Learning to compete – competing to learn. Three simple rules for the competitive child

Rule#1 

You’re not an adult so don’t let anyone tell you to behave like one.  Adults like to make things complicated and deep.  That’s not interesting or fun!

Rule#2 

If the goal of competition is learning how to best use what you’ve got, then the place to start is to simply empty the tank.  Don’t plan, just spend it all!

Rule#3 

Your best day and your worst day are not that far apart so keep your emotions under control.  If winning’s you’re only measure of achievement, then find something else to do – sport's not for you!

Note for coaches and parents: only intuitive, simple acts can ever be truly powerful, and kids must discover what they can do before learning to control it – there is altogether too much planning and analysis in child sport.  
Expectation in sport leads to fear, and fear is the enemy of curiosity and discovery.  Curiosity and discovery, the willingness to walk around a blind corner or to step into the unknown, are the most powerful and the only true drivers in child sport