Lessons from the Locker Room
Ah, youth sports—where kids learn teamwork, resilience and how to manage “that” teammate. You know the one. Big personality, big attitude and a big reluctance to pass the puck. And they’re usually the coach’s kid.
Every team has a mix of players: the workhorses, the playmakers, the hype squad and, of course, the ones who believe they are the stars of the show. They hit their peak years ago, but that hasn’t stopped them from playing like a one-person highlight reel. (Or from obnoxiously over-celebrating their goal like they’re in the NHL.)
As parents, we have the uniquely passive-aggressive challenge of biting our tongue, making comments under our breath and walking away when we see it going down. It’s difficult to not lose our cool when you see your kid suffering injustices by a teammate who may have, let’s say, a preferential selection process in their favor. It’s easy to want to storm the bench and demand justice, but let’s be real—that’s not how life works.
And maybe, just maybe, that’s the lesson. Albeit a painfully early lesson that politics exist everywhere—even in a locker room.
Because here’s the thing: every team, workplace, and group project will have a Coach’s Kid. Not always literal, but the concept is the same—someone who gets opportunities they might not fully deserve, someone who takes credit when things go well but points fingers when they don’t.
While some kids are riding the fast track to assistant captain based on nepotism, others are learning something far more valuable: how to handle tough personalities, how to lead without a title and how to succeed when no one is handing them a free pass.
To the kids out there grinding it out: Keep going. Keep working. Keep being the teammate you hope others will be. Let your actions speak louder than words, and remember that karma doesn’t need a jersey to do its job.
Because talent fades. Connections don’t last forever. But character? That sticks. And in the long run, that’s the real win in the game.
Janet Smith is a proud mom of one daughter and a marketing professional who is grateful for her rural roots in the London area. Follow Janet’s funny and honest journey at IG & TT | @re.marketable.janet or FB | @janetsiddallsmith
