by admin | May 12, 2014 | Uncategorized
Parents, when it comes to the impact you have on your child’s sporting experience, do not underestimate your influence. Children learn from watching others and copying the behavior they see demonstrated. It is most often the parent who is the first person to introduce a child to sports, and parental involvement can affect whether a child enjoys the experience or not (1, 2, 3). Role of Parents in Youth Sports Parental involvement in sports can be looked at as a continuum from not involved at all to over-involved (3). It can range from low to high and from positive to negative. Positive involvement includes supporting your child through ways such as verbal encouragement, your presence at a game, allowing your child to make his/her own decisions about what sport to participate in, and providing financial and other resources that enable his/her participation. Negative involvement refers to directive behavior, and pressure to win or perform up to a parent’s expectations. Recent research has shed light onto the relationship between parental involvement and the type of youth sports experience a child has. Supportive Parental Involvement in Sports It is not surprising that the research overwhelmingly points to a connection between positive, supportive parental involvement and a child’s level of enjoyment and success in the sport he or she is playing. (1, 2, 3, 4). It has also been suggested that a moderate level of involvement would be the optimum level of parental involvement (1). Hellstedt (1) theorized that over-involved parents may create high levels of pressure, while under-involved parents do not provide enough support to facilitate a child’s desire to participate....
by admin | May 12, 2014 | Uncategorized
Sean Cumming and Martha Ewing of the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports warned against parents becoming over-involved emotionally. This could mean being “excitable” or “fanatical.” They even go as far as to say that the fanatical parent can pose a serious risk to the development of the child (1). Take a moment to reflect on your own behavior during your child’s sporting events. How do you compare? Characteristics of Excitable and Fanatical Sports Parents The Excitable Parent (1) The Fanatical Parent (1) Supportive You put great amounts of pressure on your child to succeed You find yourself getting caught up in the heat of the moment Your children frequently argue with the coach or ref At games you yell out instructions to anyone and everyone on the field Your children do not put much effort into or show enjoyment of practice You rush out onto the field at the slightest hint of injury to your child You are controlling and confrontational You are overly concerned with the outcome of the game The reason you have your kids in sports is to win trophies Your child will definitely make the pros In contrast to the emotionally over-involved parent is the authoritative parent. Research into different parenting styles has revealed that the authoritative parenting style seems to be the most successful (2). Here are some characteristics of an authoritative sports parent. Characteristics of An Authoritative Sports Parent The Authoritative Sports Parent (2) Encourage participation Get involved in your child’s participation by attending games and providing positive encouragement Support values of fair play and sportsmanship Set Developmentally appropriate goals for your child’s performance, as opposed to...
by admin | May 12, 2014 | Uncategorized
As parents, your job is to love your kids and try to provide the best for them. When it comes to youth sports, however, too many parents seem to lose all notion of what is best for their kids. It is a telling sign that virtually every youth sports league in the country has enacted some measure to curb violence and negative behavior by parents. Some leagues have even gone so far as to not let parents utter a single word during the game, calling it Silent Saturdays. As enticing as it may seem to some league administrators, taking the parents out of youth sports is not the best solution to the problem. Parents have an important role to play, and the role that the parent does play can impact a child’s interest and enthusiasm for sport for years to come. Studies have shown a positive relationship between parents who are involved with their child’s sporting activities and the child’s enjoyment of the activity, participation in physical activities and continued participation in youth sports (1). That is to say the right type of parental involvement can help a child to have a positive youth sports experience that motivates him or her to want to continue playing sports. Sean Cumming and Martha Ewing of the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports say the role of the parents in youth sports is to provide support for your child, both emotionally and financially, without becoming over-involved to the point of being fanatical (1). Providing the proper emotional support can be difficult in an adult society that emphasizes winning, or the product...
by admin | May 12, 2014 | Uncategorized
The Competitive Edge by Dr. Jeffrey Brown Harvard clinical and sport psychologist Dr. Jeffrey Brown understands the obsession to beat the competition. Learning firsthand in his private practice from patients struggling with power and position in the workplace to runners he works with on the Boston Marathon route, Dr. Brown recognizes that the need to win out over others and the temptation to compromise values is a reality. In The Competitive Edge, Dr. Brown helps the reader learn how to be a winner without compromising character. Seven principles for success and a chapter on performance-enhancing strategies make The Competitive Edge a practical choice for those wanting to be their best on or off the court. The Competitive Edge offers a timely, effective message and should be in the library of every dedicated competitor, parent, or coach. Listen to Dr. Brown and read the first chapter at www.drjeffbrown.com. Buy the Competitive Edge here Becoming a True Champion: Achieving Athletic Excellence Written by Kirk Mango for aspiring athletes. Whether you play team sports like basketball, baseball, volleyball, football, softball, or soccer, compete in individual sports like tennis, wrestling, gymnastics, track, or swimming; whether you are looking to reach certain athletic goals, be inspired, compete at higher levels, become the best you can be, or just improve in your sport, Becoming a True Champion: Achieving Athletic Excellence From the Inside Out addresses sports training in all of these and more. Check out Kirk’s blog at becomingatruechampion.blogspot.com Buy Becoming a True Champion: Achieving Athletic Excellence From the Inside Out Here How to Win at Sports Parenting: Maximizing the Sports Experience for You and...
by admin | May 12, 2014 | Uncategorized
Youth Sports Links for Parents and Coaches Youth Sports Organizations Citizenship Through Sports Alliance (CTSA) – This site is a must visit for all parents, coaches and league administrators. Check out their report card on youth sports. You might be shocked at what you see. 2005 National Youth Sports Report Card (CTSA) 2005 Youth Sports Community Report Card for Parents (CTSA) National Youth Sports Safety Foundation – The NYSSF is dedicated to the reduction and revention of youth sports injuries. Check out this website for ways to promote youth sports safety, publications, hot topics and more. National Council of Youth Sports – The NCYS is an organization that promotes participation by all youth in physical activities. Their website offers the Youth Sports Today free newsletter, a Certified Sports Administrator course, ways to get involved in government relations through their Call to Action issues, and more. Youth Sports Research Council – The YSRC was founded by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and offers clinics for coaches, parents and administrators. The website offers links to information on legal and administrative issues in youth sports, as well as provides general information on a wide variety of topics. National Association for Sports and Physical Education – NASPE is a professional organization that offers a wide variety of resources for coaches and PE teachers. NASPE also offers workshops, conferences, and a discussion forum. National Alliance for Youth Sports – NAYS “is America’s leading advocate for positive and safe sports and activities for children.” They offer programs for parents, coaches, administrators and volunteers as well as links to resources on youth sports. The Institute for...
