Find Friends through Hobbies and Sports

In my youth, I played team sports, primarily football and hockey. In particular, hockey taught me the meaning of teamwork. I played in a Silver Stick league and traveled to many small towns in the region. For the most part, the same group of friends played on the same team year after year. Playing a sport with the same group, you would learn their strengths and weaknesses. You would learn how to anticipate their next move. Teammates become lifelong friends.

Playing football was a high school endeavor. Like hockey, I developed relationships with new friends. The social aspect of football was taken to a much higher level than hockey. It seemed the circle of friends was much larger, including team parties, fundraising events, and game rallies. There was an abundance of interaction with friends.

As your children are growing up, encourage them to participate in a group activity. It doesn’t need to be a sport; it could be drama club, chess club, or even the band. Find out where their interests lie and help them sign up and support their efforts.

In my adult life, I took on a much more intense hobby, that of auto racing. Just like the days of my youth, one of the rewards of the sport was the friendships that blossomed. We had a pit crew of 12 skilled mechanics. When we went to a race event for the weekend, we traveled together, and when we arrived at our destination, we set up camp with our tents in a giant circle. The members of the crew brought along their wives and girlfriends. We prepared the race car together, we cooked together, we dined as a group, and we sat around the campfire sharing racing stories every night. It was like one big happy family.

My wife and I have encouraged our children to participate in something they love as well. They seemed to have settled in on dance and drama club. Not only have they established great relationships, they have also developed a sense of pride and achievement. Their mother and father are proud too.
It has been interesting to watch the kids grow and find their own niche. They have chosen their own paths; we were there for support only. Talk to your kids about their options. Weigh the pros and cons of different sports or activities, discuss the benefits of participation, and set them free.

Life lesson learned: Participate in a group setting or team sport, develop lifelong friendships, and develop new skills, both technical and social.