Keeping kids active is one of the biggest parenting goals, and sports are a great way to do that. But many parents have a hard time getting their children interested in athletics. Sometimes, they may simply be too focused on their own expectations or on their child’s future goals. It’s a difficult conundrum.
Coaches Aren’t The Only Role Models
Parents who pay money to send their kids to sports practice, games and competitions can get frustrated at coaches if they don’t understand the decisions being made. Coaches should always keep the child in mind and be focused on the development of each individual athlete on their team. That means coaching them to be more confident, take healthy risks, and to not give up when things go wrong.
Kids need to know that their mistakes are not the end of the world but are an essential part of the process. They must know that their coach is always there to guide them and provide support during their journey of growth and achievement. And as parents, at the end of the day, it is always your responsibility to advocate for and protect your children.
Find The Learning Moments
Parental involvement in youth sports is critical to the development of children. However, parents should support their kids without putting too much pressure on them to perform or to achieve. This can result in burnout and dropout if the parental involvement is excessive and does not contribute to positive child development.
In order to ensure that their athletes are learning and growing, coaches and parents alike must be able to recognize and incorporate teachable moments into their programs. These can be incidents at practice sessions or games, developments within the school or community, newsworthy happenings around the country, or anything that can teach life lessons or help young people develop key lifelong qualities and values. Coaches can use these moments to highlight and reinforce positive behaviors or strategies or give specific instructions that will move the athlete or team forward in a challenging situation. They can also encourage teamwork by focusing on individual strengths and recognizing the contributions of others.