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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I am among those who don't get the sports obsession.

I do get playing sports and encouraging kids to play sports. And if a kid shows promise in a sport, or even just really likes it, supporting them in pursuing it. All normal. Sports are great.

But some of you talk about it like becoming an "elite athlete" is the only path to success. Most of my friends are very successful professionally-- lots of Ivy and equivalent grads, lawyers, consultants, etc. Many played sports in adolescence, almost none did so in college. I can think of a handful who did play in college, and only one *might* have been considered elite. That's it.

What they have in common is not athletic prowess but academic success. Great grades, genuine interest in learning and succeeding academically. Good test takers, voracious readers, interested in and engaged with the world. Sports/athletics are pretty beside the point. Some are athletic now, some aren't.

So if your goal is raising kids who are successful in life, I don't understand this fixation on sports. Again, I think it always makes sense to support and encourage a kid in an interest where they show promise, but that could be soccer or music or math or debate club. If your kid isn't that into sports or just isn't good enough to play at a high level, I don't think it really matters in terms of success.

Now, if your kid struggles with reading or math, is disinterested in school, etc? That's an issue. At least if your goal for them is professional success. [/quote]

How old are your kids?

I have a son in middle and high school. Much of their social life revolves around sports. I do not think the parents drive the sports obsession. In our school, the sporty kids are often the more popular kids. Your kid doesn’t have to be popular or want to be popular but if your kid plays soccer or basketball or baseball, he will want to be good. No one is talking about elite athletes, at least no one in my circles. [/quote]

They are popular with each other. They aren't popular with the kids who aren't into what they do. Those other kids are popular with each other and don't really notice your kids any more than your kids notice them.[/quote]

I grew up in the nineties. The popular kids back then and the popular kids now don’t look that different. At my high school in an UMC neighborhood, there were the rich, good looking, smart athletes who played field hockey, lacrosse, tennis, etc who went to an ivy. I worked in finance and you see the same kinds of people there too.[/quote]

Stereotype straight out of a movie.  I’m from a family of athletes, siblings, cousins, nephews, nieces, all varsity sports, college sports and a few professional.   Growing up with it athletes they are no better looking or worse looking than the average non-athlete.  They have all different abilities in academics from learning difficulties to taking all top classes. Some are outgoing some are not.  Stop stereotyping!

And field hockey?   There are ice hockey teams for females, that’s where the real athletes are.  [/quote]

Don’t know what to tell you. I find good looking, smart athletic guys to be attractive. I’m pretty sure most other women will agree.[/quote]

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