BMS stands for “Body,” “Mind” and “Spirit.”  The BMS programs contribute to and support youth sports participation and physical activity for athletes of all ages.  Children are starting to become involved in sports participation younger and younger.  theBMSproject’s Children’s Program has been designed for ages four through eight.  It is intended to assist parents to contribute to the early development of their children…  physically, mentally and spiritually.  The BMS Children’s Program anticipates that parents are the best suited to determine what is best for their children’s future good health safety and well-being.

All of the BMS programs assist youth sports advocates to create and maintain safe, healthy, positive competitive environments and experiences for children, athletes of all ages and their families.  The programs assist to combat various negative influences that can undermine the wonderful, positive aspects of growing up to become healthy, strong and happy adults.  If you elect to allow your children to participate in youth sports, theBMSproject’s youth sports programs will be available to introduce and escort your child’s and family’s journey through youth sports.  

There are many paths available for our children to explore… that is what childhood is for.  They might become an artist, an educator and/or a construction worker… as adults we simply don’t know.  It is their journey and our role as adults to escort safely along wherever their life journeys take them.  theBMSproject programs for athletes actually provide portals into and to broader communities at large.  theBMSproject programs can also be useful to assist and support adults and young people that are not involved in sports. 

The best thing that we can do as youth sports advocates is when and if they begin to participate in youth sports to let them know how much we enjoy watching them play.  Even if they do not participate in competitive sports, physical activity is acknowledged to be important in the healthy development of all children.

Adults sometimes unthinkingly exert negative influences on what should be a joyous, growing-up experience.  At what age should we as adults start imposing competitive pressures on our children?  Above, we stated that we believe that parents are best suited to decide what is best for their children.  There is no one right answer to the question posed above regarding when children begin to participate in competitive activities — in sports or other life endeavors.

theBMSproject programs encourage adults to remain vigilant regarding the emotional and psychological impact on children when they participate in competitive activities.  Children most often just want to have fun.  Some youngsters relish competition at an early age.  In most cases, our kids just want to please us… sometimes desperately so.  Young parents’ enthusiasm can contribute to lose sight of the importance of being a positive advocates for their children’s enjoyment of competitive participation.  Children love to play games; however, adults motives and aspirations for their children can serve to compromise and distort the kids’ enjoyment of the game.

As adults, we should all commit to create and maintain safe, healthy, positive environments and experiences for the kids.  When your child is old enough to enter sports or other competitive activities, please remember it is their game and let them travel their own journey.  However, as parents, guardian and or grandparents you should always remain vigilant and strive to ensure their safety and encourage their exploration of life.  As responsible adults it is important to respect the youth sports officials at all times.  By working together as adults we can keep our children, coaches and officials committed to youth sports.   Everyone’s common goal is to contribute to raise our children to become good adults.