*** As it turns out, the video upon which this episode is based was a hoax but the concept of sports without implements is not. The principles discussed on this episode remain relevant, important and valuable ***   'Double take' does not sum up our reaction when reading the article that prompted this week's episode.   There was a Facebook video posted on the CBC Facebook page about a Washington State Youth Sports Organization that has stopped using the ball while playing soccer.   Yes, you read that correctly, they are still getting together on a soccer field (apparently we can't remove that), wearing cleats and soccer outfits, but are playing with an imaginary ball.   The purpose of this is to remove the 'pressures' of competition, stop proclaiming winners and losers and therefore protect the child's self-esteem.   This is not the first time a story like this hit the news.   In 2013 The Soccer Association Of Midlake Ontario did similar claiming "We want our children to grow up learning that sport is not about competition, rather it's about using your imagination. If you imagine you're good at soccer, then you are."   The purpose of this podcast is to discuss why ideas like this are harmful, should be avoided and that by implementing them, they are in fact crushing your child's self-esteem.   What we cover:

• Things are what they are; this is Aristotle's law of identity. Reality, at times, is not pleasant and you are free to ignore it if you want to. However you are not free to avoid the consequences of avoiding reality. Pretend your child is going to touch a hot stove, you would never tell them "Just pretend the stove isn't hot" as a way to help them avoid getting burned. 
• Humans (children are humans) are different, teaching them to be the same stifles the very thing that makes your child who they are - their uniqueness. No, not every child will be good at soccer, so what and who cares? Some kids have a more vivid imagination, so what's next, telling children to stop imagining because someone might feel left out?
• Children are honest - and this type of behaviour hurts them in the long run.