Re:Maybe sports in school takes fun out of exercis (Score 1)

I definately agree with this post. All through Elementary School I was considered very unathletic and overweight. I always sat on the benches/sidelines during sports. My parents encouraged me, but didn't force me to do anything I didn't want to do. (e.g. my Dad loved Baseball and coached Baseball, but I hated the sport). I started running everymorning in 5th or 6th grade, because I wanted to have one of the fastest 1-miles in my class and by Junior High I was one of the best on my team in Soccer. In Junior High, however, I wanted to start playing Football as well. Naturally with no experience I was not very good. And during 9th Grade I was held back to play on the JV team with the 8th Graders. I was devastated but I didn't quit, I kept trying harder and working harder until by my Junior Year of High School I was starting on the High School Varsity Team. My Senior Year my team went undefeated 9-0 and it was one of the best experiences in my life.

My point is that the high level of competition is what made me successful. I wasn't born athletic, I had to work for it, and I certainly don't have the genetic predisposition for it. I still have to work out 5 days a week to keep myself from qualifying as 'obese'. Keep the 'everybody plays' attitude for younger kids, we have to teach people to grow up and work for what they want eventually. Once they get their feet wet, its our responsibility to teach them how to persist when the going get tough.