Parents play a key role in youth sports. While the coach of a team is in charge of practices and games, it is the parents who fill in the blanks for their young players. Parents are role models for children when it comes to attitude, fair play, sportsmanship and practice. Parents who display displeasure when their child's team loses or argue with the coach about the role their child has on the team set a poor precedent for their children.
Significance
Parents are the gatekeepers when it comes to youth sports. They sign their children up to play youth baseball, softball, basketball, football, hockey or other sports for a myriad of reasons. By paying the fees and enrolling their children, parents signal to their children that they approve of the activity and want them to get something out of it. Children have questions that they may be more comfortable asking their parents instead of their coach, and the parents must be there to answer those questions or direct them to the correct adult for an answer.
Benefits
Parents should encourage their children to participate and practice whenever they can. It's one thing to go to an organized practice, but it's quite another to help your child in your time away from work. This will help them improve in their sport and also send the message that, if you want to get good at something, you have to work at it.
Considerations
Parents should try to help the coaches of the team whenever they can. Maybe you can't make every game or practice, but when you are there, volunteer to pitch batting practice, coach a base or warm up a pitcher. This sends a message to your child that teamwork is important and that you care about his or her involvement with the team.
Misconceptions
Parents who struggle to control their emotions and attempt to argue with coaches, officials and other parents make the experience miserable for their youngster. Parents must maintain control. If they don't like the way a coach used their child, they have to wait until the end of the game to ask questions and register their complaint. They must do this in a respectable manner or they will lose their effectiveness.
Expert Insight
Coaches appreciate the involvement of parents with their team. It shows that the experience is important to the whole family and that sends a message to the young player that the sport is important. Parents who contribute to the team by bringing snacks, keeping score and providing extra support on the field make the experience much better for the coaches, the players and the league as a whole.
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