Being Kind, And Why It’s Important

We may have been taught it as kids, but it sure seems as adults we forget sometimes what the phrase “Be kind to each other, tenderhearted and forgiving” means. Imagine what your team would look like if you re-emphasized kindness to those around you. #DailyMight

Connor is the teammate I remember most from my childhood playing days. Thinking back now, I don’t remember him being exceptionally talented at sports, that he talked a lot, or had some other endearing character trait that stood out. If I was being honest (as Connor always was), he was by all other means an average player physically. So why do I remember him more than than the hundreds of teammates I’ve had?

Roughly 10 years ago I moved back to my hometown to raise my family. I remember going to an event which happened to include several players from a youth hockey team they and I participated on. A team that Connor was on too. We had all grown up by this time. Connor wasn’t there, but his name kept coming up. I quickly realized I wasn’t the only teammate who Connor had a positive affect on. 20 years later, we all had the same things to say about Connor.

Reminiscing that night about events that happened in and around that season of youth sports, stories were told about Connor. One friend talked about the first day of practice and how Connor sat next to him and began talking to him and asking questions. Connor wanted to get to know you. He was friendly. Another talked about Connor always having stick tape. And always willing to share when we had forgotten ours – which was often. Connor was generous with his possessions and time. Another talked about Connor’s uncanny ability to know when something was bothering him and would ask and give advice on what he would do in that situation as a way to comfort and encourage him. Connor was considerate.

As I’m listening to story after story about Connor, it hit me, and I realized why Connor was my favorite teammate. He was kind. We may have been taught it as kids, but it sure seems as adults we forget sometimes what the phrase “Be kind to each other, tenderhearted and forgiving” means. Sometimes I do. We all do I think.

What I love about kindness is that it’s never too late to start. We can start anew right now if needed. Youth sports needs more kindness. As a coach, you need to model what kindness looks like to your players. Imagine what your team would look like if you re-emphasized kindness to those around you. You’d end up in the future, with a group of old teammates, talking about Connor. And that’s what youth sports is really about.

Give everything your everything. And then some.

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