Five Levels of Commitment: Intro + Level One
The five levels of commitment is a concept that I have re-imagined based on material derived from the book Not Nice by Dr. Aziz Gazipura, PsyD.
Introduction
The five levels of commitment is a concept that I have re-imagined based on material derived from the book Not Nice by Dr. Aziz Gazipura, PsyD.
Dr. Aziz describes the five levels of commitment as: “a way to assess how committed you are to any process.” He credits Dr. Robert Wubbolding, the pioneer of Reality Therapy and William Glasser as notable founders of the original concept.
I have recrafted the levels by detailing youth commitment and pairing with the advised investment levels of parents and the remainder of their support team to ensure maximum return on investment as each family navigates the business of sport.
The premise is to evaluate your athletes state of mind through assessment and determine the safest route to approach sport participation as a family. This is done primarily for their developmental wellbeing and secondly, the family’s financial well-being.
Youth Sports is a billion dollar industry that is capitalizing on overzealous parents who want to keep their kids happy and active and will pay any tab to do just that. This ultimately undermines the success of the family and the student-athlete because the sport itself is not tailored to benefit their social, emotional, psychological health, or long-term goals. Instead they are tailored, like most business models, to simply increase capital.
As a growth expert, I have spent extensive time on various sides of the ball including my time as a player, coach, trainer, and a NCAA Certified Exposure Event Director as college recruiters evaluated, analyzed, and scouted talent as they competed head to head in travel ball competitions.
My hope is that through this article and others like it, families will educate themselves on the sport business and it will allow student-athletes to get closer to their goals and truly create the life they want. As this guidance will allow you to make the best decision for your family and the overall future of your child.
Though basketball is a team sport, their life is very much their own, independently. It is our responsibility to raise adults. We must do this by learning the game, asking the right questions, and protecting your family. Lives are at stake.
The purpose of sport is to enhance character, leadership skills, and life skills, to create employable adults, change agents, and future world leaders. Our responsibility is to leave this world better than we found it. My way is by equipping families and student-athletes with the skills necessary to do just that.
I hope that this saves you time, energy, and tears. Leaving you with more memories, warmth, and joy.
Yours in basketball,
Ashleigh Edwards
Level One: Lack of Commitment
Strong Resistance: “I don’t really want to.”
Investment Level:
When your athlete expresses strong resistance to the sport,via apparent opposition to participation, it is imperative that we assess ‘why’ prior to encouraging or forcing them to participate.
Now we all have seen the typical child who “doesn’t like eggs” but has never tried eggs. In many cases parents aren’t trying to force eggs down your throat but rather expand your palate which is understandable but still generally ill-advised. Follow this example below.
Continuing the food example Psychologist Dr. Becky w/ Good Inside & the Ellyn Satter Institute, “emphasize the role and responsibility of each family member. As “it’s critical to the development of healthy (eating) patterns that everyone does their job and only their job.” Self-regulation, self-confidence, consent, and much more is impacted here as well.
I believe that greatness transcends disciplines. We can take this same expert guidance from mealtime power struggles and apply to power struggles found anywhere with our children, including in sport. The goal is to minimize the struggle.
Safety, well-being, and overall development of the child is the priority. They deserve kindness and respect. We must keep in mind we are raising adults. By giving them a voice and honoring their feelings you will equip them with self-confidence, self-respect, and other positive attributes for their journey.
Between the ages of 4-8 years old, your child should try a plethora of sports. This is done at the RECREATIONAL LEVEL! Here, the participation fees are little to no cost. Practices range from 1-4 times a week depending on the sport/program. You can even assess based on your athlete’s skill/interest level what environment is most productive to their growth.
Keep in mind the environment will vary as there are many recreational leagues for youth sports. All leagues are not created equal as they vary in competitiveness. Typically, competitiveness ranges in this order (least competitive to most competitive)
Church Leagues
YMCA
Private Leagues*
County/City Parks
*Private leagues have the opportunity to vary in competitiveness as it is owned/operated by a private member/group. Some private groups are local churches conjoining. In other instances it is travel ball coaches creating more competitive recreational opportunities. This is why doing your research is necessary. As research allows more flexibility to find the price point, schedule, and setting that works best for your student-athletes success.
Success is measured here by understanding simply what they enjoy or do not enjoy. Is taking them to and from joyous or painful for everyone involved? By the time they can effectively communicate at approximately 9, you should have a clearer picture as to which sports are their favorites and you can take more time developing their skill thereafter, following their lead.
Things to look for: FEAR
Sometimes children do not give sports a chance. Just the mere mention of it ensues a struggle, they’re combative, and simply WILL NOT cooperate. Again, we have to assess why. Oftentimes this is rooted in fear. Sometimes it stems from prior experiences that were unpleasant. Some scenarios could’ve also occurred in Physical Education . class that has left them insecure. Some are afraid of failing, letting their parents down, their teammates, or living up to the standard set by an older sibling. They could also fear being physical in game scenarios.
All of these are very REAL & VALID. I have seen these fears stop athletes who LOVE the sport from participating due to a particular level of anxiety. In order to assess the best course of action for your student-athlete it is imperative to be present, do your research, and seek expert guidance if necessary.
Takeaway: Challenge Yourself to Find Their Thing
There is no denying sports offer many positive variables. I frequently say, “as in basketball, as in life.” There are life skills that present in the game every day shaping our kids character, personalities, and the leader within them. But in all fairness, this can also be accomplished in Karate, Piano, and Coding. Discipline, teamwork, communication, perseverance, critical thinking, problem solving, just to name a few, all are developed in basketball. But it is more important that your child acquires these skills for life than WHERE they acquire them. If it’s basketball, great. But if it’s from something else, that’s great too. Our sole responsibility as leaders is to equip them with the tools they need IN LIFE. Sports is just one of many ways to accomplish this.
If your athlete has no interest and ranks at a Level 1 commitment in the game of basketball, I challenge you to find their THING! There is guaranteed to be something of interest to them where they are willing to do “whatever it takes.” Don’t be close minded, selective, or restrictive. They have a purpose in life that is bigger than our feelings, thoughts, or opinions and we must steward accordingly.
Parents of gamers often think they are wasting time but video games include valuable skills as well. Times have changed. You can literally be a Professional Gamer – and unlike basketball there is no salary cap, or age restriction. If they love games, challenge them. Instead of playing all day, maybe invest in programs to help them build their own game. Find camps/after school programs that involve tech or coding to cultivate the skill. Find trainers, guides, and tournaments for them to find friends and compete.
Everything is figure-outable. Again, they need life skills. The delivery method is interchangeable. But the skills needed to excel in life are non-negotiable.