Beyond the Game: Aaron Locks’ Holistic Approach to Youth Development Through Sports
By: NAofA Founder and CEO, Aaron Locks
Personal Philosophy on Youth Development
As someone who firmly believes in the life lessons learned through sports and athletics, I can honestly say that my philosophy on the impact and importance of kids playing sports is crucial for youth development and helping them thrive in life. Growing up without a father at home, my mom wisely exposed me to the world of youth sports. Looking back, it’s clear that having the opportunity to play various sports, with different groups of kids, and learning from different coaches, whether excelling or struggling, set me up for success in life.
As a parent of two grown children who followed in my footsteps by playing multiple sports throughout their childhood, I’m happy to say they had similar experiences. They encountered success, failure, striking out, and winning, all while learning to love competition. The key is to help kids learn to love competing—not in a “win-at-all-costs” manner or giving trophies to everyone who shows up, but through a blend of fundamentals, competing for playing time, playing specific positions, and discussing and celebrating effort rather than just results.
Competition and Growth
Helping kids understand the rules, develop fundamental skills, and grasp the objectives of the game is vital. While I am competitive, winning is just one of the goals for the kids in our programs at the National Academy of Athletics. It’s about fostering a love for the game and instilling valuable life lessons through sports.
The key to all of this, to me, is helping kids learn to love to compete. Not by promoting a “win at all costs” mentality or giving trophies to everyone who participates, but by creating a magical blend of fundamentals, competition for playing time, and specific positions. When the game is over, whether they win or lose, we discuss and celebrate their effort rather than just the results.
Helping kids fall in love with sports involves teaching them the boundaries or rules, the fundamental skills needed to play, and the objectives of the game. Am I competitive? Absolutely. But winning is only one of the goals we have for the kids in our programs at the National Academy of Athletics. We aim to nurture their love for the game, develop their skills, and foster a positive, encouraging environment where effort and growth are celebrated.
Embracing Failure as a Path to Success
As parents, we must learn to be okay with our kids failing from time to time- it is crucial to youth development. My mother gave me amazing gifts, among them the encouragement to go for it, no matter what it was. She gave me unconditional love with the freedom to fail without judgment. Yes, there were consequences, but she never made me feel judged or that she was disappointed in me. She would give me that magical smile, put her arm around me, and say, “Okay Aaron, I know that did not turn out the way you wanted, so, what’s the lesson?” Then she would help me evaluate the situation, asking how much I wanted to make it better, and whether I wanted to improve or move on to something else.
Expanding on this idea, embracing failure as a part of growth is crucial. It teaches resilience, problem-solving, and the ability to adapt. Encouraging children to try new things and take risks, while providing a supportive environment, helps them develop confidence and learn from their experiences. By focusing on the lessons learned rather than the mistakes made, we can help our children build a strong foundation for future success.
As a parent, I quickly realized that my kids were amazing, right? Well, they were like most other children—pretty dang special. I remember learning a very valuable lesson about my kids when they learned to walk, especially my daughter Mia. When Mia was about a year old, she started to pull herself up and begin the adventure of learning to walk. I didn’t have to tell her, “Okay Mia, let’s do walking practice.” She had the desire to walk, so she got up and fell down, and got up and fell down many times. But she quickly learned to walk. I remember being impressed with her determination. She wasn’t counting how many times she practiced or fell down; instead, she was focused on getting up and walking.
In my day job, I have found this to be hugely helpful and influential. Drawing from John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success, the importance of blending enthusiasm and industriousness, or playing hard and having fun, has led to the creation of our training system to help kids develop mentally and physically. Here’s what we focus on:
- Understanding the concept of the sport: Helping kids grasp the overall objective and purpose of the game.
- Understanding the rules of the game: Teaching them the guidelines and boundaries within which they play.
- Understanding the fundamental skills needed to play: Ensuring they learn the basic techniques required.
- Focusing on the effort rather than just the result: Encouraging them to value hard work and persistence.
- Using positive reinforcement and encouragement rather than punishment: Motivating them with praise and support.
- Allowing the players to fail or succeed without judgment: Letting them experience success and failure as part of the learning process.
- Challenging participants to do their best: By helping them to learn that while winning is not always attainable, doing their best is always achievable.
By integrating these principles, we create a nurturing environment that promotes growth, resilience, and a love for the sport. This approach not only helps kids improve their skills but also teaches valuable life lessons that extend beyond the playing field.
