Life is better lived on the sidelines … especially in youth sports – The Dickinson Press

It would make an interesting case-study to determine just what percentage of people have a take-charge attitude and wanna be immersed in whatever environment they join. Generally speaking, the old saying goes that “10% of the people do 90% of the work” in civic organizations, for example, and that statistic holds up under the heaviest of scrutiny.

In many cases, however, members of any group might not have the impetus to be central to the momentum and their involvement is based on the availability of time, money or energy. But them leaders deserve our utmost respect and they usually get it — despite absorbing a similar 90% of the criticism or blame — even in the absence of acumen or accomplishment.

No, their mere presence is sufficient because they are willing to fill the necessary roles for the successes that pertain to their passions. At least some of the draw also comes from personal growth or a shift in a personal paradigm with a desired set of priorities in mind, where we genuinely desire an alternate path from boredom and drift towards other priorities. Like when we realize that while our single-lives was fun, we yet want some level of companionship to help fill-in-the-blanks of what we lack, or if we determine it’s time to take on more responsibilities at work because challenges help boost our confidence and earn us more money and/or admiration.

Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press

Don’t get me wrong … growth is relative to the individual in question and not all of us are meant to ratchet up our games all the time, and in those cases it pays to be able to sit back, unwind and decompress. That is generally where sports come into play … particularly for parents.

It’s crucial to any civic organization or environment to have the aforementioned leaders in place to take on the big responsibilities, but what would be the point of them existing without people sitting on the sidelines and simply watching it all play out? In most instances, whether they are on the bleachers during football games or track meets or enjoying them nice portable-rockers I’ve seen during recent rec-league soccer, baseball and softball games, the parents are there to root for their children in these pleasant pastimes.

And while I’m sure many of them had a blast in college and enjoyed their youths, it’s at some point they realized there are better things to do; they recognized their presence matters the most to their children and they desire a chance to witness their development in these various disciplines.

Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press

In many respects, by that point the sideline replaces the bar-scene and the lawn-chair is more-comfortable than the swivel-stool for people with young children. It’s a natural progression as folks re-evaluate the important events and individuals in their lives, while adding a different brand of fun to personal growth.

But even more, what I see is a communal environment of people — particularly in Southwest North Dakota — who grew up together (and maybe once sat next to one-another on barstools or in a club) and they get a chance to chat about their workdays and what might be upcoming this weekend or next. Yes, that ring of people around the Sanford Sports Complex or Mustang fields, and along the sidelines of the soccer fields at West River Community Center, really stands out and makes me smile. Along with that, you get to see their toddlers playing around with their friends’ toddlers and smell the offerings from the concession stands while others take videos or photographs in the pleasnt summer weather.

Being a sportswriter, I get to watch all this activity all-at-once and take it all in while enjoying the opportunities to chronologue and catalog the athletes’ achievements … no-matter how seemingly small and insignificant. Anybody, too, with an ounce of sense knows someday we will see them on the junior varsity and varsity rosters, so it’s better to have seen the development from the beginning.

Gaylon Wm. Parker / The Dickinson Press

What’s more: It makes me feel more a part of this community with each passing event, game, inning, quarter, photograph, story, interview and video and adds background and context to the conversation. I have the utmost respect for the coaches, board-members, leaders and organizers of all these activities, and certainly admire the parents for simply being there … every game.

So, thank-y’all for your hard work and passion, while allowing me to sit on the sidelines with you.

It’s always a lot of fun.

Gaylon is a sportswriter who originally is from Jensen Beach, Fla. and his column appears weekly. He can be reached at

gparker@thedickinsonpress.com

and/or 701-456-1213.

Gaylon is a sportswriter from Jensen Beach, Fla., but has lived all over the world. Growing up with an athletic background gave him a love of sports that led to a journalism career in such places as Enid, Okla., Alamogordo, N.M., Pascagoula, Miss. and Viera, Fla. since 1998. His main passion is small-town community sports, particularly baseball and soccer.