Building Community Through Sports
by Amy Schweizer - March 31st, 2022
My friends and I are now-40ish, and we love to look back on old photos of our t-ball team or high school basketball squad. We share memories of the haircuts we had back in the day, bus trips we took as a basketball team, or the one song we all still remember from the soccer locker room. After living in one location for the entirety of my childhood, I realized that a lot of children--especially military children--don’t have that same experience.
Military children don’t get the experience of growing up with the same kids, the same group of friends, or the same teammates, like many of us did. They don’t get to look at old photos with old friends and say, “Hey, remember when we were in that tournament?!”, or to walk by a childhood friend’s house as an adult. Unfortunately, that is a part of their journey as a mil-kid due to frequent relocations.
Military kids need community
Studies have shown that military children have increasingly higher rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental health ailments due to the circumstances and stressors of military life. Children need help expressing those feelings of sadness, confusion, anger, etc. during those times of stress, and it's our job as adults to help them find healthy ways to do so.
One of the most significant things you can do to combat mental and physical health ailments is to sign your child up for a sport. Participating in a group activity such as soccer or basketball has numerous positive learning and growth opportunities that can support a child’s character development and their capacity to deal with adversity--particularly during the ups and downs of military life.
Building community through sports for military kids
This is done through several avenues. First, the simple task of being active and increasing their heart rate multiple times per week is proven to trigger the release of dopamine and serotonin, the positive (aka happy) hormones.
Second, playing a sport provides a sense of belonging and support. Your child may not understand why mom or dad is gone, or why they don’t live by Grammy or their old friends anymore. Participating in a sport provides instant community and security, helping them know that they are not alone (which may be otherwise questionable at that time in their life).
Last but not least, sports gives kids a sense of hope to have something fun to look forward to each week and, at least partially, gives them something to focus on other than their negative feelings.
Tiny Troops Soccer supports military kids
One of the sport organizations that you can find near many military installations is Tiny Troops Soccer (TTS). TTS recognizes the unique circumstances that military children face and finds it an honor to be able to serve them in such a fun way. It is a developmental program for 2-5 year olds that introduces kids to the game of soccer and skill practice while providing community and an overall wellness experience.
The sessions focus on gross motor, listening, and social skills development in a fun atmosphere. Participating in TTS provides an outlet that improves physical and emotional health, while creating a community with families in a similar stage of life. The monthly registration periods allow children/families to join whenever it fits their schedule and have an instant community during frequent relocations.
Benefits of sports for military kids
In a recent survey of Tiny Troops Soccer parents, 63% of parents reported their children having less anxiety & acclimating better to new duty station, 94% reported improved happiness/well-being, and 86% reported increased confidence in group settings through participating in Tiny Troops.
TTS is committed to providing a year-round opportunity so that military children can be on a team no matter if they are in the middle of a PCS or going to be gone for a month on leave. The numerous locations help ease the burden of transition for military children as they can find something familiar from base to base that is just for them.
Whether it’s with Tiny Troops Soccer, base Youth Sports, or a local recreational league, please do not hesitate to get your child involved in a sport – they will reap the benefits for life!
Amy is an USMC military spouse of 11 years, mom to three boys, and an expert in youth sport development, with experience in program creation, coaching and program management, and the professional sports industry. She has a B.S. in Finance and M.S. in Sport Management, with certifications in group fitness, behavior change, and fitness nutrition. She has played soccer for over 20 years, culminating with being a member of the Cincinnati Ladyhawks of the USL. She is the Founder and Owner of Tiny Troops Soccer, a developmental program for children ages 2-5 with 35 locations worldwide. She loves creating physical activity programs that benefit the overall well-being of military children, families, and the surrounding communities, and is a passionate advocate for military spouse employment. She has recently published her first book - “I Will Be Okay - Adventures of a Military Kid”, and was selected as the 2021 Inspirational Leader of the Year by The Rosie Network.
