Why?

My biggest passion in life ignited when I first discovered poker around 1999-2000 and than the message board twoplustwo.com where I was able trade strategy ideas with others. Poker strategy utterly consumed my thoughts for many years. The feeling of finding something you love deeply, something you can even make money from was truly a blessing. While I enjoy real estate investing, it doesn’t compare. Other passions include golf, the computer game StarCraft, and chess. However, youth sports have now surpassed them all except poker.

I played year-round soccer with top clubs, alongside travel basketball, baseball, and scholastic chess. I even squeezed in junior golf during summers. I loved every bit of it. My dad coached me very hard and was very involved like I am with my kids. Even thought it didn’t amount to anything passed high school, those are still some of my fondest memories.

I often hear the argument that youth sports “don’t matter.” While I understand the sentiment, I wonder what specifically does matter? Are all children who aren’t involved in sports diligently working on solving the Riemann Hypothesis? I believe sports instill one of the most crucial lessons a parent can teach: improvement is a journey that demands discipline, consistent practice, and a well-defined plan. You get a front row seat to learning what improvement looks like in the real world.

With Lexie and Will, I have the privilege of witnessing some of the best soccer players in the 2011 and 2013 age groups. I’m hoping Will’s passion for golf allows me to watch some exceptional young golfers as well. When I go to trainings, I watch all the players. There’s a girl in Lexie’s age group who I believe has the potential to make the National Team – it’s gonna be great to see if that happens.

The true intrigue for me lies in the experiment of it. Which physical and mental attributes translate most effectively as the athletes mature? Is athleticism paramount? Which traits between, speed, quickness, strength, toughness, matter most? Does individual work ethic just reign supreme? The ones that care the most get the furthest? Can players who start late or get behind catch up to the top level in technical skill? After guiding my own children through this experience and watching their peers grow, I’m confident I’ll gain invaluable insights into effective training methods and identify what the secret sauce looks like.

Who knows, perhaps after my children have grown, I’ll find a way to sustain and/or monetize my passion and hopefully my insight for youth sports. Beyond winning the lottery and establishing my own club and training facility, I haven’t yet devised a concrete plan.