Coaches often focus on the points their athletes score on the field, but what about the points they miss on the sidelines? These missed opportunities aren’t about goals or touchdowns; they’re about connections—relationships with teammates’ parents that could significantly impact a young person’s future. This form of “sideline scoring” is crucial to social capital, yet it’s often overlooked.
The Missed Opportunity
Think about this: Most young athletes have no idea what their teammates’ parents do for a living. Are they doctors, truck drivers, business owners, or tech experts? This lack of awareness represents a gap in social capital literacy—not just for students but for the coaches, teachers, and administrators who are supposed to guide them.
A recent report shows that over 50% of jobs are filled through personal connections, not applications. Yet, countless young athletes miss out on building these connections simply because they’re focused solely on the game, not the bigger opportunities around them. Coaches, who often emphasize teamwork on the field, rarely extend that teamwork lesson to the parents standing on the sidelines.
Sideline Scoring in Action
Imagine if a coach encouraged their players to have a short conversation with one of their teammates’ parents each game, just to learn what they do professionally. By the end of the season, these players could have a network of contacts across multiple industries. This simple shift could introduce athletes to potential mentors, internships, or career opportunities they never knew existed.
Social Capital: Not Just for Students
This is a social capital literacy issue for adults, too. Coaches and educators often focus on performance metrics like grades or points scored, but they miss the opportunity to teach students how to build and use social capital in their existing networks. If we don’t teach young people the value of relationships off the field, they are losing out on vital resources that can help shape their future.
Call to Action
It’s time for coaches, teachers, and administrators to expand their roles beyond education and athletics. Let’s redefine winning to include not just what happens on the scoreboard but what happens on the sidelines. When we foster these connections, we equip our youth with the relationships they need for lifelong success.
Edward DeJesus is the Founder of Social Capital Builders. Get his course at www.socialcapitalsmart.ai