Snowplow Sports Parents
"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”—Proverbs 22:6
A growing fad in sports is what industry experts are calling "snowplowing." It is a maturation of "helicopter" parenting but with a business twist to it. It's where parents build an industry behind their child's sports career to slingshot them into stardom. A recent article in Sports Illustrated featured the phenomena that is growing to be an irritation for coaches and agents.
But given the issues this may present, I wonder if there could be a positive side. Could this be a path of reengagement of the family unit? Is this a way to recapture time with children that reinforces character development, business ethics, family investment, and even spiritual values?
Only time will tell how Christian parents and families will respond. But distancing ourselves from the world, sports, and the issues is not the answer. "Training up a child in the way" requires an investment of time, energy, and money. It means engagement, not disengagement. And while there are healthy and unhealthy levels of engagement—non-engagement is not an option.
DO THIS: Engage by training others in the Way today.
PRAYER: God, give me one opportunity to show someone else the way, Your Way, today.