As we approach the end of March and leave behind a winter, now is the time to start getting excited about spring sports that are just around the corner! Before you know it, we will be outside again cheering on our favorite sons, daughters, nieces, and nephews as they sprint around soccer fields, slide into bases, and run around the local high school track - and soon after that we will begin to get into even more sporting activities with the summer season beginning immediately after school lets out for the year. Some of you reading this blog have multiple kids - leaving you with multiple practices and games to plan and attend, varied travel routines requiring out of town lodging, and a seemingly endless need to purchase equipment and other sport-related needs.
So are you ready for some action?!
As you already know by now (especially if you have ever read any of my previous articles), youth sports can be a full-time job these days --- and it is very easy to overlook or forget some of the basics that every parent should consider when beginning a sports season. For this reason I am taking time out to offer a few basic thoughts and suggestions designed so that you and your family may get the most out of your youth sport experience - and have a lot of fun, too!
1. The #1 reason kids play sports is to HAVE FUN !!!!!! If you remember this every time you go to a practice or game and make every effort to ensure your child is HAVING FUN I promise you will have a terrific experience together! While some adults might think 'winning' is why kids play sports, research findings do not support this assumption (in fact, winning is pretty far down the list on must surveys completed by kids). Challenge yourself to design a sport environment for your kids that allows them to enjoy all the wonderful aspects of youth sport participation!
2. Remind yourself that the coaches and officials working your child's sport events are AMATEURS. Most coaches are volunteers, and most officials are making pennies on the dollar (if they are not volunteers). What this means is they will make mistakes and blow calls (but keep in mind professional coaches and officials do this, too). We are facing a real shortage today in our country when it comes to coaches and officials, so be sure to do your part this spring and show your appreciation for all the long hours and often thankless work these people do to ensure kids have a positive experience in sports.
3. Develop appropriate ways to handle your emotions. Cheer as much as you can and hold yourself accountable to not become verbally abusive at any time. Learn ways to cool down by taking a walk for a few minutes or reminding yourself that is really is "just a game." Without a doubt you will become emotional at games - we all do - but its how you handle your emotions that counts.
4. Process the sport experience with your child. After games try to use open-ended questions (i.e. "how did the game go tonight?") and allow your child adequate time to respond. As your child discusses the game, try to identify and discuss athletic transferable skills he or she can use in other areas of life (i.e. staying calm under pressure, bouncing back from adversity, being a good team player, etc). Athletic Transferable Skills build self-confidence and allow kids to become better in all areas of life, not just sports!
Certainly there are more things to consider when it comes to going to youth sporting events this spring and summer, but I promise if you master the four I just described it will be almost impossible for this year not to be a great one for you and your family!
So without further ado ladies and gentlemen let the games begin!!!!!!!
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