If you are an adult reading this message to our kids, it is very important that we strive to make the children proud of who they are.  They start out with great expectations and excitement and we have a responsibility to protect, nurture and foster the positive aspects and wonderful experiences that youth sports participation can offer.

TO THE KIDS:  BMS stands for “Body,” “Mind” and “Spirit.”  As a young athlete just getting started in sports; hopefully you are experiencing for the first time the fun and enjoyment that sports participation can offer. You will be making new friends and trying to do things that you haven’t done before. Through your participation you will learn lessons that can be very valuable as you grow up.

While it is our hope at BMS that sports experience will start out enjoyable and stay that way.  We encourage the adults associated with youth sports to be supportive and positive regarding your participation in youth sports.  However, sometimes adults make it difficult for you to enjoy your sports participation.  Adults can be well-meaning in their behavior toward young athletes, but they instead occasionally end up interfering with the enjoyment of others.  Even parents and coaches can be insensitive to your feelings.  They don’t mean to be mean, but it can make you feel unhappy.

When an adult is critical of kids and/or other people it can sometimes cause hurt and/or angry feelings.  Often the occasional adult misbehavior can ruin the sports event for everyone.  The BMS Project has created programs encouraging your parents and coaches to always remember to be sensitive to the fact that you and the other children are still kids.  Our job as adults is to help you to learn and become a good person when you grow up, not to make you unhappy.

We very much hope that you enjoy playing sports.  However, sports is something that you do — it isn’t who you are.  You might enjoy music, art, mathematics or other activities more than sports… and that is okay.  There are other physical activities to help develop your body to keep you healthy and strong other than just sports.  However, sports activities can contribute to your physical development as well as your mental well-being.

One of the most important things that can happen from sports participation is to make new friends.  Sometimes those friendships can last a lifetime.  These are some of the positive things that sports can contribute to give you enjoyment and make you a better person.

Unfortunately, just like with kids some adults are nice and others are not as friendly.  As you probably know there are bullies and some kids that do mean things.  The same thing applies to adults.  If an adult is doing something they shouldn’t do,  it is important that you tell your parents or someone you trust.  Do not feel guilty ashamed or afraid… We care about you and we really enjoy watching you play.

When we say “Together… here for our youth,” we are referring to you, parents, grandparents, coaches, other athletes/teams’ parents and fans; as well as officials!  Working together we can make it fun for everyone… and that’s how we want it to stay.