go sports

the impact of organized sports go well beyond wins and losses, scholarships and NIL deals - our reflections on our college athletic careers and the lessons that have shaped us

Hi Noosers! Anne & Avery, here. Our view on health is simple: small daily actions add up. The basics are the priority: real food, movement you enjoy, and habits that support you. Anne (Registered Dietitian) and Avery (Health Coach) write Monday Noosletters based on research and our experiences — because at the end of the day, we all want to know what everyone else is doing, perhaps due to our innate curiosity around human behavior. We are mothers, friends, and athletes who want to share our knowledge and empower our readers to take their health into their own hands. Every first Monday of the month is free, but if you’d like to upgrade to a paid subscription to receive weekly Noosletters, we’d be thrilled!

Happy (Marathon) Monday, Noosers! If you’re an east coaster, you may know that it’s Patriot’s Day, which means it’s also the Boston Marathon. We both like to have it on the TV in the background all morning, watching the elite runners, taking in the first signs of spring in Boston as the camera pans out, and reminiscing of our own competitive days. Especially with our kids’ spring sports seasons kicking into gear, we have both been reflecting on the powerful effect organized sports have had in shaping our everyday habits, even though we are far removed from our glory days! We thought this would be a timely post — perhaps your kids are in the throes of club or recreation teams, or you’re like us, just getting started. We wanted to share a more personal essay on the impact that sports have had on us long term. Sports ingrained the value of physical movement in us, but beyond that, we have learned some incredible lessons throughout the years and wanted to share our stories on this Marathon Monday!

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Avery’s senior year roster pics for soccer and lacrosse

It’s still shocking to me that I stepped off the lacrosse field at Bates 15 years ago — I still feel like a competitive athlete, perhaps because it was such a major part of growing up, or it’s because I carry so much of what I learned with me on a daily basis.

I played D3 soccer and lacrosse all through college — there was no scholarship opportunity at that level (certainly no NIL deals, lol), and absolutely zero chance of going pro: just the love of the game and the teammates I played with.

Participating on a team taught me so many things — how to be accountable for my actions, how to work with others towards a bigger goal, how to step up in a pressure situation and how to rely on someone else in a high stress moment, how being tough and doing hard things is necessary to understand your limits, and then push them — mentally and physically.

I am certain that my participation in team sports have had a major impact on what kind of mother, wife and friend I am today. I see my husband as my teammate, and count on him to carry his end. I know there are times when I have to do the heavy lifting and times when it will shift back to him or even out — lessons learned from having probably hundreds of teammates throughout my years in organized sports. Similar lessons trickle into our Noos operation — Anne and I are teammates that pass the torch back and forth, depending on who has what going on each week.

Being a good teammate goes well beyond the playing field. In the workplace, household and in your community — identifying the needs and talents of others, understanding how you can be helpful, and practicing effective communication are all critical to success.

I know that if I was tough enough to eek out a timed mile in extreme weather or go head to head with a more talented/stronger player, I am also tough enough to get out of bed to feed the baby for the 4th (10th?!) time in the middle of the night, or squeeze in a workout the morning after I cleaned up puke from one of my kids dealing with the stomach bug.

Resilience is a trait that can only be acquired from grinding it out — something Bates Bobcats had a lot of practice with, from blazing late august preseason weather, sub freezing temps during February night practices (6-8pm slot was the worst), and feeling like the perpetual underdog in a very competitive league (like the saying: always the bridesmaid, never the bride… whatever the equivalent is for never winning a championship, lol).

While I have zero NESCAC or NCAA trophies to show for it, I am forever grateful for the lessons and for the people I played with (some of my closest friends are teammates from the college years!). Organized sports build grit and resilience — over years of practices, devastating losses, electric wins, and all of the in between moments with your teammates in the locker room, in the dining hall or on the bus to away games. I am so grateful for my athletic career (though I’m convinced it isn’t over yet) and now as a mother, I am excited to see how sports will impact my sons’ development, the lessons they will learn, and most of all, to be their biggest fan.

my oldest son, Pierce, in goal

Anne’s senior year roster pic and a few others

When Avery and I talked about writing an essay on what being a collegiate athlete was like, I thought to myself, how timely. I am just starting to dip my toe into competitive youth sports — my son is currently in his first season of AAU basketball. He is a fifth grader, which seems late to just be starting a “travel” team. Reading that line back, it’s wild how out of control youth sports have become.

I am sure many of you, who were born in the 80s (and earlier) and now have kids in sports, can relate. The contrast between today's structured youth sports machine and our more carefree athletic beginnings is stark.

My childhood wasn't marked by expensive training camps or tournaments. Instead, I remember dewy grass soaking through my socks during Saturday morning soccer, the sweet-sour taste of orange wedges, and the simple joy of movement without expectation.