Parents Listen Up, The Golden Bear Speaks
Jack has some wise words for parents everywhere.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Jack Nicklaus made some interesting comments regarding the need for young golfers to remain well-rounded and to not specialize in golf too early. Nicklaus went on to say in the article that even while playing college golf at Ohio State, the clubs would be stored in the closet following the playing season and he would take up intramural football, basketball and volleyball. Nicklaus’ advice to aspiring young golfers, “I think kids should be playing everything, doing everything. Eventually, if you want to specialize in something, that’s fine. But go out and enjoy, and be happy to be able to play other things.”
I think this phenomenon of kids specializing in a specific sport is not limited to golf, but it is happening in all sports. You see all the time where kids as young as seven or eight are playing in these ID tournaments where scouts are eager to find the next Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky or Tiger Woods. There’s so much money and pressure these days, that parents feel that they have to specialize if their child is to have even a chance to make it to the bigtime.
I read the other day where parents are driving themselves crazy trying to get their kid that extra edge. Finding them sports psychologists, therapists, personal trainers, etc… And it’s all a big fad. One kid’s parents decide to sign their kid up for acupuncture and before you know it, the entire team has their kid doing it. The madness has got to stop.
I remember back in my day. I never did play golf growing up, but I played baseball, football, basketball and soccer. The thought never crossed my mind to only play one, we always played everything. Kids and parents these days are so eager to force their kids into something, and make them go pro as soon as possible. It truly is tragic.
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