Team Sports Vs Martial Arts

Hi Team,

Is your child better suited for the traditional team sport or martial arts? Lets look at some of the Pros and Cons of both sports.

Team Sports   Pros                                                                

 Team Cooperation

Entering into a new season in sports, you might only know a few of the players on your team. Some of the players may actually be people you are not that fond of off the playing field. But when your team decides at the beginning of the year that it wants to be the team in the winner's circle holding the league championship trophy at the end of the season, personal differences are often set aside for the common good of the team. Many coaches like to say that the name on the front of the jersey is more important than the name on the back. This is saying that no one player is greater than the team. Sports such as football and ice hockey are physical sports and often require heavy commitment and dedication to be successful. By the end of the season, players who have been battered and bruised by the grind of the regular season and the playoffs may feel a strong connection, much like brothers, to their teammates.

• Building Important Life Skills

Team work in sports can help give participants stronger communication skills and teach them to work better with others. Many projects at work and at school often require a group to work together to put together a strong presentation to be looked at by the employer or teacher. Every member of that team must be pulling in the same direction to complete the project successfully. Additional advantages to team work in sports include learning to deal with conflict and exposure to a variety of ideas within the team. 

(Above text from Livestrong.com) 

Team Sports Cons

The unfortunate thing about team sports is that all kids develop at different ages. motor skills, height and weight play a huge role in children sports and at times even for the most experienced coach it can be hard to juggle a team bests assets.  The unfortunate development in kids sports is that the most developed kids get more game time, More development as they spend more time on field and in key roles with in a team. This leaves the child that has less development and lower skill set less time to practice and develop and unfortunately can get left behind. If a child spends more time sitting on the bench then on the field... It would be better time spent looking for another sport in which their needs can be met.Along with frustrated parents and other social dynamics (why is that kid on the field and mine on the bench) can lead to an unhappy and negative experience of sports in general.

Martial Arts     Pros

No sitting on the bench, each members is as important  as the next. Your development is through hard work and dedication. Each member of an Academy or Dojo wants to feel as though their hardwork is appreciated. Though gradings they get feedback on how they are developing. Martial arts can be considered a a solo activity.. but in actual fact it is the ultimate team sport, it is true that if someone competes it is a one one one competition. But what most people forget is the following. Coaches have spent immeasurable time developing each member of the team. The less developed members need more attention and get it. All martial artists must work together with their team mates, pad work, sparring technique drilling. All members in turn assist in the development in each other. As such is the case when someone competes for their team they are taking all the help from their coaches, and training partners to the competition and then supporting others doing the same.  Each martial artist can develop at their own level, weight and age development, something that can't be done in a team sport. Effort and hard work is is measured through skill development and gradings. Competition success or failure is up to the martial artist. Win or lose they were either good enough or not. no blaming someone else for a dropped ball or missed goal.  This is where team work kicks back in and the team works wholes in development or game plans. always learning and progressing.     

Life Skills

Here are some life skills that can be developed 

• Self Confidence
• Goal Setting
• Self Discipline
• Concentration
• Fairness
• Responsibility
• Conflict Avoidance
• Teamwork
• Kindness
• Health
• Positive Attitude
• Trustworthiness (Integrity)
• Grit
• Humility (In Defeat)
• Gracious (In Victory)  

Cons

Cons of training in martial arts! well it is hard, difficult and challenging (I see these as pros) but to most the hard slog can be difficult in the long term. that is when Character is displayed and all the life skills are shown. It is hard... but worth it.

Last point 

 The main point is if you or your child feel that perhaps team sports for you have passed their benefits (which are plenty) perhaps it is time to look at another challenge. Martial arts could be that challenge. come feel like part of another team where you get out what you put in