For our kids, these are learned skills, not assumed. They make or break quality of life, too.
“Fundamentally, what is more important?
Selling out on & overprescribing sport specificity?
Or learning at a young age to positively associate with training, health, & wellness?
Without question, the ladder, right?
For this reason, we must TEACH General Physical Literacy.”
-Ray Zingler on Twitter
The average length of time a person will spend playing sports is 8 years. That’s less than 3,000 days.
The average length of time humans will live in their bodies which are reliant on strength, health, and wellness is 80 years. That’s close to 30,000 days.
I’m not too great at math, but 30,000 is a lot more than 3,000.
This data right here, which sure, is pretty fundamental, proves that long term, global, physical literacy is more important than playing sports for a very short period of time.
“Are you saying kids shouldn’t play sports!?!?”
Of course not.
Kids should absolutely play sports as they are (can be) great mentally, physically, and physically on a variety of levels.
The point I am making is that because sports are short lived and needing (general) training, health, and wellness, is necessary, well, forever, it’s extremely important that we are prioritize the notion in the kids early years.
“Yeah, yeah whatever, once the kids are done playing sports, naturally, they’ll just pick-up a gym routine to stay in shape.”
Here’s the thing.. No they won’t.
See we think that, but have you ever seen what happens to the ex-NFL player finish his time in the league?
He’s got a bunch of time. A bunch of money. But no discipline stimulus. He doesn’t have to train anymore. A contract isn’t forcing him.
If the elite of the elite athletes can’t hold themselves accountable to take care of themselves after their time playing sports is finished, what makes you think our kids who have no real exposure to General Physical Literacy, are just going to randomly start eating clean and be able to put together and stick to a quality life-long training program?
It literally doesn’t happen.
Sure, there are a few outliers everywhere, but look at the average American.
We are closing in on 70% of citizenry being obese. SEVENTY PERCENT.
Worse yet, 1 of 3 of our children in America are obese, with those numbers climbing as well.
And we think cutting (real) PE, sticking them in chairs 8 hours a day, and stressing them out over arbitrary test score numbers is going to help their quality of life?
I have some (real) data that proves otherwise.
