Realms of the -illmafia Clique (rant book)

Going Overboard in Sports (ZoeTheHalfrican)

Now I love sports a lot. I'm in a few currently right now and I've played several in the past couple of years including: softball, volleyball, basketball, track & field, and cheerleading.

But there's one thing in sports that irritates the fack out of me, it's all common in every sport you can think of.

When people go way too overboard in sports, especially in middle and high school levels.

For example, when parents force their kids to do extreme and intensive training outside of school because they simply want their child to be the best and be on, maybe, a varsity team.

Another one, when kids are worked way too much and it affects their schedules, grades, and even health. But I'm going to go back on the first one though.

Now I get it, you want to motivate them to do their very best and never want them to give up. That's great encouragement. It's nice to praise your children and inspire them. But there's a difference from what you want and what they want. There's another one between motivate to forcing.

Athletes being forced to do things to improve way above their normal routine in sports in my opinion, is almost a borderline form of dictatorship honestly. I'm not calling parents dictators, because they're not, but their actions are quite similar. For God's sake man, these are kids that you are making them run, work out, and maybe even giving steroids and bad stuff like that to enhance their skills. Not NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, and other athletes. Do you think their bodies are ready for all of that? Sure it's great exercise, until you severely injure yourself or your heart stops working unexpectedly.

Let them breathe and actually enjoy the game and play, not stress over it like it's their only chance to find a future career. Sports aren't about all winning either; it's about teamwork, communication, thinking, motor skills, social skills, respectfulness, motivation, responsibility, encouragement, and involvement. Our generation's society can't be all about sports. They're fun and exciting, but there's more. We need "athletes" in other things, such as possibly humanitarian fields, medicine, education, art, economics, government, psychology, and much more.

If you don't get what I mean, I'm saying is we gotta stop stereotyping sports as the only "official career" for every athlete. Either people see others as "successful" today with a career in music; so like an rapper or sports; a pro athlete. It's just like that one lyric in January 28th by J. Cole.

"I turn the TV on, not one hero in sight/ Unless he dribble or he fiddle with mics"

There's so much more than sports though.

I'm not saying we shouldn't boycott sports because it would cause controversy, heck no. People should just lighten up on it and not be so over obsessive. Just enjoy watching your kids play, win, and even lose sometimes in games. Go to home and away games and b supportive throughout. Just don't be the "second" coach.

Middle and high school sports aren't professional sports so don't treat them like that. I understand that high school can often be a great stepping stool boost to college opportunities, and that's fantastic, but remember, it's only a sport. You can only do so much. And these athletes can play as much they can without suffering and getting hurt.

They're only just kids man.