The numerous accounts of neardeath experiences that I’ve read are all remarkably similar. While moving toward a bright light, there’s an epiphany. Later, armed with a new, enlightened perspective, these individuals share profound, instructive wisdom they have gained about what’s truly important in life.
I have never had a near-death experience, but every now and then I see a parent or coach say or do something that makes me wonder: If he/she could see or hear him/herself from that higher-level state of clarity, would he/she behave differently? (I think yes.) So for the purpose of this column, I’ve decided to pretend that I’ve just returned from a near-death experience — where I hovered above hockey rinks, baseball diamonds, basketball courts, soccer pitches and backyards around the world. Yup, I was in paradise for only a few moments, but that’s all it took to illuminate several truths about youth sports. I know some of this is going to be hard to believe or accept. From my perspective in the infinite, however, all of the following was self-evident.
When the “fan side” or “coach side” of our personalities takes over, this makes us less capable of accessing the all-important “parent side” when it’s needed most.
Truth No. 1: The pursuit of winning is what matters, not the wins themselves. The pursuit of winning can lead to a journey filled with fun, friendships, teamwork and transformational mentorship; it can provide the sublime satisfaction that comes from individual and team improvement, overcoming obstacles and learning lessons about oneself that can only be learned by striving and failing; it can ignite a true love of the game, a passion for self-development and an appreciation of miracles.