Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Are Todays Youth Athletes Tomorrows Success Stories?

The results are in! A recent study from Cornell  reports that those who participated in sports in their youth often end up with better jobs than those who didn’t. So, even if you (or your little one) weren’t the star player and you never made it to the big leagues, you can still get the upper hand on resumes and in interviews by talking about your experiences.

What’s more, the study found that people tend to gain traits and characteristics from competing in youth sports that make them more successful and more employable later in life. Just a few of the findings of the study include:
l  Youth athletes have greater levels of confidence
l  Youth athletes are better leaders
l  Youth athletes have more self-respect
l  Youth athletes are more social and outgoing

Knowing all of these things, don’t be surprised if the topic of what sports you played comes up in a job interview. Also, don’t be afraid to discuss this possibility with your older athletes as they prepare to enter the workforce. Being able to politely discuss past sports experience and the positives gained from it is a major plus and could just score an applicant his dream job.  



One caution though- don’t exaggerate your athletic accomplishments and discourage your kids from doing so too. If you lie about just how much you achieved in your younger years, chances are that the employer is going to check up on what you’ve said. And, if it turns out not to be true, then your lies pretty much negate any advantages being a youth athlete gave you. That’s a pretty good reminder of the fact that youth sports should be focused on all of the many positive things gained by playing them, not on winning.

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