Love for kids

A lot of young players have developed their skills in sports at a very early age because of the support given by their parents.

This is not just about parents who can afford the best coaches and equipment for their kids, but also those who scrape through with barely enough, but have worked hard to get their kids to become the best in their field.

Over a year ago, I wrote about Formula-1 driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain, whose father had to work three jobs just so his son could race.

I heard of fathers who taught their kids how to punch and move laterally to train them to become boxers or those, who spent hours teaching skills in martial arts that brought the children to where they are now.

Former world number 1 female tennis player Martina Hingis started hitting balls as a small girl under the tutelage of her mother.

It is a plus factor if as parents we have undergone training or have become an athlete that we can impart our knowledge to our children.

Bonding time for us in the family include practicing judo falling techniques with the kids with the ultimate goal of getting them interested in the martial art and the immediate goal of teaching them to protect themselves when they fall.

Oftentimes, parents try to impose upon their children their chosen sport, but this is not always a foolproof method to produce children, who will equal or better the achievements of their parents.

Allow them to explore other sports, which might be more interesting to them than the one we chose to spend most of our time on.

I’ve been through such disappointment when one day my son refused to go with me to judo practice and no matter how I prodded him, he just would not budge. 

Another time was when my son decided to quit their school’s football varsity team as he’d prefer to play golf instead. I knew then that I’d miss being at the football field during tournaments, but then it would not be good to also impose upon him and make his life miserable.

There is also the school of thought that kids are too young to make decisions for themselves, but the kids today are different from the kids of my generation or that of my parents and their parents.

We have to learn from our childhood and try to do research with material available so we can help the kids attain their potential.

At Alta Vista Golf and Country Club yesterday morning, I saw many parents accompanying their kids to the 4th Alta Vista Jungolf Challenge, which runs until tomorrow.

I know the role that we sporting parents play are not easy, but we don’t mind doing it for the love of our kids.

No wonder dads Opep Gandiongco and Deo Gabasa were among the busiest at the club yesterday taking care not of their children, who are top-notch players, but of the tournament and the others kids that are taking part.

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MILESTONES: Belated happy birthday to Vice Mayor Michael Rama, who turned a year older earlier this week.

Happy birthday greetings go to my cousin Stella ‘Chinky’ Quiñones-Flores, who is celebrating today along with Mia Embalzado of St. Theresa’s College.

More power to you!