There is an athletic event that I believe every child would benefit greatly if they participated in at least once in their life – track and field. Track and field is great not because of its history as one of the oldest forms of physical competition. Track and field is an excellent activity for children because it’s also representative of the mental and emotional requirements to succeed in life.

If Not Me Then Who?

In my view, track and field more than any other childhood physical activity has the ability to teach children at the earliest age the meaning of the words self-reliance. In track and field, you don’t have to be the biggest, the tallest, the fastest or the strongest. In track and field, you don’t have to be a genetic anomaly, be one of the socio-economically privileged nor do you need to align yourself with a particular political party. In track and field, you learn to be responsible for your own results.

Track and field is great for children because it puts the onus of success and failure where it should be – on the participant. There are no other teammates to cover for you if you are unprepared and/or not giving your maximum effort. Track and field is great for children because it exposes complacency and rejects entitlement. Track and field has the power to give new meaning to the words success and failure.

Truth About Success and Failure

In it’s most natural unADULTerated form, track and field can best be described as true. Track and field is truest when the great teaching moments and childhood exuberance are not spoiled by the misguided focus of parents and coaches who care only about winning worthless ribbons and medals.

My son won a ton of ribbons and medals throughout his youth as a track and field competitor. He won medals at local, state, regional, national and international competitions. Yet, not one of the medals stored at the bottom of a toy chest comes close in value to the lessons he learned about life and himself while on the track.

Today, my son no longer runs competitively. However, there are three lessons he learned from the sport that guide him to this very day in everything he does.

1.  Preparation – Track and field reinforced my message to him about the power of preparation. It did not take long for him to realize that if he wasn’t prepared, the track would expose his lack of planning and preparation faster than Usain Bolt can run a 100 meters.

Track strengthened his resolve to make sure that whatever he participated in (sport, school, community service or business) he would design a plan, commit to the plan with mind, body and soul and take any and all necessary steps to be prepared. He learned at an early age and maintains now as a young adult the belief that “those who fail to plan, plan to fail” “one should leave no stone unturned” and “proper preparation prevents piss poor performance”.

2.  Periodization – Periodization in track and field is a method for organizing a season into different phases. In short, the goal of periodization is twofold. First, periodization is meant to help the athlete stay mentally, physically and emotionally health. Second, periodization is meant to keep the athlete from peaking too early. For any track newbies, periodization can also be defined as delayed gratification.

Track and field athletes ordinarily begin training in October for national and international championship events that are ten months away. Thus the trait of a great track and field athlete is the ability to ignore the immediate gratification of winning early season meets and instead remain focused on simply improving so that they peak when it matters. As in life, one race or one day good or bad is less important than developing the habits that will allow you to succeed when it really matters.

3.  Distraction – Being distracted is a potential problem for children and adults alike. Track and field illuminates the conundrum of being distracted. A sprinter cannot afford to be distracted. Not focusing in the blocks can cause a false start which results in disqualification. Not focusing on their running mechanics can result in a slow time. Looking at anything other than their lane can lead a runner to step in another’s lane which also results in disqualification. Distraction during a race can be devastating. Not only will distraction slow you down but distraction can cause your disqualification.

Distraction can also be bad after winning or running a successful race. As it is with life, one good race in the grand scheme means little other than you had a good race or in the words of Ice Cube – that “today was a good day”.

The ultimate goal of running is to continue to improve – to set new PRs (Personal Records). Track and field taught my son that his utmost responsibility was simply to give his best. If his best resulted in a ribbon or medal that was secondary to mastering the power of preparation and continuing to work each day to improve upon the previous day. Track and field taught my son that although no one wins all the time, we all have the potential, power and responsibility to improve every day.

Summer, Summer, Summertime

As the end of the school year nears and the summer break approaches, you might be wondering what your child will do doing this period. Well, if you are looking for something worthwhile to occupy your child’s “spare” time, I highly recommend finding a quality track club. (Check out AAU Athletics or USA Track & Field)

Not only will your child learn some invaluable lessons about life, they might get some much-needed exercise as well. And who knows your child might even win some ribbons and medals too.

Keep your child on track by joining The Raising Supaman Project. What will your child be doing this summer to learn valuable life lessons?