boys,” he said.
“You may think that emotionally repressive boys don’t have much of an impact on your life. Wrong, wrong, wrong. These boys will soon become the youth in your community, but you don’t want to treat violent, emotionally repressive youth as too much.” I don’t want this in my community. I want young people who learned how to be vulnerable on the soccer field at a young age. I want young people who have been raised by coaches who say, “It’s okay to cry when things get tough as long as you keep moving forward.”
He argues that it is the world’s youth sports coaches who actually have the greatest influence on how this generation of boys is raised, and that if we want a more progressive, open and emotionally regulated generation of young men, other men need to make the effort.
“You want young men in your community who have had coaches who have said, ‘Don’t call people bitches, it’s a slur, and in this community we respect women and non-men.'” But you can’t get those young men if you don’t coach youth sports teams. ”
After his post went viral, several TikTok users agreed with the OP’s opinion, with one TikTok user pointing out that this also applies to young girls’ sports.
“Dear women, we need to coach girls’ youth sports teams!!!!! Teaching other girls’ talent won’t diminish your talent, other women will be the most important people in your life, and there are more important things than beauty and male attention,” she wrote.
Another wrote, “Moms need to coach too. Don’t let dads get the wrong swing coach (I can’t let my 15 years of hitting lessons go to waste).”
One user said, “If you’re feeling helpless about the future, this is a great way to make an impact. My son still misses his coach, but unfortunately Millennials and Generations don’t realize they’re adults.”
“I’m a middle school basketball and track and field coach. Go coach!!! These kids don’t understand a competitive environment and don’t have the confidence to compete to the best of their ability. They don’t know what it’s like to be challenged because they give up so easily!!! Challenge these kids!! They need it!!,” chimed in another.
If you can’t make time for coaching, come to the games. Volunteer at practice. Please take the time to talk with your child. It makes a big difference.
