Thoughts on Sunday sports play.

[mUUser]

Summer's over, and what a sunmer it was.

I have a talented daughter who plays softball. Softball begins in earnest in Spring, and continues through July, which includes practices during YW, and tournaments that often fall on a Sunday concluding in World Series play.

Prior to the season, our Bishop pulled us into his office and counseled us to not play this season (I told him previously that we felt like if she played a team sport, then she should support the team whether it included Sunday play or not, otherwise we'd encourage individual sports.)

Well, I must say, irrespective of our Bishop's counsel, this summer was one of the most rewarding experiences our family has ever had. Its hard to overemphasize the development of her skills, our bonding with others & long road trips with nothing to do but talk.

This got me thinking, what do other LDS do -- if you had a talented child, would you allow them to play on Sunday? This is especially germane to those that live outside of highly concentrated LDS areas.

[Indy Coug]

With the caveat that it's a small sample size, in wards I have lived, kids that played on a significant number of Sundays drifted away from church. The two girls that did it got pregnant by the age of 18 .

[RC Vikings]

Summer's over, and what a sunmer it was.

I have a talented daughter who plays softball. Softball begins in earnest in Spring, and continues through July, which includes practices during YW, and tournaments that often fall on a Sunday concluding in World Series play.

Prior to the season, our Bishop pulled us into his office and counseled us to not play this season (I told him previously that we felt like if she played a team sport, then she should support the team whether it included Sunday play or not, otherwise we'd encourage individual sports.)

Well, I must say, irrespective of our Bishop's counsel, this summer was one of the most rewarding experiences our family has ever had. Its hard to overemphasize the development of her skills, our bonding with others & long road trips with nothing to do but talk.

This got me thinking, what do other LDS do -- if you had a talented child, would you allow them to play on Sunday? This is especially germane to those that live outside of highly concentrated LDS areas.

I really struggle with what is considered the right thing to do on a Sunday. It seems like such a waste of time to have everyone napping or just sitting around watching TV because it's wrong to go do anything on a Sunday. I'm very liberal on this subject and if it involves family then it's okay in my book.

[Art Vandelay]

Summer's over, and what a sunmer it was.

I have a talented daughter who plays softball. Softball begins in earnest in Spring, and continues through July, which includes practices during YW, and tournaments that often fall on a Sunday concluding in World Series play.

Prior to the season, our Bishop pulled us into his office and counseled us to not play this season (I told him previously that we felt like if she played a team sport, then she should support the team whether it included Sunday play or not, otherwise we'd encourage individual sports.)

Well, I must say, irrespective of our Bishop's counsel, this summer was one of the most rewarding experiences our family has ever had. Its hard to overemphasize the development of her skills, our bonding with others & long road trips with nothing to do but talk.

This got me thinking, what do other LDS do -- if you had a talented child, would you allow them to play on Sunday? This is especially germane to those that live outside of highly concentrated LDS areas.

My daughter use to play on one of the top AAU in the West (they have placed in the top 3 for the "Best of West" tournament in Vegas for the past 3 years). She decided on her own she wanted to give up basketball and just play soccer for fun. She didn't like how competitive and time consuming it had become.

My 9 year old son plays on a traveling soccer team year around in addition to football and basketball. Football and basketball rarely have Sunday play, but every soccer tournament's final game is on Sunday.

In both instances I talked with the kids about keeping the sabbath day holy and why I feel it is important. Both children agreed they didn't want to play sports on Sunday. So we talked to the coach prior to season and let him know that they wouldn't be practicing or playing any games on Sunday. Thankfully, both coaches and the other parents on the team have been very understanding.

I think it is a personal decision. However, in my ward there has been a 100% correlation between kids who play sports on Sunday and choose not to go to church after graduation. Granted it is a small sample size 5 or 6, but an interesting fact nonetheless.

[Jarid in Cedar]

I think it is a personal decision. However, in my ward there has been a 100% correlation between kids who play sports on Sunday and choose not to go to church after graduation. Granted it is a small sample size 5 or 6, but an interesting fact nonetheless.

This sounds like something you would hear in a conference talk.

[TripletDaddy]

Sunday sports play is an interesting conundrum in our culture.

It is frowned upon when you are doing it for free.

If you get paid to do it, you will be asked to speak to the youth at firesides.

Just another in a list of things that make apologists sweat, I guess.

[pellegrino]

I think it depends on what the child wants and their ability. If they really want to play and they demonstrate dedication and some (not a lot) ability then I might. I'm not staunchly opposed to it.

The truth is though, I don't really want to go watching a bunch of games on Sundays just because I like to be lazy on Sundays and do as little as possible. It really is my day of rest, regardless of any religious commitments. This is especially during the semester when I put in long hours throughout the week

[BigPiney]

Growing up I did 2 different sports on Sundays. Not every Sunday, but probably 4 to 6 times a year. I turned out ok churchwise, plus my dad was the bishop so I had that going against me too. This year my kids had maybe 3 swim meets where part was on Sunday. They attended, and I made it a point to be there to support them to show them that they are more important to me that anythign else. I did miss some of their warmups so I could attend meetings I was needed at but they knew I would be there for the races.

I think moderation in all things is the key. If it was every Sunday through the summer, then I would say there has to be a better way, but one here and there isn't going to doom them.

[UtahDan]

With the caveat that it's a small sample size, in wards I have lived, kids that played on a significant number of Sundays drifted away from church. The two girls that did it got pregnant by the age of 18 .

Interesting. In my equally small sample size, it seems like the kids from the strictest families, and very frequently the Bishops kids, tend to drift away at more than the average rate. I can think of several who had serious drug problems and one who was pregnant at 17.

[smokymountainrain]

It seems like such a waste of time to have everyone napping or just sitting around watching TV because it's wrong to go do anything on a Sunday.

Do even the most mullahish mullahs consider this the right thing to do? I've never heard of sitting around watching TV as something any church leader thinks is what you should be doing on Sunday. I've heard many people talk about not watching TV. In fact, it seems most counsel consists of going and doing stuff on Sunday rather than staying at home. Visiting the sick. Visiting family. Going on walks. Visiting neighbors. Doing hometeaching. Who has ever said it's wrong to go do anything on Sunday?

Sorry if my post is harsh - it is not meant to be - but I'm confused as to where you are getting these ideas.

[UtahDan]

Sunday sports play is an interesting conundrum in our culture.

It is frowned upon when you are doing it for free.

If you get paid to do it, you will be asked to speak to the youth at firesides.

Just another in a list of things that make apologists sweat, I guess.

I wonder whether Eli Herring has ever had second thoughts.

[UtahDan]

I think moderation in all things is the key. If it was every Sunday through the summer, then I would say there has to be a better way, but one here and there isn't going to doom them.

That sounds like a balanced approach.

[Mormon Red Death]

My brother in law always had practices on Sunday (High School Basketball). He worked out with his coach to either have practices in the morning (Afternoon church) or vice versa. It worked out well for him.

[Jarid in Cedar]

Interesting. In my equally small sample size, it seems like the kids from the strictest families, and very frequently the Bishops kids, tend to drift away at more than the average rate. I can think of several who had serious drug problems and one who was pregnant at 17.

I think that would augment what I am saying. The fact that playing sports on Sunday is being portrayed as a direct cause and effect to their inactivity after High school is just plain misleading. Those decisions are multifactorial and are likely not related to whether they play on a tournament team that happens to play on some Sunday's as well.

[Indy Coug]

Interesting. In my equally small sample size, it seems like the kids from the strictest families, and very frequently the Bishops kids, tend to drift away at more than the average rate. I can think of several who had serious drug problems and one who was pregnant at 17.

Probably because the church sucks away what little remains of a father's time doing his duties as a bishop that the kids don't get the corrective butt kickings they periodically need.

IOW, the bishop is guilty of Sunday Play.