Every weekend, hordes of screaming parents line fields of green…with gaggles of players in primary colors running back and forth in front of them chasing, kicking or throwing a ball into a goal. One day soon I will be one of them. My wife and I have already started talking about which sport we will likely introduce our kids to first, and what age is most appropriate for starting them into it. 

But for us, there will be a caveat – namely – sports will not take over our lives. Unlike TV, movies, and video games, sports is often lauded as a healthy activity for kids, getting them out of the house and providing the benefit of fitness and an education in teamwork.

But just like those other diversions, and just like watching sports, playing sports can become an idol that divides families and subverts proper prioritization of God in our family’s lives. 

If your boss asked you to devote 3-5 nights of your week and 1 of your 2 days on the weekend to a new project, you’d think long and hard before diving in and accepting that challenge. What about family time, you’d say. What about time to relax and rejuvenate? What about work-life balance?

Yet that’s what childhood sports has become for many families – a depletion of free time and a replacement of face to face time with kids and even spouses – as moms become chauffeurs and dads become coaches, with little time for each other or finding out what’s truly on hearts and minds.

If we want our kids to leave the house with a personal relationships with Jesus, Church must be a priority, family Bible study must be a priority, and our spouses must be a priority. Sports is great – but if it replaced the priority of faith, marriage or family – in that order – it’s out of place.

Jim Elliff writes a tremendous article at Christian Communicators Worldwide. Check it out here – it explores the topic of balancing sports and family life – and I couldn’t agree more with his conclusions. Take a read and let me know your take on balancing the demands of Kids in Sports.