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Srijit Kumar Bhadra

Why the love for sports by the average child matters?

In my opinion, this article titled “I am the Mom of the Average Child” is one of the interesting articles regarding parenting children of India. I too live in a society of Bengaluru city amidst high caliber students who excel in education or sports, music and other extra-curricular activities. The author Mathangi Murali appropriately echoes my thoughts when she says “The school, society celebrates children who are top scorers or good in sports and extracurricular,which rightfully they should. Amidst all this, my average child who is a spectator and cheers his friends with full heart goes unnoticed.” And I am also familiar with large number of so called average children.

It is the love of sports of these average children who provide the ecosystem and their parents fund the infrastructure for the sports achievers at school level sports in Bengaluru. During their primary school years, parents enroll their children in private sports training centers and academies to promote good health and to make use of their time effectively. These training centers usually cost about the same as the annual school fees. Most children cannot love and enjoy the game for long. The coaches, and even the parents, push them towards competition, and many children are exposed to the harsh realities of sports at a young age. Some children excel and bring pride, but others are forced to face elimination before they can even fully understand the sport. The coaches, while not to be blamed, do so for their own survival and career. Many coaches develop a tendency to take these average trainees for granted even during training sessions. Once again, it is not their fault. They are the product of the ecosystem which we have created in India. Their trainees need to win matches and events.

Most schools in Bengaluru do not invest in basic sports training, and only select the best privately trained children for their school teams. Some schools arrange training for the kids selected in school teams. To participate in a professional private sports training program, one has to balance sports training, sports competitions, school exams (typically four in a year), home work, school projects etc. Unless the child is a state or national level medal winner in individual sports (badminton, tennis, swimming etc.) or a very high potential in team sports (cricket, soccer etc.), the probability of quality support from school will be low.

I also want to highlight the significant time and energy expended by the parents who sometimes deny their personal and professional priorities for the sake for participation of their wards in sports. I agree with Mathangi Murali that the society and school must rightfully celebrate the achievers. She also says that “Amidst all this, my average child who is a spectator and cheers his friends with full heart goes unnoticed.” Many parents of the average children drop out. Some continue without expecting any returns. It is these children and their parents who should matter most since they silently and significantly contribute towards developing and nurturing India’s sporting heroes.

#Sports #Child #Children #Training #Parenting #MastIndia #MastodonIndians

cc: @srijit

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