Why do we keep score during youth sporting events?
Keeping score in youth sporting events shouldn’t be to determine who is the best team. Keeping score in youth sports isn’t so the coach of the winning team can now brag about how their team went 54-o last summer. Keeping score isn’t so youth coaches can coach their teams to win games, as opposed to teaching their teams to grow as individuals and athletes.
Here’s WHY we should be KEEPING SCORE in youth sports:
- Keeping score allows you to track the progress of your team. What was the score against the Black Glacier Velociraptors in game 1 compared to game 10 of the season?
- Keeping score breads competition. Competition is a healthy way to get kids to play harder and works towards goals.
- Keeping score gets kids to learn how to maintain a positive attitude when faced with adversity. If your team is down 7 goals at half time, how can we bounce back?
- Keeping score gets kids to understand situations. If your team is down a goal and you have the ball with 20 seconds left, what now?
- Keeping score allows league or tournament directors to gauge which Division or Conference your team belongs. We went 9-0 last season in Division II. You think it’s time to play in Division I?
Parents & Coaches, let’s not forget why we keep score. It’s your job to teach your kids that numbers should be used to track progress, breed a competitive spirit, and understand real life situations.
