Sports opportunities for serious, recreational athletes

As a young athlete, many dream of making it to the top of their sport. Whether that means the Olympic level, the NHL, NBA or the major leagues, for many it is the ultimate goal.

Realistically, though, the competition is fierce and the odds are low. Using football as an example, according to the NCAA, only 1.7 per cent of college football players and 0.08 per cent of high school players compete at any professional level. Does this mean we should crush the dreams of the young kids out there dreaming of the NFL or CFL? Absolutely not, because along the way, even if they don’t make the “bigs,” the life lessons they learn in sport will be immeasurable, and will contribute to their success in life, one way or the other.

It’s important to mention that not all athletes have the goal of making to the top of their sport. Some just like to play their sport, or ideally, a variety of sports.

And that’s OK, too. They play for fun, they play for the social aspect, and they play as a release from the pressures of school and life. Sport and physical activity have been proven to decrease overall levels of anxiety and tension, elevate and stabilize mood, improve concentration, improve sleep, reduce stress, and improve self-esteem. Social connections can be an impactful takeaway from sport, leading to friendships that might not have otherwise formed, and bringing together people from different backgrounds, languages and cultures.

Besides becoming professional athletes, many will stay in their sport in other capacities. Some will find employment in the field of sport and others will volunteer their time as a director on a board.

Coaches, officials and sport administrators might be paid or volunteer, depending on the sport or the organization. Many will adopt the spirit of volunteerism, through the modeling of the adults in their life, or by seeing the positive effect volunteers had on their own sport experience. If an individual had healthy experiences with sport in their own youth, they will encourage their own kids to engage in sport, perpetuating a healthy cycle.

Through sport, many will learn to lead. Sports can cultivate leadership skills such as communication, organization, goal setting and decision making.

In sport, as in life, it’s important to know what you are good at and what you struggle with. Recognizing that will help you know how to contribute to your team’s success, and what to be working on. Sports teach you to lose and win. You learn that being good at something takes work and effort. You learn it’s OK to make mistakes if you learn from them.

In addition to the technical skills and character building components of sport, taking unsolicited advice, even though you may not like it, is something athletes learn to do every day. Teamwork helps motivate each player to do their part, assisting the team to reach its ultimate goal. Everyone will learn that their best chance of success is through cooperation and collaboration.

Some athletes will be leaders, and some will be followers. Both are important to the dynamics of a sports team, and both are important in the adult world. Although it sounds cliché, being a good follower will make you a better leader.

A good follower will be diplomatic, courageous, collaborative and aware, and will use those traits to help move the team to their goal.

Whether a leader or a follower, in sport or in life, respect is an important trait. Not just coaches and the officials, but also teammates, the opposition, and even the spectators. Everyone has a role to play in reaching common goals, and all will be more successful in reaching those goals when mutual respect is given and received. Am I talking about sports or life?

So what about those who didn’t have the opportunity to play sports or be involved in their youth? Is it too late? Not at all! Now is always a great time to do something for yourself. If you join a sport as an adult, likely you are not thinking about the life skills you will learn from it, or how it might pad your resume. Instead, you are probably looking for the physical health or social aspect you will undoubtedly get. That’s great, but don’t be surprised if you learn more than how to dribble or do a layup.

No matter a child’s motivation or goals, many are unable to participate in sport because of financial limitations. Fortunately, there is help. In Lethbridge, there are three options for youth who require financial assistance to get in the game. KidSport of Lethbridge Fee Assistance Program

and the City

If you want to help kids gain access to sport opportunities, KidSport and Jumpstart would be grateful for your donation.

If you need help finding a sport or activity to participate in, the Lethbridge Sport Council can help. Right now we are in the middle of two initiatives to celebrate Canada’s 150th. #YQLChallenge is a list of 150 things you can do in Lethbridge that are free or cheap, that will help you get or stay active while 52 in 52 is an opportunity to try different sports without the pressure of committing, in a relaxed atmosphere with other people who are new to that sport. If you are interested in #YQLChallenge or 52 in 52, visit

for full details and to sign up. If you already know what sport you’d like to get involved with, visit our sport directory to find a local organization to join. The sport directory can be found on