The panel: Problem Solvers: The Future of Sports, From the Future Generation
Date/time: 11 a.m. Friday.
The panelists: Lake Travis school district students Camille Halfmann and Andis Halfmann and Canyon Vista Middle School student Lauryn Tyndall moderated by Project Serve founder Bobby Jones
The gist: Jones led a discussion with the three student athletes about why they're involved in sports, how they consume watching sports and what inspires them in the sporting realm. Perhaps the youngest panelist at SXSW, 7-year-old Andis Halfmann says he'd rather be at a game in person than watch it on television. "I want to be on the field with them (athletes)," Halfmann said. Tyndall said she doesn't worry if she misses a game she wants to see. "I know I can always see the best clips of the game on Instagram or YouTube the next day," Tyndall said. All three athletes hinted that, at the root of all the games they play, there must be fun or they wouldn't play. "It is important to drive fun or it (youth participation) will all fall apart," Jones said in his closing statement.
The takeaway: Kids have a unique perspective on the sporting world, and at the root of playing sports, whether they are 7 or 15, they want to have fun or they won't participate.
