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Knock It out of the Park
The Benefits of Joining a Sports League
By Mark Stackpole
Dan Scudero is a physical education instructor at a junior high school in San Jose, Calif. The father of two daughters, with a third child on the way, Scudero is also an avid sportsman. As a family man, his stance on staying active has three simple, yet important, components. "First, it is beneficial for anyone to have some physical activity in his life," he says. "Second, you can make it a priority for only one night a week – some guys go way too much. Lastly, for early games, you can take the whole family to enjoy. They see you playing and having fun, and most of the time, they will want to do it."
Myers concurs, pointing out that when children watch their fathers play a sport and enjoy it, the child may be motivated to try it as well. "This mutual interest is also a great way for fathers and their children to develop a relationship," he says. Pinsky echoes these sentiments with his belief that "sports can reconnect us with our own childhood, which can improve our relationship with our own kids. A sense of empathy for our child's experiences is very important."
OK, so most guys are not going to end up as the league MVP, but holding on to that sports fantasy for so long may actually end up helping them in more ways than they ever even considered. Not only do they get to hear the cheers in their own heads, but they also get to stay healthy, bond with their families and become a role model for their kids.
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