Parents Aren’t Stressing Youth Sports; Here’s Why

As any parent can tell you, their kids are a big deal. We are heavily invested in everything our children do and it can be all too easy to experience overwhelming feelings with their activities, especially with something so inherently competitive as sports. Nonetheless, many parents are finding ways to sit back and relax during youth sporting events. Let’s take a look at the secret to their success.

Let the Coach Coach

Coaches are chosen because of their ability to manage a team. Youth coaches are selected based on additional attributes, including their ability to mentor the players and introduce them to the fun and exciting world of sports. Parents are best served by maintaining a hands-off approach to the game and allowing the coach to do what they do best.

It’s Not the Big Leagues

Many parents are sports fans themselves and it can be hard to let go of passionate attitudes that accompany fandom. It’s important to remember that these are sports programs for children and the first priority is to ensure a positive experience for everyone. Half of the fun of sports is the emotional rollercoaster that accompanies triumphs and failures, but make sure to keep it in check.

There is No Comparison

Every person, children included, is unique. While sports can be for everyone, not every child will perform at the same level and that is absolutely ok. As parents, we always want the best for our children and it can be tempting to take shortcomings as a call to action, but don’t lose sight of the goal. Let the children compete against each other on their own terms, don’t take it personally.

All in all, it’s important to keep in mind what the ultimate goal is when enrolling your child in a sports program. You are aiming to foster healthy attitudes and appreciation in young minds and you can best serve that goal by demonstrating a commitment to that yourself. Let the kids succeed, fail, compete, learn and grow while you sit on the sidelines offering your full-throated support. What more is there to parenthood than that?

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