Sports parents, let me get straight to the point: if you want your child to have a good youth sports experience, then it’s got to start with you. Stay away from these 20 bad sports parenting habits if you want to keep your child from having a miserable season.
- Make winning the only priority.
- Fall into the youth sports money trap, hoping that enough of it will buy the right team, the right coach and fix all your problems. (If however, you find yourself needing to raise money, I have a great idea! Check out Flipgive. I’ve personally used them, and it’s a great way to let people shop WHILE they are donating money to your child’s team! That’s my affiliate link btw))
- Pester your child with questions after every practice and game.
- Say you’re too busy to help the team.
- In the car ride home, or after the game, say the first thing that comes to mind, regardless of how negative it sounds.
- Feel like you must fix your child’s problems with a barrage of words.
- Focus only on the game today; forget the big picture of the real importance of youth sports.
- Make sports the only priority in your home; don’t let your child have time for any other activities or hobbies.
- Push, push, push your child, and then push some more to achieve the results you want to see.
- Blame the coach, officials, and teammates when things are not going as you wish.
- Bash the coach at home or with other parents.
- Coach and yell from the sidelines.
- Don’t express any gratitude to the coaches and volunteers who give their time.
- Compare your child to siblings and other players to try to motivate her.
- Force your child to follow in your footsteps.
- Make your child feel like he has to earn your love by playing good.
- Coach your child before and after the game, even when they don’t ask for your help.
- Forget that youth sports is supposed to be FUN.
- Only cheer for your child, not the team.
- Refuse to be realistic about your child’s abilities.
To do away with the bad, you must replace with new. Learn the 11 Habits of Happy and Positive Sports Parents so that you can give your child the Best Season Ever!
