Spring has finally sprung, and the outdoorsmen are gearing up. Winter sports are over as basketball and wrestling are being replaced by others. Youngsters from the area are getting ready for their baseball and softball runs. Change is in the air, and this is a beautiful time of year.

The NCAA Basketball Tournament is my absolute favorite. My bracket has officially busted, but I am still enjoying all of the games. I don’t particularly have any team that I am rooting for. I simply love watching good basketball in March. Congrats to the gal who is first place in our poll. She picked her winners based on mascots and team colors. Then there’s that guy who fills out 20 brackets. All of them are different, but he still takes credit for an upset.

Soon it will be the Masters, and the first major tournament will officially kick off the golf season. I am totally glued to the television those four days and lock myself in the basement. I can’t get to my phone right now. Please leave a message. I personally do not know how much I will play this year. My desire and excitement for the game comes and goes. It’s an expensive sport, and it requires a great deal of time. I do believe that golf will be a very hot topic with our upcoming local election.

A lot has changed the past 30 years. It is less common today to see a group of children outside participating in what we call “pick-up” games. The norm has become for adolescents to play in organized sports driven by parents. I chimed in before on how technology and digital devices like iPhones, iPads, and gaming systems have also contributed to the problem. My column on Fortnite is still trending. Different era. Yes. It’s very frustrating.

I had a great childhood, and I played quite a bit with my neighborhood friends. We competed in a variety of sports and games. I vividly remember the intense whiffle ball battles or the three on three showdowns on my buddy’s court. We spent a great deal of time outdoors without any influence. My mates and I would play until the sun would set and pick things up the following morning. Do you have a similar experience?

The demise of these “pick-up” games is a shame. Unfortunately, today’s organized sports are very political and sometimes put way to much pressure on our kids. They are also very expensive. So we should all encourage our children to play more of these neighborhood games. They allow a more natural development of fitness and fun. “Pick-up” games also promote solid teamwork and communication.

Kids need to have a positive experience when it comes to sports. The more opportunities to participate with friends will only promote these expereinces. Our children need to take part in these neighborhood “pick-up” games, away from their parents, coaches, and travel teams. Let them grow up and get a taste. Sending your eight-year-old son or daughter to specialized training sessions three or four days a week might actually cause them harm. Kids get burned out. I’ve seen it happen hundreds of times. Cheers.