It is a challenging to be a youth sports parent, but there are a few simple things to remember: 

- It is your child's activity, not yours; 

- Ask your child what they want out of their activity, and use that as your determination of a successful season; 

- Remember all of us can only have one role in our child's activity (coach, players, official, parent or fan).  What role do you have, and are you attempting to do more than one role?

All coaches in the Brainerd Basketball Association have gone through the Trusted Coaches program prior to being allowed to coach your children.  The program also includes a component from the Positive Coaching Alliance, and below is a document that can help you be a better parent for your child's activity.

Sports are competitive and it’s easy for parents to get caught up in the game just like the players and coaches do. Every parent wants their child to have success and it and it gives parents a rush of excitement to see it happen.

Unfortunately, this adult fueled competitiveness and the innate parental desire to see your child to succeed has led many parents forget what is really important in youth sports.

On the other hand we have parents who come to games, sit happily on the sidelines encouraging their kid, and appreciate the enjoyment their child is having no matter what numbers say on the scoreboard.

These are the parents we need more of.

Link - 27 ways to be an Awesome sports parent

Click on the link below to view the short video from the Washington Post regarding its recent series of articles about parents and their student athletes.

Don't be that sports parent video

How to:

Here is a link to an article by John O'Sullivan of Changing the Game Project.  It stresses that parents and coaches alike need to practice patience in the development of youth athletes.  

"You will be thankful that you had the patience to take the good and the bad, and to let your child develop as children do; not in a straight line, but in a squiggly, messy, line, improving, struggling, failing, moving on, and all the while on a journey with an unknown destination, but a well charted path of both success and failure."

John is an internationally known speaker for coaches, parents and youth sports organizations, and has spoken for TEDx, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, IMG Academy, and at numerous other events throughout the US, Canada and Europe.  Mr. O'Sullivan received his BA from Fordham University, and his Master's Degree from the University of Vermont.  

Link - Patience - The Missing Ingredient

Here is a link to the Minnesota State High School League's video entitled "Why we Play", which focuses on redirecting the emphasis away from "goals" and toward "purpose" and "objectives."

Link - "Why we Play" video