by Logan Andrear

Created on: March 16, 2007   Last Updated: May 13, 2007

Every parent wants to watch their child succeed. And sometimes that makes youth sports a painful experience to watch. But it doesn't have to be painful. Every game, win or lose, can be a success. Every misstep your child makes can be an opportunity to grow. Sports offers a unique arena for children to mature into adults. And here is how you, as a parent, can help.

1. Keep a positive attitude about your child's effort, not results.
2. Be enthusiastic about your child's participation with the team.
3. Re-enforce lessons and skills taught by the coach.
4. When your child is disappointed about the result of a game, talk with them about it.
5. Make the team experience fun.

Let's examine these each in turn.

1. Keep a positive attitude about your child's effort, not results.
When a child participates in youth sports it is probably the first time they are competing on a public stage. For some children this is quite daunting. Having every adult in the neighborhood watching can cause them to become apprehensive. They start worrying less about making a successful play and more about not screwing up. It your job as a parent to encourage them to focus on the former, not the latter.

If your child scores a goal during a soccer game, clap and say, "Good job." If your child kicks the ball in his own net, clap and say, "Good try." We all know how frustrating it is to watch our own child make a mistake, especially one that may cost his team the game. But if that is all we focus on that's all our child will focus on.

What we need to focus on as parents is the effort our child is putting forth. If we react negatively then the child will stop trying. It will be easier for them to avoid mistakes than strive for success. By praising your child for their effort they will continue to participate and eventually they will succeed. And that bit of success, regardless of how large or how small, is worth more than an undefeated season.

2. Be enthusiastic about your child's participation with the team.
Every parent knows the hectic schedule involved with having children, let alone children involved in youth sports. We work eight to five, get trapped in rush hour traffic, choke down dinner as fast as we can, change clothes, and then we're off to the practice field. It's easy to dread the hectic evening that is youth sports. But don't let your child see that.

Your child may be excited or nervous or just plain reticent about their upcoming practice. But if they see how you dread practice, they'll dread

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>