As a grownup, when I think of leisure time, I think of freedom: Freedom from work or responsibilities, freedom to make my own choices and enjoy my time as I want however I want. I enjoy getting the chance to explore different things, to try something new, to let my curiosity get the best of me. As I think about what it is that I enjoy the most about leisure, I wonder if we give that same opportunity to children.
As much we would like to think highly structured sport could build better athletes. Young athletes get burned out far before their playing days are all because it became too much. The pressure, the practice schedule, the time away from friends, all of it drives them out of sport as they seek their own sources of leisure and freedom. There has to be a better way.
Just as I enjoy freedom in my own leisure, we need to bring this back to childhood. We need to think seriously whether we are allowing our children the time for (safe) free play that allows them exercise their creativity and find new interests. Are we letting our youth athletes try new sports and play different games because their fun and exciting? Or are we locking them as if contracted into a single sport all year long? Are we so focused on intense practice sessions and a grueling playing schedule that we forget to add in time for them to have free play to discover why they love their sport at all?
How can you bring a sense of leisure and enjoyment and play to the athletes and teams your work with?
The Sideline Fix 
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